Principal Design Engineer

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📍 AUSTINFull time

About this role

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Required Qualifications

  • B.E./B.Tech or M.Tech/M.S. in Electronics, VLSI, or related field
  • 8–10 years of hands-on DV experience in semiconductor/ASIC/SoC companies
  • Deep expertise in SystemVerilog and UVM (Universal Verification Methodology)
  • Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals — RTL, timing, clocking, resets
  • Experience with industry-standard simulators: Xcelium, VCS, Questa
  • Proficiency in coverage-driven verification — functional, code, and toggle coverage
  • Hands-on experience with formal verification tools and flows
  • Experience with bus protocols such as AXI, AHB, APB, PCIe, DDR, or similar
  • Strong debug skills — waveform analysis (Verisium, SimVision)
  • Familiarity with low-power verification (UPF/CPF) and gls/power-aware gls simulation

 

Core Responsibilities

 

  • Strategy and Architecture

Verification Planning: Define the overall verification strategy, including the choice of methodology (typically UVM/SystemVerilog), tools, and infrastructure.

Testbench Architecture: Design scalable, reusable, and robust verification environments. This includes developing Bus Functional Models (BFMs), monitors, scoreboards, and checkers.

Feature Extraction: Analyze architectural specifications to identify critical features and corner cases that require rigorous testing.

 

  • Execution and Technical Leadership

Customer Interaction: Technically lead DV execution of small to mid-sized customer ASIC projects. Handle customer interactions. Convert high level customer requirements into DV execution plan.  

Development: Write complex test cases and sequences to achieve high functional coverage.

Debug: Lead the root-cause analysis of complex design bugs, collaborating closely with design engineers to implement fixes.

Constraint Random Testing: Implement constrained-random stimulus generation to explore the design space beyond directed tests.

Formal Verification: Utilize formal tools to prove specific properties or find deep-seated bugs that simulation might miss.

 

  • Metric Management

Coverage Analysis: Monitor and analyze functional and code coverage metrics.

Gate-Level Simulation (GLS): Oversee simulations on the synthesized netlist to verify timing and reset behavior.

Sign-off: Define the "definition of done" and provide final technical approval for the verification phase.

 

  • Soft Skills and Leadership

Mentorship: Guiding junior engineers on coding standards and debugging techniques.

Cross-functional Collaboration: Acting as the primary technical point of contact between the design, architecture, and emulation teams.

Project Management: Managing timelines, identifying risks in the verification schedule, and prioritizing tasks to meet project deadlines.

 

We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Principal Design Engineer position at cadence?
The salary for this Principal Design Engineer role at cadence is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Principal Design Engineer position at cadence located?
This Principal Design Engineer role at cadence is based in AUSTIN. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Principal Design Engineer role at cadence full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a Full time position. It is posted as a Principal Design Engineer role at cadence.
How do I apply for the Principal Design Engineer position at cadence?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to cadence's official application portal hosted on workday where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Principal Design Engineer job at cadence posted?
This Principal Design Engineer position at cadence was posted on Oct 1, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Principal Design Engineer
cadence
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