Senior HW/SW Researcher 

What you will do

The Compute System Architecture (CSA) group at imec works on a range of advanced research and prototyping projects revolving around CMOS2.0 and advanced IMEC digital logic and memory programs. The challenge for the MAP team (Mapping Application to Platforms) is to orchestrate diverse domain-specific application data processing and control workloads on an architecture comprising CPU, GPU and TPU compute cores, data communication infrastructure and distributed object management hardware and software IP for the HPC datacenter, mobile/edge and automotive domains. Utilizing novel silicon technologies, open-source RISC-V-based instruction-set- (ISA) & micro-architecture, a Senior HW/SW Engineer will focus on the hardware-software interfacing and make sure that innovations in compiler optimization, processor pipeline micro-architecture and peripherals IO design are utilized and leveraged optimally at scale, taking security, reliability, sustainability and robustness into consideration. 

This role puts you in a position to deep dive into the details of what makes embedded data processing and real-time software be performant and competitive in academia and on the market, work with world-class experts in micro-, instruction-set- and SW macro-architecture, as well as senior and principal AI/ML application experts. You will play a role that will focus on the proof of concept driving technologies of the future, potentially contributing to state-of-the-art AI-enabled High-Level-Synthesis frameworks. 

Main responsibility is to translate constraints (and requirements) between HW IP cores and the application SW (and vice versa): 

• Work with architects to define interesting use-cases to simulate/emulate. 
• Work with SW application teams to understand the requirements. 
• Work with HW modeling teams to understand the constraints. 
• Create, debug and demo test cases within the HW/SW codesign environment. 
• Ability to quickly react and adapt to changes. 
• Excellent communication skills. 
• Familiarity with LLVM/GCC compiler frameworks and/or RISC-V ecosystem is a plus. 

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth. 

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits. 

Who you are

We are looking for applicants with experience in embedded/real-time SW, compiler optimizations for data (signal) processing.

• 5+ years of experience in platform-level high-performance software and/or hardware/software codesign. 
• MS or PhD in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering. 
• Knowledge of C and C++ for low-level (platform) software and/or embedded real-time control. 
• Proficiency with script writing in Python (or UNIX/bash/(c)make, Perl/Tcl or Julia) 
• Strong communication skills are a pre-requisite since you will collaborate with many different groups.  
• Familiarity with data manipulation and/or data (signal) processing is a plus. 

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.