Senior Embedded Wireless Software Engineer

Change people’s lives and love what you do Cochlear develops world-leading medical devices that help people hear. As a top 100 medical device company and market‑leader in implantable hearing devices, more people choose a Cochlear‑branded cochlear implant system than any other. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.

We are looking for a Senior Embedded Wireless Software Engineer for a Fixed term role until end October 2027 to join our Advanced System Prototyping (ASP) team in Mechelen, Belgium. In this role, you will work at the forefront of wireless communications, embedded systems, machine learning, and audio processing to create the next generation of hearing implant technologies. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, building prototypes, and transforming emerging technologies into future product innovations.

The Opportunity

As a member of our Advanced Innovation team, you will contribute to cutting‑edge research and development activities focused on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), wireless audio technologies, embedded software, and intelligent audio processing solutions. Working closely with our Advanced Wireless Technology team, research institutions, and industry partners, you will design, implement, and validate embedded firmware and wireless communication systems that enable new capabilities for Cochlear implant users worldwide. Your work will directly influence future hearing solutions, including:

• Low‑latency ear‑to‑ear audio streaming
• Advanced Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast applications
• Robust wireless connectivity for hearing devices
• Context‑aware and adaptive audio processing
• Embedded machine learning solutions
• Spatial audio and scene classification technologies

Responsibilities

Responsibilities includes:

• Develop Next‑Generation Wireless Firmware Design and implement embedded C firmware for ARM‑based microcontrollers.
• Develop and optimise Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and 2.4GHz wireless communication systems.
• Configure and integrate LE Audio and Auracast technologies.
• Prototype and validate wireless communication solutions, including RF performance testing and antenna characterisation.
• Define wireless subsystem architectures and perform design trade‑off analyses.
• Explore next‑generation localization technologies including BLE direction finding, AOA/AOD, and channel sounding.
• Drive Audio Processing & Embedded AI Innovation Implement real‑time DSP and machine learning algorithms on resource‑constrained embedded platforms.
• Develop advanced audio features including: Audio scene classification Noise reduction Beamforming Spatial audio processing Packet loss concealment
• Optimise algorithms for power efficiency, latency, memory footprint, and audio quality.
• Collaborate on Research & Innovation Partner with universities, research institutes, and industry consortia across Europe.
• Contribute to research publications, technical reports, patents, and intellectual property generation.
• Support technology transfer from prototype to product development teams.
• Stay current with emerging wireless, embedded AI, and audio technologies to help shape Cochlear's innovation roadmap.

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll bring a combination of strong embedded software expertise, wireless communication knowledge, and a passion for innovation.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, or a related discipline. (Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline (or equivalent). For candidates with degrees obtained outside Belgium, a formal recognition process may be required as part of the hiring journey. Support will be provided)
• Strong experience developing embedded software in C on ARM‑based microcontrollers.
• Experience working with RTOS‑based systems.
• Solid understanding of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies and protocol stacks.
• Experience implementing firmware for embedded systems.
• Good understanding of digital signal processing fundamentals.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary research and engineering teams.
• Strong problem‑solving and communication skills.
• Ideally, You'll Also Have Experience with LE Audio, Auracast, or Bluetooth audio streaming solutions.
• Knowledge of RF engineering, antenna performance, and 2.4GHz wireless systems.
• Experience deploying machine learning or neural network models on embedded devices.
• Familiarity with Zephyr RTOS or similar embedded frameworks.
• Ex