Principal System Architect, eSW

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.

Introduction

Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a life full of hearing. We aim to give people the best lifelong hearing experience and access to innovative future technologies. We collaborate with the industry’s best clinical, research and support networks. That’s why more people choose Cochlear than any other hearing implant company. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to hear and experience life’s opportunities.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal System Architect, eSW to contribute to Cochlear’s global System Architecture community, with an opportunity to join the System Architecture & MBSE team based in Vallauris (France) and Mechelen (Belgium).

In this role, you will lead the definition, realisation, and continuous improvement of L1/L2 system architectures, with a focus on embedded software (eSW) architecture across multiple functional domains. You will set technical direction as a cluster and workgroup leader — driving architectural coherence, modularity, and reuse across platforms, product families, and systems, while leading improvements to architectural discipline and practices.

You will work closely with Product Development, Embedded Technology Platforms, Research & Technologies, Quality & Regulatory and global R&D stakeholders to ensure architectural integrity, reuse, scalability and long-term competitiveness.

Responsibilities include:

System Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Lead the definition, realisation and continuous improvement of L1/L2 system architectures and embedded technology platforms

• Drive end-to-end architectural design across products, platforms and product families, maximising reuse and modularity

• Resolve complex, cross-domain architectural challenges spanning software, hardware and systems engineering

• Act as a bridge between System Architecture, Advanced Innovation / R&T and Embedded Software Development & Delivery, ensuring architectural decisions enable future development opportunities and software platform evolution

• Champion systems thinking, MBSE and architectural best practices across R&D

Embedded Software & Platform Architecture

• Lead embedded software (eSW) architecture across multiple functional domains

• Define and govern system and platform interfaces

• Provide technical guidance to embedded software leads and development teams

• Ensure architectural alignment across platforms, product families and systems

Architecture Discipline & Practice

• Establish, evolve and align architectural practices, standards and methodologies globally

• Mentor, coach and uplift architectural capability across the organisation

Innovation & Intellectual Property

• Strengthen Cochlear’s intellectual property portfolio through innovative architectural solutions

• Assess emerging technologies and guide their adoption into future platforms and products

• Collaborate with internal and external partners to evaluate, generate and protect IP

About You. As we grow our operations, we are looking for people who share our passion delivering safe, effective, and high-quality hearing solutions. To add value to Cochlear in this role, you'll be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

Essential

• Degree in Engineering or Science (Software, Embedded, Electrical or Systems engineering preferred)

• Extensive post‑qualification experience in systems engineering and/or architecture within complex R&D environments, including embedded software

• Proven leadership in end-to-end system architecture: design, integration, deployment and lifecycle management

• Strong understanding of system decomposition, interface management and architectural trade-offs

• Experience working in regulated industries (medical devices highly desirable)

• Ability to influence, communicate and collaborate across multidisciplinary, global teams

What Would Make You Stand Out

• Deep experience in embedded software architecture and hardware–software integration

• Experience programming for embedded targets using C, C++, C# and Python for test automation

• Experience working at all stages of software development lifecycle

• MBSE, MBPLE and SysML modelling experience

• Experience establishing architectural governance, standards or review boards

• Track record of innovation, patents or technology leadership

• Experience mentoring or coaching senior engineers and architects

• INCOSE (CSEP/ESEP) or MBSE/SysML certifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant engineering discipline. For candidates with degrees obtained outside Belgium, a formal recognition process may be required as part of the hiring journey.

Why this role is for you?

At Cochlear, you’ll work on life-changing medical technology in a highly collaborative, global environment. We invest deeply in technical excellence, architectural maturity and the professional growth of our people—while maintaining a strong focus on quality, safety and regulatory compliance.

How we recognise your contribution

We want Cochlear to be a place where our people enjoy coming to work. Through our internal programs and employee benefits we aim to create an environment where our people will feel valued and supported. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.

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