Application Engineer, RTL2GDS Sr Director

Cadence Design Systems; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

401(k) plan with employer match

Employee stock purchase plan

Medical, dental and vision plans

and more

Job summary

Cadence Design Systems in California seeks a Sr Application Engineer Architect to lead strategic customer engagements on EDA and AgenticAI solutions, guiding cross-functional teams toward advanced design wins.

The role demands deep IC design knowledge, strong leadership, and the ability to drive benchmarks, tool optimizations, and adoption of Cadence technologies at executive levels.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of IC design implementation and signoff experience.
• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Deep expertise in digital design, advanced node implementation (3nm and below), and EDA tool ecosystems.
• Proven track record of leading technical teams and driving customer success at executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute technical engagement strategies for top semiconductor design teams.
• Customer Advocacy: Guide adoption of Cadence’s digital implementation and AgenticAI features across advanced nodes.
• Team Development: Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Application Engineers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D and Product Engineering to influence tool enhancements.
• Innovation & Enablement: Drive benchmarks, flow optimizations, and deployment of cutting-edge methodologies.
• Thought Leadership: Represent Cadence at industry forums, author technical papers, and deliver keynote presentations.
• Operational Excellence: Establish best practices for engagement models, resource planning and escalations.

Skills

IC design implementation

Leadership

Tcl/Python/Perl

Exec-level influence

Scripting and tool customization

Education

BS/MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Genus

Innovus

Tempus

Voltus

Conformal

Cerebrus

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Overview

The Sr Application Engineer Architect will serve as a senior technical leader within Cadence’s North America Field Applications Team, driving strategic customer engagements and influencing next-generation EDA & Agentic-AI solutions. This role demands exceptional technical depth, proven leadership, and the ability to align cross-functional teams toward delivering advanced design solutions for leading semiconductor companies.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute technical engagement strategies for top semiconductor design team, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and customer success metrics.
• Customer Advocacy: Act as a trusted advisor for executive-level stakeholders, guiding adoption of Cadence’s digital implementation, signoff technologies and AgenticAI features across advanced nodes (3nm and below).
• Team Development: Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Application Engineers, fostering technical excellence and career growth.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D and Product Engineering to influence tool enhancements based on real-world customer requirements.
• Innovation & Enablement: Drive complex benchmarks, flow optimizations, and deployment of cutting-edge methodologies for Synthesis, P&R, STA, IR Drop, and power/timing closure.
• Thought Leadership: Represent Cadence at industry forums, author technical papers, and deliver keynote presentations to position Cadence as a market leader.
• Operational Excellence: Establish best practices for engagement models, resource planning, and technical escalations to ensure timely and successful project execution.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in IC design implementation and signoff, with demonstrated success in managing large-scale technical programs.
• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Deep expertise in digital design fundamentals, advanced node implementation (3nm and below), and EDA tool ecosystems.
• Proven track record of leading technical teams and driving customer success at executive levels.
• Strong proficiency in scripting (Tcl, Python, Perl) and flow customization for design closure.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Prior experience with Cadence tools (Genus, Innovus, Tempus, Voltus, Conformal, Cerebrus) and competitive solutions highly desirable.

Salary and Benefits

The annual salary range for California is $210,000 to $390,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location.

Benefits

• paid vacation and paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• employee stock purchase plan
• a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options
• and more

Company Culture

We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity throughout all levels of the organization.

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.

E-Verify

E-Verify Cadence participates in the E-Verify program in certain U.S. locations as required by law.

About Cadence

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.