Principal Product Engineer – Virtuoso Backend Flows

Job Title

Principal Product Engineer – Virtuoso Backend Flows

Role Summary

Drive development and customer adoption of advanced backend design flows in Cadence Virtuoso for advanced process nodes. This is a customer-facing engineering role that combines physical design methodology, design automation, and direct customer engagement.

Experience Level

Senior-level (Principal). Typically requires 7+ years of relevant industry experience.

Responsibilities

The role focuses on enabling efficient implementation of custom IC designs and influencing product capabilities through customer engagement and technical leadership.

• Lead development and validation of Virtuoso backend/layout/signoff flows for advanced process nodes.
• Work directly with customers to diagnose issues, deliver solutions, and drive adoption of flows.
• Develop automation and scripts to improve design productivity and repeatability.
• Troubleshoot complex layout and signoff problems and coordinate fixes with R&D teams.
• Create technical documentation, training materials, and customer-facing deliverables.
• Influence product roadmap by communicating customer needs and technical gaps to product and engineering teams.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience.

• Strong experience in custom IC backend design, layout, and signoff flows.
• Deep familiarity with Virtuoso layout environments and advanced-node methodologies.
• Experience with automation and scripting using SKILL, Python, Perl, or UNIX Shell.
• Proven ability to work directly with customers and deliver effective technical solutions.
• Experience troubleshooting complex issues and collaborating with R&D teams.
• Strong communication, documentation, and training skills.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 9+ years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience. (No alternative degree or certification language specified.)

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.