Engineering Manager, Desktop Platforms - CI/Research
Cochlear · Mechelen
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.
Engineering Manager – Desktop Platforms (CI/Research)
📍 Location: Mechelen, Belgium
🧭 Function: R&D – Desktop Platforms
👥 Role Type: People Manager
🌍 Scope: Global, multi-site
About the Role
We are looking for an Engineering Manager to lead teams within our Desktop Platforms organisation during a period of significant modernisation.
Cochlear is investing heavily in its engineering foundation: reproducible and containerised builds, unified CI/CD, architectural modernisation, stronger cybersecurity, improved release governance, and scalable multi-site execution across Europe and Australia.
This is a technical people-leadership role. You are accountable for outcomes—team capability, delivery predictability, quality, and compliance—rather than hands-on coding or project management. Your leadership directly influences our ability to deliver safe, reliable clinical software at global scale.
What You’ll Do
Build, lead, and develop high-performing engineering teams delivering clinical desktop software
Create clarity and stability in complex, regulated environments
Ensure predictable delivery through disciplined planning and early risk management
Raise engineering standards across CI/CD, testing, documentation, and quality practices
Ensure adherence to architectural patterns and regulatory expectations
Partner closely with Architecture, DevOps, QA, Regulatory, Product, and Delivery
Drive continuous improvement while reducing technical debt and legacy complexity
Foster a culture where quality, safety, and accountability are the default
What We’re Looking For
Experience leading engineering teams delivering complex, long-lived software products
Strong people leadership skills: hiring, coaching, feedback, and performance management
A solid technical foundation and the ability to engage credibly with architects and senior engineers
Familiarity with modern engineering practices (CI/CD, automation, DevOps)
Experience in regulated, safety-critical, or quality-driven environments is a strong advantage
Comfort operating in global, multi-site organisations
Clear communicator with strong judgment, ownership, and calm leadership under pressure
Minimum Requirements
Experience
Minimum 10 years of professional experience in software engineering, including significant time (at least 3 years) in engineering leadership or people-management roles.
Proven experience leading teams delivering complex, long-lived production software where reliability, quality, and risk management are critical.
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
Candidates from other engineering backgrounds are considered provided they have substantial, demonstrable experience in professional software development.
A rigorous engineering foundation is required; this role is not suitable for non-engineering profiles.
Language Skills
Fluent professional English is mandatory (spoken and written).
Dutch and/or French are advantageous but not required.
Technical Scope
Strong background in modern software engineering practices (CI/CD, automation, testing, DevOps).
Experience with desktop or system-level software is a strong advantage.
Exposure to regulated, safety-critical, or quality-driven environments is highly valued.
Leadership Scope
Demonstrated experience hiring, coaching, and performance-managing engineers, including senior engineers and technical leaders.
Ability to operate credibly with Architects, DevOps, QA, Regulatory, Product, and senior leadership.
Comfortable owning outcomes, making hard trade-offs, and representing engineering reality at leadership level.
Why Join Cochlear
Lead engineering teams building technology that improves and restores hearing for millions of people
Work in a modern engineering environment undergoing meaningful transformation
Solve complex problems where quality, safety, and reliability truly matter
Collaborate with talented engineers across Europe and Australia
Do career-defining work with purpose, scale, and long-term impact
What we offer
An attractive remuneration package and flexible extra-legal benefits
An extensive onboarding and training program
An enjoyable work environment with attention to life-work balance and homeworking
A stimulating environment with growth opportunities and opportunity to meet multi-disciplinary colleagues across the globe
This is your chance to be part of a premier organization with a great culture, working in a dynamic, growing and rapidly evolving environment to deliver outstanding results that benefit our customers every day. Be part of something purposeful and APPLY now by clicking on the link below and see your career grow!
Cochlear Summary
Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. Around the world, more people chose a Cochlear-branded hearing 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. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping people to Hear Now. And Always. Cochlear is the global market leader in implantable hearing solutions including cochlear implant systems (CI) and bone anchored hearing aids (Baha™).
Equal opportunities
Cochlear is committed to providing equal opportunities to avoid unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief or age. In line with our corporate ethics and statutory obligations we strive to ensure that the work environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect - this is an important aspect of ensuring equal opportunities in employment.
More jobs at Cochlear · Software Engineering jobs in Mechelen