Principal Program Manager
Cadence Design SystemsJob Title
Principal Program Manager
Role Summary
As Principal Program Manager you will lead and coordinate complex, high-impact EDA software initiatives across multiple engineering and business teams. You will ensure on-time delivery, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and continuous improvement across the product lifecycle.
Work includes customer-facing project ownership, cross-team orchestration, and introducing process and tooling improvements, including AI-assisted project management.
Experience Level
Senior (Principal level). No explicit years of experience specified.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include program leadership, planning, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams (engineering, QA, design, operations, business) to deliver EDA software projects.
- Own end-to-end delivery of customer-facing projects and act as the primary point of contact.
- Lead high-visibility programs; identify and mitigate risks and escalate when necessary.
- Define scope, milestones, dependencies, and resource plans using Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, or hybrid methodologies.
- Promote process improvements and evaluate AI-assisted tools for scheduling, risk prediction, and reporting.
- Provide clear status reporting to engineering teams and senior leadership.
- Remove blockers and foster collaboration and team effectiveness.
Requirements
Must-have skills and experience:
- Proven record managing complex, multi-team technical or software programs.
- Strong written and verbal communication for both technical and executive audiences.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and structured approach to delivery.
- Ability to operate under pressure and navigate ambiguity on high-stakes deliverables.
- Experience with project management tools (Jira, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent).
Nice-to-have:
- Familiarity with EDA tools and the semiconductor design flow (simulation, synthesis, place & route, verification).
Education Requirements
No formal degree or field-of-study requirement stated. PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is listed as a strong plus. EDA domain knowledge is preferred.
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.
