IC Implementation, Senior Principal Application Engineer

Job Title

IC Implementation, Senior Principal Application Engineer

Role Summary

The Senior Principal Application Engineer leads complex pre-sales and post-sales technical engagements for Cadence digital IC products, focusing on advanced-node implementation and signoff (3nm and below). The role drives technical strategy, solves high-impact design challenges, and delivers solutions that enable successful customer tapeouts.

Experience Level

Senior-level; 12+ years of hands-on experience in physical implementation and signoff at 7nm and below with multiple successful tapeouts.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include:

• Lead technical strategy and execution for critical customer design projects and influence implementation flows at advanced nodes (3nm and below).
• Advise customers on synthesis, place-and-route, clock-tree synthesis, floorplanning, timing signoff, and power optimization to achieve design closure.
• Support pre-sales and post-sales engagements to demonstrate solutions and grow business with sales teams.
• Develop and deploy automation and custom solutions using TCL, Perl, and Python.
• Debug complex design issues and drive timely resolution to meet timing and power goals.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers; promote knowledge sharing and best practices across teams.

Requirements

Must-have qualifications:

• Extensive hands-on experience in physical implementation and signoff at advanced nodes with multiple tapeouts.
• Deep expertise in digital synthesis, place-and-route, and static timing analysis, with a track record of meeting timing and power targets.
• Experience applying AI techniques in EDA workflows (Agentic-AI or similar) is desirable.
• Strong debugging and root-cause analysis skills for complex design problems.
• Proficiency in scripting for automation and flow customization (TCL, Perl, Python).
• Excellent communication and leadership skills; proven ability to partner with sales and customers.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering.

About the Company

Company: Cadence Design Systems

Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA

Cadence Design Systems is a global electronic design automation company that provides software, hardware, and intellectual property for designing advanced semiconductor chips. With over 25 years in the industry, Cadence is known for its innovative technology solutions and has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The company is dedicated to solving complex technical challenges in order to enable customers to create revolutionary products and experiences.