Principal EDA Software Architect (Semiconductor)

Location: Leuven, Belgium or Cambridge, United Kingdom. For the UK position, candidates must already hold valid UK residence or work authorization; UK visa sponsorship is not available.

Company

hirify.global is a research center focused on nanotechnology, semiconductor technologies, and advanced computing.

What you will do

• Define, architect, and develop next-generation EDA software and algorithms for advanced semiconductor technologies.
• Address EDA challenges in a CMOS 2.0 context, including fine-grain 3D integration of heterogeneous technologies across logic synthesis, thermal modelling, and the wider EDA spectrum.
• Make architectural decisions and establish engineering practices that enable research software to become scalable, maintainable, reusable EDA solutions.
• Implement complex software and algorithms hands-on while providing technical direction, mentoring, and guidance to researchers and developers.
• Collaborate with researchers, semiconductor experts, universities, and industrial partners to identify EDA challenges and translate research concepts into practical capabilities.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Significant industrial and/or academic experience developing EDA software, with a strong preference for experience in both environments.
• Proven experience designing, developing, and delivering substantial software systems for EDA or closely related domains.
• Deep knowledge of EDA algorithms and methodologies combined with strong software engineering skills; experience with digital implementation is highly valued.
• Experience defining software architecture and making technical decisions that keep complex systems scalable, maintainable, and extensible.
• Strong programming ability and direct experience working on complex software systems.
• Experience with testing, version control, code review, continuous integration, documentation, and reproducible development.
• Ability to mentor researchers and developers, review technical approaches, challenge assumptions, and guide teams toward sound engineering solutions.
• Ability to bridge research and engineering by turning algorithms and promising research ideas into high-quality software for real semiconductor design problems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with researchers, software engineers, semiconductor experts, universities, and industrial partners.

Culture & Benefits

• Open, multicultural, and informal working environment with opportunities to take initiative and responsibility.
• Support and guidance for technical and personal development through hirify.global.academy.
• Market-appropriate salary with fringe benefits.
• Work at a leading nanotechnology research center with access to advanced semiconductor technologies and integration concepts.
• Inclusive employer committed to supporting employee development.

Hiring process

• Applications must be submitted directly by the candidate; unsolicited resumes from agencies or other third parties are not accepted without a prior written agreement with hirify.global.