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

The Principal Data & AI Strategist is a senior individual contributor who provides deep data science and AI expertise to solve complex, ambiguous business problems with broad organizational impact. This role leads multi‑project and cross‑team initiatives, develops new analytical and AI‑driven approaches, and influences decision‑making across functions. The position operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to mentor other practitioners while shaping best practices for the effective and responsible use of data and AI.

Key Responsibilities Data & AI Strategy

• Lead the application of advanced data science, analytics, and AI techniques to address complex, non‑routine problems where requirements and outcomes may be ambiguous.

• Translate business objectives into scalable data and AI approaches that drive measurable impact across multiple initiatives or teams.

• Evaluate emerging data and AI methods and determine practical applicability within the organization.

Solution Development & Methodology

• Develop, adapt, or refine new methods, frameworks, or analytical approaches beyond established standards.

• Assess trade‑offs among model performance, explainability, risk, cost, and operational feasibility.

• Ensure solutions align with enterprise standards for data quality, security, privacy, and responsible AI.

Influence & Collaboration

• Influence stakeholders across functions (e.g., Product, Engineering, HR, Finance, Operations) through expert guidance and evidence‑based recommendations.

• Act as a trusted advisor on data‑ and AI‑driven decision‑making at the senior leadership level.

• Contribute to cross‑functional initiatives with sustained impact beyond a single team or project.

Mentorship & Capability Building

• Mentor and coach data scientists, analysts, and AI practitioners, strengthening technical depth and strategic thinking across the organization.

• Contribute to shared standards, documentation, and best practices to improve consistency and effectiveness of data and AI work.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.

• Approximately 8 or more years of relevant experience in data science, analytics, AI, or related disciplines.

• Demonstrated success solving highly complex, ambiguous problems with limited precedent.

• Proven ability to influence outcomes across teams and functions without direct authority.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts to non‑technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Computer Science).

• Experience shaping or contributing to enterprise‑level data or AI strategy.

• Experience mentoring senior‑level peers or leading complex analytical initiatives.

The annual salary range for California is $126,000 to $234,000. 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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