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
This 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!
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.
Skills Required
- Extensive experience in digital ASIC or SoC architecture, design, or verification, typically 10+ years
- Deep knowledge of digital architectures across processor, DSP, control, and interface subsystems
- Experience translating system requirements into implementable architectures and testable technical requirements
- Experience working with ASIC design houses, semiconductor suppliers, or external implementation partners
- Technical judgment across power, performance, area, reliability, DFT/DFM, quality, risk, and schedule
- Experience owning architectural decisions, technical reviews, and acceptance of complex engineering deliverables
- Ability to influence technical stakeholders and partners without direct reporting-line authority
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent substantial experience
- Experience with system modeling, formal verification, FPGA prototyping, low-power processor/DSP architectures, silicon bring-up, or safety-critical product development
Cochlear Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cochlear and has not been reviewed or approved by Cochlear.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible work policies—such as work-from-home options and structured time away—are seen as a major asset for many corporate and hybrid roles. Offerings include PTO, paid sick leave, floating holidays, parental leave, and hybrid/remote flexibility by department.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage are described as comprehensive, with access to HSA/FSA and TeleHealth services. This forms a solid foundation within what is viewed as a standard corporate benefits package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellness events, free office lunches, and food trucks are appreciated as day-to-day perks. Employee assistance programs, tuition reimbursement, and employee hearing aid discounts add to the lifestyle-oriented offering.
Cochlear Insights
What We Do
Hear now. And always As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, at Cochlear (ASX: COH) we are committed to our mission to help people hear and be heard. Our story started more than four decades ago when Professor Graeme Clark pioneered the world's first multi-channel cochlear implant and created an entirely new treatment for hearing loss. Since our formation in 1981, we continue Professor Clark’s work to help people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a life full of hearing. We have provided more than 650,000 implantable devices. Each recipient helps form a global community of millions, through families, friends, colleagues, teachers and more. And they’re not just connected to their own community — each shares a link with each other and to Professor Clark’s childhood desire to help people hear. We aim to give people the best lifelong hearing experience and access to innovative future technologies. We understand the privilege of connecting people to a life lived with hearing. And we listen, respond and move with the times – to continue to bring hearing within reach of all those who need it. That's how we live our mission every day. Our global workforce of more than 4,000 people shares a collective determination to give more people the opportunity to enjoy a life of hearing. Cochlear’s global headquarters are on the campus of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia with regional headquarters in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Through our offices in over 180 countries we help people of all ages to hear. Social Media Terms of Use http://bit.ly/2qRMEvY
