Principal Software Engineer (Geometry)

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. seeks a Principal Software Engineer to provide deep technical leadership in the Geometry domain for MSC Apex.

The role focuses on designing, developing, and guiding advanced geometry capabilities used in CAE preprocessing, model preparation, defeaturing, geometry cleanup, healing, and interoperability. The successful candidate will act as a senior individual contributor, partnering across engineering, architecture, QA, and product teams to deliver robust geometry

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Geometry, Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience delivering commercial or enterprise engineering software, preferably in CAD/CAE/geometry domains.
• Deep expertise in computational geometry, topology, CAD modeling concepts, geometry kernels, B-rep data structures, geometry cleanup, healing, defeaturing, and interoperability workflows.
• Strong background in C++ software development for large-scale engineering, scientific, CAD/CAE, or geometry-intensive applications.
• Experience with CAD/CAE products or geometry platforms such as MSC Apex, Patran, ANSA, CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, Parasolid, ACIS, Open Cascade, or equivalent technologies.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and develop advanced Geometry capabilities for CAE products, ensuring robustness, scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Provide technical leadership for geometry modeling, defeaturing, cleanup, healing, interoperability, topology handling, and CAE preprocessing workflows.
• Serve as a senior technical authority for design reviews, feasibility analysis, risk assessment, debugging, performance optimization, and long-term architecture decisions.
• Collaborate with product management, architecture, QA, program management, and engineering teams to translate customer workflow needs into actionable technical solutions.
• Guide and mentor engineers on geometry algorithms, design patterns, code quality, testing strategy, and engineering best practices.
• Investigate complex geometry defects, interoperability issues, performance bottlenecks, and customer-reported workflow problems, driving them to resolution.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and communicate design tradeoffs, technical risks, and implementation plans clearly to stakeholders and leadership.

Skills

C++

Computational geometry

Geometry kernels

CAD/CAE workflows

Topology handling

Python scripting

Code optimization

Debugging

Mentoring engineers

AI-assisted development tools

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Geometry, Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Engineering, or related field

Tools

MSC Apex

Patran

ANSA

CATIA

SolidWorks

NX

Parasolid

ACIS

Open Cascade

STEP/IGES

Job description

HOME CHINA

SHANGHAI

Full time

R56778

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

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide deep technical leadership in the Geometry domain for MSC Apex. This role is responsible for designing, developing, and guiding advanced geometry capabilities used in CAE preprocessing, model preparation, defeaturing, geometry cleanup, healing, interoperability, and downstream simulation workflows. The successful candidate will act as a senior individual contributor and technical authority, partnering across engineering, architecture, QA, and product teams to deliver robust, scalable, and maintainable geometry solutions aligned with customer and product needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and develop advanced Geometry capabilities for CAE products, ensuring robustness, scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Provide technical leadership for geometry modeling, defeaturing, cleanup, healing, interoperability, topology handling, and CAE preprocessing workflows.
• Serve as a senior technical authority for design reviews, feasibility analysis, risk assessment, debugging, performance optimization, and long-term architecture decisions.
• Collaborate with product management, architecture, QA, program management, and engineering teams to translate customer workflow needs into actionable technical solutions.
• Guide and mentor engineers on geometry algorithms, design patterns, code quality, testing strategy, and engineering best practices.
• Investigate complex geometry defects, interoperability issues, performance bottlenecks, and customer-reported workflow problems, driving them to resolution.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and communicate design tradeoffs, technical risks, and implementation plans clearly to stakeholders and leadership.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computational Geometry, Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Experience

• 12+ years of software engineering experience delivering commercial or enterprise engineering software, preferably in CAD, CAE, geometry, or simulation domains.
• Deep expertise in computational geometry, topology, CAD modeling concepts, geometry kernels, B-rep data structures, geometry cleanup, healing, defeaturing, and interoperability workflows.
• Strong background in C++ software development for large-scale engineering, scientific, CAD, CAE, or geometry-intensive applications.
• Experience designing and implementing robust geometry algorithms and production-quality software components used in model preparation and CAE preprocessing workflows.
• Working knowledge of CAE workflows including model preparation, meshing handoff, solver readiness, simulation preprocessing, and customer-driven usability requirements.
• Experience with CAD/CAE products or geometry platforms such as MSC Apex, Patran, ANSA, CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, Parasolid, ACIS, Open Cascade, or equivalent technologies.
• Ability to guide architecture and implementation decisions while balancing innovation, quality, performance, robustness, maintainability, and delivery commitments.
• Familiarity with scripting, automation, build systems, debugging tools, profiling tools, and engineering productivity practices; Python experience is preferred.
• Experience mentoring engineers, reviewing complex designs, and influencing technical direction across teams without direct people-management responsibility.
• Practical experience using AI-assisted software development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar tools to improve coding productivity, code review efficiency, documentation, and engineering workflows.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in C++ for high-performance geometry, CAD, CAE, or scientific computing applications.
• Deep understanding of computational geometry algorithms, including intersection, projection, trimming, tolerance handling, curve and surface evaluation, spatial search, and proximity calculations.
• Hands-on experience with B-rep topology, geometry kernels, feature recognition, defeaturing, geometry cleanup, healing, and topology repair workflows.
• Experience working with CAD data translation, interoperability, and neutral formats such as STEP, IGES, Parasolid, ACIS, or equivalent geometry representations.
• Ability to design robust geometry APIs, reusable software components, and scalable data structures for complex engineering models.
• Strong debugging and diagnostic skills for resolving geometric robustness issues, numerical precision problems, and customer workflow failures.
• Experience optimizing geometry operations for performance, memory usage, scalability, and responsiveness in large assemblies and complex CAE models.
• Familiarity with automated testing strategies for geometry algorithms, including regression tests, tolerance-based validation, stress cases, and customer model validation.
• Working knowledge of Python or scripting tools for automation, diagnostics, workflow prototyping, and engineering productivity.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

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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.

Cadence is committed to creating a diverse environment and 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.