Virtual Platform R&D Engineer (Compute Systems)

Location: Primarily Leuven, Belgium

Company

hirify.global is a research center for nanotechnology and hardware-software-technology co-design of next-generation compute systems, with expertise centers across Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, the USA, and Qatar.

What you will do

• Develop, maintain, and integrate virtual platforms for complex SoC architectures to enable architectural exploration and system validation.
• Build functional and performance models for compute, memory, interconnect, and accelerator components across multiple abstraction levels.
• Implement interfaces between simulation infrastructure and support tooling to improve productivity, scalability, and model fidelity.
• Support workload mapping and functional-model bring-up on QEMU, gem5, RTL, and FPGA platforms.
• Model and simulate new architectures to analyze trade-offs, bottlenecks, and system performance.
• Contribute to project scope, timelines, work packages, milestones, and deliverables, and supervise or mentor students when needed.

Requirements

• Master’s or PhD in Electrical, Electronics, or Computer Engineering/Science, or another relevant field, with hands-on experience in compute system architectures.
• Deep understanding of system-level design, modern compute and memory systems, and SoC components, together with performance-analysis skills.
• Proven user and developer expertise with simulation frameworks or virtual platforms such as QEMU, gem5, or SystemC-based models.
• Understanding of hardware-software boundaries and hardware modeling.
• Hands-on engineering approach, research-oriented mindset, and curiosity about compute system architectures.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Bash, and scripting such as Python.
• Experience with RISC-V-based architecture.
• Open-mindedness and flexibility to accommodate changing priorities and support business needs.
• Team-oriented approach and fluent English with strong communication skills for collaboration across a multicultural team.

Culture & Benefits

• Open, multicultural, informal, and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities to take initiative and show responsibility in a distributed team.
• Technical and personal development through hirify.global.academy, the corporate university.
• Market-appropriate salary and fringe benefits.

Hiring process

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