Principle Digital ASIC Architect

Cochlear Limited; Antwerpen; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cochlear Limited in Mechelen, Belgium, is seeking a Senior Principal Digital ASIC Architect to shape the next generation of ASIC technology underpinning our hearing solutions. You will own the digital architecture from system intent to implementation and work with external partners to deliver robust silicon.

This highly influential IC-design leadership role combines hands-on technical ownership with governance and roadmapping, guiding power, performance, area and reliability trade-offs, FPGA

Qualifications

• 10+ years in digital ASIC/SoC design or verification.

Responsibilities

• Own semiconductor technology roadmap and assess ASIC/partner solutions against product needs.
• Define architectures from system intent to implementation, verification and acceptance.
• Lead technical trade-offs across power, performance, area, reliability and schedule.
• Provide governance with design partners and manage evidence for readiness and acceptance.
• Drive de-risking through modelling, simulation and silicon bring-up.

Skills

Digital ASIC/SoC architecture

System-level design

Verifications & DFT/DFM

Power/Performance/Area trade-offs

FPGA prototyping

External partner collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering

Tools

FPGA tooling

Formal verification tools

Job description

## Principle Digital ASIC ArchitectApply: Mechelen, Belgium: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 12, 2026 (29 days left to apply): R-624324Change 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 benefitsAn extensive onboarding and training programAn enjoyable work environment with attention to life-work balance and homeworkingA stimulating environment with growth opportunities and opportunity to meet multi-disciplinary colleagues across the globeThis is your chance to be part of a premier organization with a great culture, working in a dynamic, growing and rapidly evolving environment to deliver outstanding results that benefit our customers every day. Be part of something purposeful and APPLY now by clicking on the link below and see your career grow!