Principal Program Manager

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology. Job Description: Project Manager (T4) Position: Principal Program Manager— Level T4

Function: Engineering / Program Management — EDA Software Development

Role Overview We are looking for a seasoned Project Manager to lead and coordinate complex, high-stakes initiatives across multiple engineering and business teams in the context of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software development . You will be the central orchestrator ensuring delivery excellence, stakeholder alignment, and continuous innovation across the full EDA product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Multi-team coordination: Drive alignment across cross-functional teams (engineering, QA, design, operations, business) to ensure seamless execution and on-time delivery of EDA software projects.
• Customer project ownership: Manage end-to-end delivery of customer-facing EDA projects, acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring commitments are met with quality.
• High-stakes project leadership: Lead critical, high-visibility programs with significant business or technical impact, managing risks proactively and escalating appropriately.
• Structured planning: Define project scope, milestones, dependencies, and resource plans using rigorous methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, or hybrid).
• Innovation facilitation: Champion new approaches and continuously explore emerging tools — including AI-assisted project management (intelligent scheduling, risk prediction, automated reporting, and AI-driven decision support) — to improve team efficiency and project outcomes.
• Status reporting: Provide clear, concise, and accurate communication to all stakeholders — from engineers to senior leadership.
• Team collaboration: Foster a strong team spirit, removing blockers and ensuring every contributor feels supported and empowered.

Required Profile

• Proven track record managing complex, multi-team programs in a technical or software development environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to adapt messaging for both technical and executive audiences.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and structured in approach.
• Collaborative mindset with genuine team spirit — you succeed when the team succeeds.
• Comfortable operating under pressure and navigating ambiguity on high-stakes deliverables.
• Experience with project management tools (Jira, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent).
• Understanding of EDA tools and the semiconductor design flow is a strong plus — familiarity with the domain (simulation, synthesis, place & route, verification, etc.) enables faster ramp-up and more credible engagement with engineering teams.
• PMP certification (Project Management Professional) is a strong plus — it demonstrates mastery of globally recognized PM standards and a commitment to the discipline.

What We Value You are not just a process enforcer — you are a builder of bridges between teams, a guardian of commitments to customers, and a driver of a culture where quality and innovation go hand in hand. You embrace AI as a force multiplier to manage smarter, not just harder — and you bring enough EDA domain awareness to speak the language of the engineers you serve.

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