RTL2 GDS, Sr Principal Application Engineer

Job Title

RTL2 GDS, Sr Principal Application Engineer

Role Summary

Senior field applications engineer focused on digital backend implementation and signoff. Work directly with customers to deploy Cadence synthesis, place-and-route, and signoff technologies to meet PPA and closure targets.

Collaborate with Cadence R&D to drive product requirements and improve tool flows used in advanced-node digital designs.

Experience Level

Senior — typically 10+ years of industry physical design experience as specified in the posting.

Responsibilities

Provide technical customer support, drive evaluations, and improve tool flows; key duties include:

• Support customers in backend digital implementation and signoff: place & route, timing and power closure, IR drop analysis.
• Advise customers on using Cadence technologies to meet design goals and schedules.
• Perform technical presentations, product demonstrations, and benchmarks/evaluations.
• Work with R&D to refine tools and methodologies based on customer requirements.
• Drive adoption of Cadence tools and document best practices and lessons learned from engagements.
• Customize and extend flows using scripting (Tcl, Python, Perl) to improve results and automation.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience:

• 10+ years of industry physical design experience (minimum).
• Strong knowledge of digital design fundamentals and static timing analysis.
• Experience with IC digital implementation flows and backend EDA tools for place & route, timing and power closure, and IR drop analysis.
• Hands-on experience at advanced nodes (10nm and below).
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Tcl, Perl, or Python.
• Strong customer-facing communication, problem-solving skills, and ability to drive technical evaluations to success.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with R&D and internal teams to influence product direction.

Education Requirements

Minimum: BS degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field. Preferred: MS in Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field. (Degrees stated in posting; equivalent experience not explicitly specified.)

Preferred

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience with front-end EDA flows (synthesis, DFT, logical equivalence checking).
• Experience with Cadence tools (Genus, Innovus, Conformal, Tempus, Modus, Voltus, ICC/ICC2, DC, PrimeTime) is highly desired.
• Experience with very advanced nodes (5nm and below).

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.