Lead Software Engineer

Cadence Design Systems; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary competitive

25 days holiday per year

Private Medical and Dental plans

Income Protection and Life Insurance

Group Pension Plan

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Cadence Design Systems in Nottingham seeks a Lead Software Engineer to shape next-generation simulation technologies for automotive, aerospace, motorsport, EV, and energy clients worldwide.

You will work at the intersection of mathematical modelling, high-performance computing, and software engineering to design advanced solvers, GPU-accelerated frameworks, and scalable architectures, while setting engineering best practices and directing future product development.

Qualifications

• A PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates as well as those with several years of post-doctoral or industry research experience.
• Strong software development skills with demonstrated proficiency in modern C++.
• Deep understanding of object-oriented design, software architecture, and software engineering best practices.
• Strong knowledge of numerical methods, mathematical modelling, and computational problem solving.
• Experience developing performance-critical software or computational algorithms.
• Understanding of AI-assisted software development and practical use of LLMs, and agent-based development workflows.

Responsibilities

• Develop mathematical models and numerical methods to simulate thermal and structural interactions within complex engineering systems.
• Design and implement analytical and numerical solvers, including quasi-static and time-stepping algorithms for ODEs and PDEs.
• Design and implement high-performance simulation software using modern C++ (C++17/20), delivering robust, scalable, and maintainable solutions.
• Develop and optimize compute-intensive algorithms using multithreading, SIMD techniques, and GPU acceleration technologies such as CUDA and OpenCL.
• Analyze software performance, identify computational bottlenecks, and implement optimizations across CPU and GPU architectures.
• Leverage AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude, or similar to improve development productivity while maintaining high engineering quality standards.
• Translate research concepts, prototypes, and proof-of-concepts into production-ready software.
• Collaborate closely with software developers, research engineers, product managers, and domain experts to deliver innovative simulation capabilities.

Skills

C++ proficiency

Object-oriented design

Numerical methods

Performance-critical software

AI-assisted development

Education

PhD in Physics/Mathematics/Mechanical Eng

Tools

CUDA

OpenCL

GitHub Copilot

Azure DevOps

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology. Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise. The company applies its underlying Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware and IP that turn design concepts into reality. Cadence customers are the world’s most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products from chips to boards to systems for the most dynamic market applications including consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace industrial and health. At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Job Title

Lead Software Engineer.

Location

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Reports to

Sr Software Engineering Manager

Job Overview

Ready to shape the future of engineering simulation? Join our Solver Team in Nottingham and help develop next-generation simulation technologies used by leading automotive, aerospace, motorsport, electric vehicle, and renewable energy companies worldwide. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will work at the intersection of mathematical modelling, high-performance computing, and software engineering to create advanced simulation solutions for complex multi-physics systems. You will help design cutting-edge numerical solvers, GPU-accelerated computing frameworks, and scalable software architectures, while establishing engineering best practices and shaping the technical direction for future product development.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop mathematical models and numerical methods to simulate thermal and structural interactions within complex engineering systems.
• Design and implement analytical and numerical solvers, including quasi-static and time-stepping algorithms for ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs).
• Design and implement high-performance simulation software using modern C++ (C++17/20), delivering robust, scalable, and maintainable solutions.
• Develop and optimize compute-intensive algorithms using multithreading, SIMD techniques, and GPU acceleration technologies such as CUDA and OpenCL.
• Analyze software performance, identify computational bottlenecks, and implement optimizations across CPU and GPU architectures.
• Leverage AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude, or similar to improve development productivity while maintaining high engineering quality standards.
• Translate research concepts, prototypes, and proof-of-concepts into production-ready software.
• Collaborate closely with software developers, research engineers, product managers, and domain experts to deliver innovative simulation capabilities.

Job Qualifications

• A PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates as well as those with several years of post-doctoral or industry research experience.
• Strong software development skills with demonstrated proficiency in modern C++.
• Deep understanding of object-oriented design, software architecture, and software engineering best practices.
• Strong knowledge of numerical methods, mathematical modelling, and computational problem solving.
• Experience developing performance-critical software or computational algorithms.
• Understanding of AI-assisted software development and practical use of LLMs, and agent-based development workflows.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Experience in multi-body dynamics, multiscale modelling, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, or other physics-based simulation domains.
• Knowledge of modern software development practices including CI/CD, automated testing, and DevOps workflows.
• Knowledge of high-performance computing techniques including SIMD vectorisation, cache optimization, distributed computing, and parallel programming.

Additional Information

• This role is based in our Nottingham office, with a hybrid working arrangement of at least 3 days per week on-site.
• You will join a specialist Solver Team working alongside research engineers, software developers, product managers, and domain experts.
• The team operates with a strong culture of technical rigour and collaborative problem-solving, using modern tooling including GitHub, Azure DevOps, and AI-assisted development environments.

Check what we can offer you

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday per year
• Private Medical and Dental plans, Income Protection and Life Insurance
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Cycle to work scheme and gym subsidy
• 5 days paid time to volunteer to give back to our communities
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• The opportunity to work for a Great Place to Work & Fortune 100 organization

Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity and employment equity throughout all levels of the organization. We strive to attract a qualified and diverse candidate pool and encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.

Additional Jobs Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity throughout all levels of the organization.

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E-Verify Cadence participates in the E-Verify program in certain U.S. locations as required by law. Download More Information on E-Verify (64K) Cadence plays a critical role in creating the technologies that modern life depends on. We are a global electronic design automation company, providing software, hardware, and intellectual property to design advanced semiconductor chips that enable our customers create revolutionary products and experiences. Thanks to the outstanding caliber of the Cadence team and the empowering culture that we have cultivated for over 25 years, Cadence continues to be recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Our shared passion for solving the world’s toughest technical challenges, our dedication to pushing the limits of the industry, and our drive to do meaningful work differentiates the people of Cadence. Cadence is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other protected class.