MCU System Architect

Job Title

MCU System Architect

Role Summary

Design and define system architecture for next-generation microcontroller (MCU) products, balancing performance, power, cost and functionality. The role partners with product planning, hardware and software teams and leads architecture decisions from concept through production.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typically around 5+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor product development (MCU/SoC/ASIC).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include system-level architecture and product-specification work for MCUs and platforms.

• Define MCU product specifications and overall system architecture (CPU, memory, buses, peripherals, analog, power/clock).
• Analyze market and customer requirements to derive product/system configurations and feature sets.
• Optimize hardware architecture for performance, power consumption, chip area and manufacturing cost.
• Evaluate and specify new functions and peripheral features; prepare detailed specifications.
• Coordinate with digital/analog hardware designers, software engineers and product planners throughout development and production ramp.
• Lead technical reviews and make architecture-level decisions for development projects.
• Contribute to platform and product roadmap planning for future MCU families.

Requirements

Concise list of mandatory and desirable qualifications.

• Must-have: 5+ years practical experience in semiconductor product development (MCU, SoC, ASIC).
• Experience in at least one of: digital circuit design, embedded software development, or system design.
• Knowledge of embedded system architecture including CPU, memory, buses and peripherals.
• Experience producing product specifications and requirements documents.
• Experience driving cross-functional product development with multiple stakeholders.
• Nice-to-have: prior MCU or SoC system/architecture design and product-specification experience.
• Familiarity with CPU architectures such as ARM or RISC-V.
• Knowledge of low-power design, functional safety and security features.
• Understanding of common peripheral interfaces (CAN, Ethernet, USB, SPI, I2C).
• Experience performing system-level issue analysis and proposing architectural solutions.

Education Requirements

Not specified.

About the Company

Company: Renesas

Headquarters: Hitachinaka, Japan

Renesas is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, providing high-quality products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors. With over 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries, the company focuses on scalable solutions that enhance user experience and drive innovation while committed to sustainability and energy efficiency.