Senior Manager/Director, Corporate Strategy & Development – Physical AI/Robotics
Company: Cadence
Location: San Jose, CA
Salary: $144.2k - $267.8k per year
Type: Full-time
Posted: 2026-03-15
About this role
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 ...