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 Software Engineer.
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
Reports to: Sr Software Engineering Manager
Job Overview:
Ready to shape the future of engineering simulation? Join our Solver Team in Nottingham and help develop next-generation simulation technologies used by leading automotive, aerospace, motorsport, electric vehicle, and renewable energy companies worldwide.
As a Lead Software Engineer, you will work at the intersection of mathematical modelling, high-performance computing, and software engineering to create advanced simulation solutions for complex multi-physics systems. You will help design cutting-edge numerical solvers, GPU-accelerated computing frameworks, and scalable software architectures, while establishing engineering best practices and shaping the technical direction for future product development.
Job Responsibilities:
- Develop mathematical models and numerical methods to simulate thermal and structural interactions within complex engineering systems.
- Design and implement analytical and numerical solvers, including quasi-static and time-stepping algorithms for ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs).
- Design and implement high-performance simulation software using modern C++ (C++17/20), delivering robust, scalable, and maintainable solutions.
- Develop and optimize compute-intensive algorithms using multithreading, SIMD techniques, and GPU acceleration technologies such as CUDA and OpenCL.
- Analyze software performance, identify computational bottlenecks, and implement optimizations across CPU and GPU architectures.
- Leverage AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude, or similar to improve development productivity while maintaining high engineering quality standards.
- Translate research concepts, prototypes, and proof-of-concepts into production-ready software.
- Collaborate closely with software developers, research engineers, product managers, and domain experts to deliver innovative simulation capabilities.
Job Qualifications:
- A PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline. We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates as well as those with several years of post-doctoral or industry research experience.
- Strong software development skills with demonstrated proficiency in modern C++.
- Deep understanding of object-oriented design, software architecture, and software engineering best practices.
- Strong knowledge of numerical methods, mathematical modelling, and computational problem solving.
- Experience developing performance-critical software or computational algorithms.
- Understanding of AI-assisted software development and practical use of LLMs, and agent-based development workflows.
Additional Skills/Preferences:
- Experience in multi-body dynamics, multiscale modelling, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, or other physics-based simulation domains.
- Knowledge of modern software development practices including CI/CD, automated testing, and DevOps workflows.
- Knowledge of high-performance computing techniques including SIMD vectorisation, cache optimization, distributed computing, and parallel programming.
Additional Information:
This role is based in our Nottingham office, with a hybrid working arrangement of at least 3 days per week on-site. You will join a specialist Solver Team working alongside research engineers, software developers, product managers, and domain experts. The team operates with a strong culture of technical rigour and collaborative problem-solving, using modern tooling including GitHub, Azure DevOps, and AI-assisted development environments.
Check what we can offer you:
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday per year
- Private Medical and Dental plans, Income Protection and Life Insurance
- Group Personal Pension Plan
- Cycle to work scheme and gym subsidy
- 5 days paid time to volunteer to give back to our communities
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- The opportunity to work for a Great Place to Work© & Fortune 100 organization
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.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.Skills Required
- PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related discipline
- Proficiency in modern C++ (C++17/20) and strong software development skills
- Deep understanding of object-oriented design, software architecture, and engineering best practices
- Strong knowledge of numerical methods, mathematical modelling, and computational problem solving
- Experience developing performance-critical software and computational algorithms
- Experience with GPU acceleration technologies (CUDA, OpenCL), multithreading, and SIMD optimization
- Understanding and practical use of AI-assisted software development and LLMs (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude)
- Experience in multi-body dynamics, finite element analysis, CFD, or other physics-based simulation domains
- Knowledge of CI/CD, automated testing, and DevOps workflows (Azure DevOps, GitHub)
- Knowledge of high-performance computing techniques including cache optimization and distributed computing
Cadence Design Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cadence Design Systems and has not been reviewed or approved by Cadence Design Systems.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — A discounted ESPP with a lookback feature and equity included in total compensation make ownership broadly accessible and potentially meaningful. Structured compensation at an industry leader adds predictability to equity participation.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage are described as solid, with mental‑health/EAP and fertility support enhancing the offering. The breadth across core care and family‑building needs strengthens the healthcare package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Global Recharge Days, volunteer time off, and companywide breaks indicate a comprehensive time‑off framework. In addition, many salaried roles are described as having flexible or generous PTO policies.
Cadence Design Systems Insights
What We Do
Cadence enables electronic systems and semiconductor companies to create the innovative end products that are transforming the way people live, work and play. Cadence® software, hardware and IP are used by customers to deliver products to market faster. The company's Intelligent System Design strategy helps customers develop differentiated products—from chips to boards to intelligent systems—in mobile, consumer, cloud, data center, automotive, aerospace, IoT, industrial and other market segments. Cadence is listed as one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For.
