Principle Digital ASIC Architect

C43 Cochlear Technology Centre Belgium (Belgium); Antwerpen; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remuneration package

Onboarding & training program

Life-work balance & homeworking

Job summary

Cochlear Technology Centre Belgium in Mechelen offers a Senior Principal Digital ASIC Architect role. You will own the digital ASIC/SoC architecture from system intent through implementation, verification and acceptance, collaborating with partners to shape technology roadmaps and product integration.

The position requires deep experience across processor, DSP, control subsystems and AI/NN hardware. A senior contributor role with broad influence over design choices and project delivery is

Qualifications

• 10+ years of digital ASIC/SoC architecture, design or verification experience.
• Proven ability to translate system requirements into implementable architectures.
• Experience working with ASIC design houses or external partners.

Responsibilities

• Own digital ASIC/SoC architecture from system intent to implementation and verification.
• Lead architecture trade-offs across power, performance, area, cost, and reliability.
• Govern external design partners, defining needs, reviews, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive de-risking using modelling, formal verification and FPGA prototyping.
• Coach engineers and influence roadmaps for digital technology.

Skills

Digital ASIC/SoC architecture

Architectural ownership

Stakeholder influence

PPA trade-offs

External partner governance

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or related field

Tools

FPGA prototyping

Formal verification

Job description

Change people’s lives and love what you do! Cochlear develops world-leading medical devices that help people hear. As a top 100 medical device company and market-leader in implantable hearing devices, more people choose a Cochlear-branded cochlear implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.

Mechelen, hybrid working arrangements | Individual Contributor | Digital ASIC / SoC

Cochlear is looking for a Senior Principal Digital ASIC Architect to help shape the next generation of ASIC technology underpinning our hearing solutions. Joining an experienced team with a strong track record in ASIC development for implantable and external hearing solutions, you will operate at the intersection of system architecture, digital ASIC technology and product development. As a digital design authority, you will have genuine technical ownership, translating system architecture and product use cases into implementable digital architectures, requirements and acceptance criteria. You will help determine when product needs are best addressed through custom ASIC development, partner-delivered solutions or existing semiconductor technologies, while retaining architectural ownership and accountability for the final outcome. This is a highly influential individual contributor role for an experienced ASIC/SoC architect who wants to remain technically close to the work while influencing how complex semiconductor solutions are designed, delivered and integrated into products.

What you’ll do

• Own semiconductor technology roadmap recommendations and evaluate custom ASIC, partner-developed and commercially available component strategies against product needs.
• Own the digital ASIC/SoC architecture from system intent through to implementation, verification and acceptance.
• Define architectures across interfaces, control, processors, DSP, Neural Networks, hardware/software partitioning and platform reuse.
• Lead technical trade-offs across power, performance, area, configurability, cost, reliability, testability and schedule.
• Work closely with specialist ASIC/ASSP partners, defining what needs to be built, determining the most appropriate delivery approach and establishing the evidence required to demonstrate readiness and acceptance.
• Provide technical governance across external design partners, including requirements, review gates, deliverables, technical risks and acceptance criteria.
• Lead technical design reviews, challenge assumptions and make evidence-based recommendations on acceptance.
• Drive de-risking through modelling, simulation, formal verification, FPGA prototyping and silicon evidence.
• Support product integration, silicon bring-up, debug, yield improvement and lifecycle investigations at design-authority level.
• Help evolve semiconductor engineering workflows by identifying opportunities for AI, modelling and automation, while ensuring outputs remain secure, reproducible and appropriately validated.
• Coach engineers and contribute to Cochlear's longer‑term digital technology, engineering capability and partner roadmaps.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive experience in digital ASIC/SoC architecture, design or verification, typically 10+ years.
• Deep knowledge of digital architectures across processor, DSP, control and interface subsystems.
• Strong experience translating system requirements into implementable architectures and testable technical requirements.
• Demonstrated experience working with ASIC design houses, semiconductor suppliers or external implementation partners.
• Strong technical judgement across PPA, reliability, DFT/DFM, quality, risk and schedule.
• Experience owning architectural decisions, technical reviews and acceptance of complex engineering deliverables.
• The ability to influence technical stakeholders and partners without relying on direct reporting‑line authority.
• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Computer Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent substantial experience.
• Experience with system modelling, formal verification, FPGA prototyping, low‑power processor/DSP architectures, silicon bring‑up or safety‑critical product development would be highly regarded.

What we offer

• An attractive remuneration package and flexible extra‑legal benefits
• An extensive onboarding and training program
• An enjoyable work environment with attention to life‑work balance and homeworking
• A stimulating environment with growth opportunities and opportunity to meet multi‑disciplinary colleagues across the globe

Cochlear Summary

Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. Around the world, more people chose a Cochlear-branded hearing implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping people to Hear Now. And Always. Cochlear is the global market leader in implantable hearing solutions including cochlear implant systems (CI) and bone anchored hearing aids (Baha).

Equal opportunities

Cochlear is committed to providing equal opportunities to avoid unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief or age. In line with our corporate ethics and statutory obligations we strive to ensure that the work environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect - this is an important aspect of ensuring equal opportunities in employment.

Our growth is creating great opportunities! Our team is expanding and we want to hire the most talented people we can. Continued success depends on it. So once you've had a chance to explore our current open positions, apply to the ones you feel suit you best and keep track of both your progress in the selection process, and new postings that might interest you!

We're the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. We have provided more than 600,000 implantable devices, helping people of all ages to lead full and active lives.

We help people hear and be heard. We empower people to connect with others and live a full life. We help transform the way people understand and treat hearing loss. We innovate and bring to market a range of implantable hearing solutions that deliver a lifetime of hearing outcomes.