Software Architect

Renesas Electronics; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Renesas Electronics seeks a Software Architect to join our Embedded Processing team in Austin, Texas. This strategic role focuses on software emulation tools for shift-left development, enabling engineering teams and customers to develop, test, and validate software months before silicon is available.

You will bridge hardware and software development cycles, leading with industry-leading emulation platforms to accelerate time-to-market for semiconductor solutions across industrial, consumer, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science (Master’s preferred).
• 8+ years of professional software development experience.
• Experience leading emulation or embedded software projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define technical requirements and architectural standards for software emulation workflows.
• Lead cross-functional teams in developing early-stage embedded software solutions.
• Establish best practices for shift-left development methodologies.
• Evaluate and recommend new emulation tools and platforms to stay competitive.
• Mentor junior developers and coordinate project timelines.

Skills

Software architecture

Embedded software

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering or CS

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Synopsys Virtual Platform

QEMU

SIMICS

ZEBU

HAPS

Job description

At Renesas, we are more than just a semiconductor company; we are the engine behind a "safer, smarter, and more sustainable" future. Headquartered locally in the heart of San Jose, our Silicon Valley team is at the forefront of innovation in Automotive, Industrial, Infrastructure, and IoT technologies. By blending cutting-edge embedded processing with world-class analog and power expertise, we develop "Winning Combinations" that power billions of intelligent devices globally. Joining our San Jose office means joining a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where your work directly impacts the next generation of AI-driven infrastructure and green energy solutions.

Job Description

Renesas Electronics is seeking an experienced Software Architect to join our Embedded Processing team in Austin, Texas. This strategic role focuses on software emulation tools for shift-left development, enabling our engineering teams and customers to develop, test, and validate software months before physical silicon is available.

As a technical leader, you will bridge the gap between hardware and software development cycles, working with industry-leading emulation platforms to accelerate time-to-market for our semiconductor solutions across industrial, consumer, and IoT markets.

This position offers the unique opportunity to shape early development strategies, define emulation roadmaps, and enable customer success in the critical pre-silicon phase of our product lifecycle.

Core Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Strategy

• Define technical requirements and architectural standards for software emulation workflows
• Lead cross-functional teams in developing early-stage embedded software solutions
• Establish best practices for shift-left development methodologies
• Evaluate and recommend new emulation tools and platforms to keep our technology stack competitive
• Serve as a technical authority on virtual platform development

Development & Implementation

• Design and implement virtual platform configurations using Synopsys Virtual Platform, QEMU, or SIMICS
• Develop hardware/software co-emulation frameworks using ZEBU, HAPS, and related hardware accelerators
• Build automation pipelines for continuous integration and testing on emulation infrastructure
• Debug complex system-level issues across hardware emulation and software simulation environments

Customer Enablement

• Enable early access programs for key customers, providing them with working emulation environments
• Gather customer feedback to inform product roadmap and feature prioritization
• Work directly with customer engineering teams to integrate our emulation solutions into their development flows
• Support proof-of-concept demonstrations for prospective clients evaluating our semiconductor solutions

Team Management

• Mentor junior developers and engineers on emulation technologies and best practices
• Conduct code reviews and ensure high-quality software delivery
• Coordinate project timelines and resource allocation across multiple initiatives
• Foster a collaborative team culture aligned with Renesas' TAGIE values

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (Master's degree preferred)
• 8+ years of professional software development experience