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Cadence Design Systems

Engaged employer

Cadence was perhaps the least satisfying company I've worked for over the past 20 years. - Senior Member Consulting Staff Cadence Design Systems Employee Review

2.0
27 Aug 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The coworkers were enjoyable and mostly good natured. The payscale was quite good even though there were frequently pay/hiring freezes and no bonuses.

Cons

As a very senior software engineer, we were supplied with very old, slow and inadequate computers and ancient code. Getting a second monitor was considered a luxury. There's an old-guard, don't change anything mentality where presenting new ideas many time is considered disruptive. Vacations/Shutdowns are strictly enforced during specific times of the year, and new employees were required to borrow against future years. Design/development process is rigid, non-agile and counter productive. Layers of specification approvals were required before any work or prototyping could begin. As a developer, the spec reviews were over attended, sometimes contentious and provided little assurance that you would be developing what was actually required since the attendees almost never came prepared (well, in the 6 years I was there I never had one where everyone who "just had to attend" was prepared).

Explore other reviews about Cadence Design Systems

5.0
31 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Small office with nice space

Cons

Less pay not too low

4.0
11 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The office culture and work ethics are onpar with other companies.

Cons

The Office HQ in Santa Fe is really worse, like the city is no fun at all.

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