At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Account Technical Executive (ATX) – Custom IC / Analog / RF (Virtuoso Platform)
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make a meaningful impact on the future of semiconductor design.
Position Overview
As an Account Technical Executive (ATX) focused on Custom IC / Analog / RF design, you will serve as the primary technical leader driving adoption and value realization of the Cadence Virtuoso Platform, including Virtuoso Layout Suite and associated Custom IC design flows.
You will partner closely with strategic sales teams and key customer stakeholders (design leads, CAD teams, and methodology owners) to solve complex custom IC design challenges, with a strong emphasis on layout implementation, analog and mixed-signal productivity, and advanced-node methodologies.
This role also plays a key part in driving next-generation design methodologies by leveraging AI-driven and agent-based workflows, helping customers adopt intelligent automation frameworks that enhance productivity, design quality, and time-to-market.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead technical engagement for Custom IC / Analog / RF design flows, with a primary focus on Virtuoso Layout Suite and the broader Virtuoso platform
- Partner with customer design and CAD teams to optimize layout productivity, quality, and time-to-market
- Drive adoption of advanced capabilities such as:
- Constraint-driven and automation-assisted layout
- Device-level and full-chip layout methodologies
- Advanced node layout challenges (FinFET, GAA)
- EM and IR-aware layout and parasitic extraction flows
- Champion the integration of AI-driven design techniques, including:
- Agentic AI workflows to automate design exploration, layout optimization, and verification tasks
- AI-assisted decision-making for layout trade-offs including PPA, matching, and parasitics
- Translate customer pain points into actionable requirements for R&D and product engineering
- Provide technical leadership in methodology definition, flow development, and best practices
- Influence competitive replacements and expand footprint of Cadence Custom IC solutions
- Support executive-level discussions by linking technical value such as PPA, productivity, and risk reduction to business outcomes
Key Qualifications (Custom IC / Virtuoso + AI Focus)
Custom IC and Virtuoso Expertise
- Deep hands-on experience with the Cadence Virtuoso Platform, including:
- Virtuoso Layout Suite (XL, GXL, EXL)
- Schematic-driven layout and LVS flows
- DRC and physical verification integration
- Strong knowledge of custom analog and mixed-signal layout techniques, including:
- Device matching, symmetry, common centroid, and shielding
- Parasitic-aware layout for high-performance analog and RF circuits
- Experience with the Spectre simulation environment and layout-to-schematic integration
- Familiarity with PCell development, layout automation, and scripting (SKILL preferred)
Agentic AI and Intelligent Design Automation
- Strong understanding of AI and machine learning applications in semiconductor design, specifically:
- Agentic AI frameworks such as multi-agent systems, goal-driven automation, and autonomous optimization
- AI-assisted layout generation and design space exploration
- Intelligent automation of repetitive design and verification tasks
- Experience or demonstrated interest in:
- Applying AI to EDA workflows, CAD flows, or design methodology optimization
- Working with data-driven or reinforcement learning-based optimization approaches
- Ability to bridge AI innovation with practical design flows, translating emerging technologies into deployable customer solutions
Design and Methodology Expertise
- 5–10 or more years of experience in:
- Custom IC, Analog, or RF design or layout engineering
- Mixed-signal design flows at block and full-chip level
- Deep understanding of:
- Analog and RF design flows from schematic to signoff
- Physical verification, extraction, and post-layout simulation
- Advanced-node layout challenges and reliability considerations
- Experience with layout productivity optimization and methodology deployment at scale
Customer Engagement and Leadership
- Proven ability to:
- Engage deeply with CAD teams, design leads, and senior technical leadership
- Identify and articulate technical gaps and business impact
- Drive alignment between customer roadmap and Cadence product direction
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate between deep technical detail and executive-level value
Position Requirements
- BSEE required, MSEE or higher strongly preferred
- 5–10 or more years of experience in Custom IC, Analog, or RF design or layout
- Demonstrated expertise in Virtuoso-based design environments
- Exposure to or strong interest in AI-driven design methodologies and agent-based automation frameworks
- Strong collaboration and customer-facing experience
- Ability to travel approximately 25 percent, primarily within North America
Location
San Jose
The annual salary range for California is $248,000 to $372,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.
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