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.