Lead Application Engineer

Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise. The company applies its underlying Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware and IP that turn design concepts into reality.

Cadence customers are the world’s most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products from chips to boards to systems for the most dynamic market applications including consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace industrial and health.

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

Job Title: Lead Application Engineer

Location: Feldkirchen (Munich), Germany

Reports to: Application Engineering Group Director

Job Overview:

As a Lead Application Engineer, you will serve as a trusted technical advisor to some of the world’s most innovative semiconductor companies, driving the adoption of Cadence’s Digital Implementation and Signoff solutions to help customers achieve industry-leading Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) results.

Working at the intersection of customer success and product innovation, you will shape how next-generation silicon is brought to market - leveraging the latest advances in AI-driven design technologies to accelerate design closure and solve complex implementation and signoff challenges.

You will also work directly with Cadence R&D to influence product direction, translating real-world customer needs into the features and tools that define the future of electronic design.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead customer evaluations, benchmarks, and proof-of-concept projects, guiding customers through complex technical decisions to accelerate design closure.
• Provide deep technical expertise in Power Analysis, Electromigration/IR (EM/IR) Signoff, and advanced-node implementation methodologies across leading semiconductor processes.
• Develop and deliver tailored customer presentations, technical workshops, and training sessions that build capability and confidence in Cadence’s Digital Full Flow.
• Collaborate with sales teams to identify and qualify new business opportunities, translating technical insights into clear value propositions that drive technology adoption.
• Mentor and develop junior Application Engineers, contributing to knowledge-sharing practices and raising the technical bar across the AE organisation.
• Partner with R&D and Product Engineering to diagnose and resolve complex customer challenges and actively influence the product roadmap by communicating real-world customer requirements.
• Evaluate and communicate the impact of AI-assisted design methodologies to customers, positioning Cadence’s AI-enabled and agentic design solutions as strategic differentiators.
• Maintain up-to-date expertise in advanced nanometer implementation techniques and low-power design standards (UPF/CPF), ensuring customers benefit from current best practices.

Job Qualifications:

• Degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related discipline or equivalent industry experience.
• 5–8 years of experience in Physical Design, Digital Implementation, Signoff, or related semiconductor design disciplines.
• Hands-on experience with Power Analysis and EM/IR Signoff (required).
• Strong customer-facing communication skills and a structured approach to technical problem-solving.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.

Additional Skills/Preferences:               

• Experience with Cadence Digital Full Flow tools including Innovus, Tempus, Voltus, and Joules
• Advanced nanometer implementation experience
• Familiarity with low-power design techniques and standards (IEEE 1801, UPF, CPF)
• Experience working in or supporting customer-facing technical roles
• Exposure to AI-assisted design methodologies

Additional Information:

• Join a highly experienced and collaborative team of Application Engineers supporting leading semiconductor companies across Europe.
• Play a key role in driving adoption of next-generation AI-enabled and agentic design solutions for some of the industry’s most advanced semiconductor customers.
• Key stakeholders include customers’ design and engineering leads, Cadence R&D teams, and the European sales organisation.
• Primary tools include Cadence’s Digital Full Flow suite: Innovus, Tempus, Voltus, Joules, and related implementation and signoff platforms.

Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity and employment equity throughout all levels of the organization. We strive to attract a qualified and diverse candidate pool and encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Travel: Approximately 10% of travel is expected, primarily to support customer engagements and technical workshops across Europe.