At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology. Position Summary We are seeking a Principal QA Engineer with strong CAE simulation software experience, deep quality engineering expertise, hands-on Python automation skills, and practical understanding of modern AI-assisted engineering practices. This role is responsible for defining and executing effective test strategies for Apex and related CAE products, validating complex engineering workflows, improving automation coverage, and driving high-quality release outcomes. The successful candidate will act as a senior quality authority who can work closely with development, product management, QA, application engineering, and customer-facing teams to identify risks early, strengthen validation practices, investigate complex issues, and ensure that CAE workflows are reliable, usable, performant, and technically accurate. Key Responsibilities • Lead, coach, and develop a team of QA engineers, establishing clear priorities, ownership, and expectations. • Provide day-to-day technical guidance while encouraging independent problem solving, collaboration, and continuous learning. • Own the team’s test strategy, release qualification approach, automation roadmap, and quality improvement plans. • Plan and balance testing activities across new features, regression, integration, performance, scalability, and end-to-end customer workflows. • Partner with development and product management to clarify requirements, identify quality risks early, and define appropriate validation coverage. • Review test plans, automation designs, engineering models, defect reports, and release-readiness evidence. • Remain hands-on in complex technical investigations, high-risk validation, customer-reported issues, and critical release decisions. • Drive the creation and maintenance of robust Python-based test automation and sustainable automation frameworks. • Use quality metrics and engineering evidence to communicate product status, risks, dependencies, and recommended actions to stakeholders. • Improve QA processes, test effectiveness, traceability, execution efficiency, and cross-team consistency. • Promote Agile collaboration through effective planning, reviews, retrospectives, and follow-through on improvement actions. • Coordinate effectively with global teams across time zones and support a respectful, inclusive, and accountable team culture. AI Leadership and Modern QA Practices • Guide the practical and responsible adoption of AI-assisted tools for test design, code generation, defect analysis, documentation, and quality reporting. • Ensure AI-generated code, test cases, summaries, and engineering outputs are reviewed, verified, traceable, and appropriate for their intended use. • Identify use cases where AI can improve test coverage, productivity, defect discovery, and knowledge sharing without weakening engineering judgment. • Help the team understand the capabilities, limitations, and risks of Generative AI and Large Language Models. • Protect confidential information and reinforce organizational policies when using external or enterprise AI tools. • Encourage experimentation with measurable outcomes and share effective AI-enabled QA practices across teams. Required Qualifications Education • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. • Master’s degree preferred. Experience • 12+ years of experience in software quality assurance, CAE simulation software validation, test strategy, release qualification, automation, or related engineering software domains. • Strong experience in software quality assurance, test strategy, release qualification, and defect management. • Proven ability to define detailed test plans, validation workflows, acceptance criteria, defect analysis approaches, and release-readiness evidence for complex engineering applications. • Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, coaching, feedback, and team-development support while promoting accountability and collaboration. • Strong engineering judgment, structured problem-solving skills, and ability to make evidence-based quality recommendations in complex technical situations. • Clear verbal and written English communication skills, with experience creating clarity across global teams and supporting changing priorities. • Customer-focused mindset, curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn and apply emerging technologies responsibly. Technical Skills • Strong understanding of FEA theory, structural mechanics, strength of materials, engineering simulation, and engineering design concepts. • Hands-on Python experience and a solid understanding of test automation architecture and maintainability. • Experience with one or more commercial CAE tools such as MSC Apex, MSC Patran, MSC Nastran, HyperMesh, ANSYS, or ANSA. • Experience validating engineering software, CAE applications, numerical workflows, or complex desktop products is highly desirable. • Understanding functional, regression, integration, performance, scalability, and end-to-end testing. • Familiarity with Agile software development and continuous improvement practices. Preferred AI Experience • Practical familiarity with AI-assisted tools such as GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or comparable technologies. • Understanding Generative AI and Large Language Model concepts, including accuracy, consistency, privacy, security, and validation considerations. • Experience introducing AI-assisted development or testing practices within an engineering team is a plus. • Ability to distinguish between tasks suitable for AI assistance and tasks requiring direct domain expertise or formal verification.N/A We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t. Additional Jobs Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Cadence is committed to equal employment opportunity throughout all levels of the organization. Read the policy(opens in a new tab) We welcome your interest in the company and want to make sure our job site is accessible to all. If you experience difficulty using this site or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact staffing@cadence.com. Privacy Policy: Job Applicant If you are a job seeker creating a profile using our careers website, please see the privacy policy(opens in a new tab). E-Verify Cadence participates in the E-Verify program in certain U.S. locations as required by law. Download More Information on E-Verify (64K) Cadence plays a critical role in creating the technologies that modern life depends on. We are a global electronic design automation company, providing software, hardware, and intellectual property to design advanced semiconductor chips that enable our customers create revolutionary products and experiences. Thanks to the outstanding caliber of the Cadence team and the empowering culture that we have cultivated for over 25 years, Cadence continues to be recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.  Our shared passion for solving the world’s toughest technical challenges, our dedication to pushing the limits of the industry, and our drive to do meaningful work differentiates the people of Cadence. Cadence is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other protected class.

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