Senior Manager/Director, Corporate Strategy & Development - Physical AI/Robotics
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Senior Manager/Director, Corporate Strategy & Development - Physical AI/Robotics
Location: San Jose, CA
Role Summary
We're seeking a corporate strategy leader who blends strategic acuity with hands-on technical depth to accelerate our momentum in Physical AI and robotics. You will shape corporate growth strategies and spearhead inorganic initiatives-including M&A, direct investments, and LP commitments-while orchestrating cross-functional execution with Product, R&D, Finance, Legal, and GTM. This is a high-visibility role for a builder-strategist who loves diving into markets, technology stacks, and deal processes-then crafting executive-ready narratives that inspire action.
Description
• Create and refine corporate growth strategies with a dedicated focus on Physical AI/robotics-market maps, product-market fit analyses, and executive storylines that turn insights into decisions.
• Develop investment thesis on the Physical AI stack (robots, middleware, simulation, training, deployment) and quantify where and how Cadence can create differentiated value.
• Build a high-quality pipeline of direct investment targets and LP opportunities; run thesis-driven sourcing and diligence, and prepare investment memos for leadership.
• Partner with product and engineering to assess buy/build/partner options-including co-development, strategic partnerships, minority investments, and acquisitions.
• Lead end-to-end corporate development execution: source, evaluate, negotiate, and close transactions; partner with integration team to drive plans that realize strategic and financial value.
• Establish mechanisms for fast-turn competitive intelligence, annual market sizing/forecasting, and executive dashboards that inform capital allocation and portfolio bets.
Expected Impact in 6-12 Months
• Stand up an operating cadence for executive reporting on the Physical AI landscape.
• Deliver investment thesis on Physical AI/robotics for executive review.
• Close 3-4 partnerships/investments/acquisitions.
Minimum Qualifications
• BS in Engineering (minimum) and 6+ years of relevant experience spanning corporate strategy, corporate development, venture investing, or product/engineering roles in robotics.
• Familiarity with the entire physical AI/robotics policy training and validation pipeline, including hands-on experience with modern simulation environments (e.g. Isaac Sim, Gazebo, Drake), deep understanding of physics-based simulation tools and engines (e.g. PhysX, MuJoCo), and proficiency in development frameworks and middleware (e.g. ROS/ROS2).
• Proven end-to-end M&A execution experience: sourcing, diligence, valuation/modeling, negotiation, close, and integration planning.
• Investment acumen: skilled at building theses, conducting technical/market/product diligence, drafting memos, and recommending direct investments and LP commitments.
• Executive communication: ability to distill complex technical and market insights into crisp narratives, visuals, and decision-ready materials.
Preferred Qualifications
• Advanced degree (MS, MBA) or equivalent; publications or demonstrated thought leadership in robotics/AI.
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• Familiarity with reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and sim-to-real transfer; practical exposure to datasets, synthetic data generation, and evaluation protocols.
• Track record of cross-functional leadership with Product, R&D, Finance, Legal, and GTM; comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
Ways of Working
• Builder-operator mindset: strategic rigor matched with willingness to get into the technical and financial details.
• Data-to-narrative craftsmanship: turn analysis into compelling executive materials and operating mechanisms.
• Bias for partnership: co-create outcomes with engineering, product, and external innovators.
The annual salary range for California is $144,200 to $267,800. 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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Perks and Benefits
Health and Wellness
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
- FSA
- HSA With Employer Contribution
- Fitness Subsidies
- On-Site Gym
- Mental Health Benefits
- Virtual Fitness Classes
- Health Insurance
Parental Benefits
- Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
- Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
- Fertility Benefits
- Adoption Assistance Program
- Family Support Resources
- Adoption Leave
Work Flexibility
- Flexible Work Hours
- Hybrid Work Opportunities
Office Life and Perks
- Casual Dress
- On-Site Cafeteria
- Holiday Events
Vacation and Time Off
- Paid Vacation
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Personal/Sick Days
- Leave of Absence
- Volunteer Time Off
Financial and Retirement
- 401(K) With Company Matching
- Stock Purchase Program
- Performance Bonus
- Financial Counseling
Professional Development
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Promote From Within
- Mentor Program
- Access to Online Courses
- Internship Program
- Leadership Training Program
Diversity and Inclusion