Senior Principal Digital Implementation Engineer

Job Title

Senior Principal Digital Implementation Engineer

Role Summary

Technical lead responsible for delivering implementation methodology and execution for advanced-node silicon programs. The role is hands-on and combines direct engineering contribution with customer engagement and cross-functional influence across Cadence R&D, PSG engineering, and strategic customers.

Work includes methodology development, tool and flow evaluation, technical investigations, and mentoring implementation engineers to enable repeatable tape-outs and strong PPA results.

Experience Level

Senior - typically 15+ years of relevant semiconductor engineering experience, demonstrated technical leadership, and tape-out experience on advanced process nodes.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide technical leadership across Synthesis/Netlist through physical implementation, signoff, and tapeout for complex silicon programs.
• Develop and deploy advanced methodologies to meet power, performance, and area (PPA) targets.
• Work with PSG engineering and Cadence R&D to translate customer issues into tool and methodology enhancements.
• Drive innovation across physical design, timing, power, signal integrity, physical verification, and signoff.
• Evaluate and introduce Cadence technologies, methodologies, and IP into customer flows.
• Lead technical investigations into silicon failures, convergence problems, and performance limitations.
• Create reusable methodologies and best practices for multiple customers and process nodes.
• Mentor and develop implementation engineers; act as a technical authority within the EMEA PSG organization.
• Present technical results to customers, partners, senior leadership, and industry forums.
• Support pre-sales effort estimation and technical scoping with the Design Engineering Director and sales teams.

Requirements

Must-have:

• 15+ years of semiconductor implementation or related engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated technical achievement.
• Proven tape-out experience on advanced process nodes.
• Experience with high-performance SoCs (CPUs, GPUs, AI/ML accelerators), networking devices, or similar complex designs.
• Deep expertise in one or more areas of the implementation flow (physical design, timing closure, power optimization, signal integrity, signoff) and broad SoC lifecycle understanding.
• Experience working directly with semiconductor customers, foundries, or technology partners in a customer-facing role.
• Demonstrated technical team leadership and ability to influence technical direction without relying solely on authority.
• Proven cross-functional problem-solving skills for complex, multi-domain issues.
• Excellent technical communication and presentation skills; strong written and spoken English.
• Self-motivated with strong planning and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with automation and methodology development, including AI-accelerated flows.
• Familiarity with advanced packaging, DTCO (process/design co-optimization), RTL-to-GDSII flows, IP integration and hierarchical SoC implementation.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated technical achievement.

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.