Principal Application & System Architect – Software Defined Solutions (f/m/d)

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Application System Architect to lead the architecture of Software Defined Solutions (SDS) that enable production ready software to run ahead of hardware, supports early design validation, and makes fault injection into CI/CD across Automotive, Industrial, and IoT programs.

The role bridges customer needs, product roadmaps, and platform engineering to deliver scalable, secure, and certifiable software defined solutions. The position is ideal for a senior leader with extensive experience across the full value chain, capable of shaping product strategy, influencing roadmaps, and turning Software-Defined Vehicles, Edge AI, IoT, and intelligent systems into competitive advantages.

You will lead and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of experts, including system architects, hardware and software engineers, simulation specialists, and validation professionals defining the virtualized HW models, toolchain integrations, and workflows that accelerate shift left development and digital twin testing of embedded stacks, from MCU/MPU drivers to hypervisors and application software (e.g., zone/central ECUs, gateways, robotics controllers).

You will also engage customers, partners, and executives to drive adoption, value creation, and long-term growth.

This position can be filled in another EMEA location

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own Software Defined Solutions Architecture & Roadmap: Define the virtual hardware abstraction (MCU/MPU/SoC models, buses, peripherals, register maps) and the platform roadmap enabling binary compatible execution of production software prior to HW availability
• Early SW Bring up & Design Validation: Establish workflows for BSP / Driver / Hypervisor / Application early integration and test on virtual platform; Establish co-simulation and system test workflows for early detection of HW dependent faults.
• CI/CD with Fault Injection: Drive the integration of virtual platform regression and fault injection (bus/peripheral errors, timing, power/reset, comms faults) into DevOps pipelines for continuous validation of safety/security behaviours.
• HW/SW Co Design: Drive HW/SW partitioning, interface specifications, and timing/resource models to ensure portability from virtual ECU to target boards (zone, gateway, central ECUs; industrial controllers; IoT nodes).
• Reference Models & Tooling: Own SRDs, reference virtual models, test benches, and toolchain integrations (compilers, debuggers, model based design tools, cloud native simulation).
• Standards & Certification Readiness: Ensure virtual test coverage aligns to ASIL/SIL, EMC/EMI, cybersecurity, and connectivity requirements; support customers in design to certification workflows.
• Customer/Ecosystem Co Development: Lead engagements with OEMs/Tier 1s and industrial/IoT partners to tailor virtual ECU assets, accelerate integration, and validate platform scalability.
• Technology Scouting & Best Practices: Track SDV/Industry 4.0/edge trends and vet third party virtual controller offerings to enhance our platform and reuse across markets. Support strategic partnerships across silicon vendors, software providers, and tool ecosystems
• Create a collaborative culture that bridges hardware, software, IT, and business domains.
• Mentor senior contributors and future leaders, fostering system-level thinking and customer focus.
• Represent the organization in industry forums, alliances, and executive briefings
• Define investment priorities across tools, platforms, people, and partnerships.
• Establish metrics to measure customer impact, time-to-market gains, operational efficiency, and ecosystem adoption.

• Master’s/Ph.D. in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years architecting embedded systems or software platforms; hands on experience with virtual prototypes/VDKs, digital twins, or virtualization for ECUs/SoCs.
• Strong knowledge of MCU/MPU/SoC architectures, BSPs, drivers, hypervisors, real time constraints, and embedded CI/CD.
• Proficiency with modelling/simulation tools (e.g., Simulink, SPICE, PLECS), and with fault injection strategies in automated pipelines.
• Familiarity with automotive (ISO 26262, AUTOSAR, CAN FD/Ethernet TSN), industrial (EtherCAT/Modbus), and IoT connectivity/security stacks.
• Excellent cross functional collaboration, communication, and customer facing skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience integrating virtual platforms with cloud native toolchains and multi-ECU co-simulation
• Background in software defined vehicle platforms, robotics/industrial virtual commissioning, or digital twin validation.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to own the Virtual ECU strategy driving shift‑left development and scalable software‑defined solutions across Auto/Industrial/IoT.
• High impact on product roadmaps, customer success, and engineering velocity.
• Competitive compensation, flexible working models, and global career growth.

Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power.
 
With a diverse team of over 21,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’     
 
At Renesas, you can: 

• Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things.  

• Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure. 

• Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day.    

Are you ready to own your success and make your mark?  

Join Renesas. Let’s Shape the Future together.  

Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to supporting diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.

We have adopted a hybrid model that gives employees the ability to work remotely two days a week while ensuring that we come together as a team in the office the rest of the time. The designated in-office days are Tuesday through Thursday for innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.