Principal Program Manager – Academic & Research Partnerships

We Are:

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are:

You have spent years navigating the space where academic research meets commercial impact, and you understand that the best partnerships are not transactional, they are built on shared goals, mutual respect, and a clear understanding of what each side actually needs. You know how to walk into a professor's lab, understand what they are working on, and see the thread that connects their research to a customer problem or a technology gap three years out.

You are comfortable in rooms with government program managers talking about workforce funding one day and sitting with a startup team spun out of a university lab the next. You do not just manage partnerships, you architect them with an eye toward IP, compliance, and long-term value, not just the kickoff meeting.

You have a technical foundation strong enough to hold your own in conversations about VLSI, EDA tools, or advanced packaging, and you use that fluency to build credibility and spot opportunities others miss. You are organized enough to manage agreements, timelines, and cross-functional stakeholders without dropping threads, and strategic enough to know which relationships will matter in five years, not just next quarter.

This role serves as the North America lead for execution of Synopsys’ Workforce Development strategy, working in close partnership with the global Workforce Development function to localize, implement, and scale high-impact programs across the region.

At Synopsys, you will work with a team that takes academic and research partnerships seriously, and you will help shape how the next generation of semiconductor talent learns, builds, and enters the industry.

What You'll Be Doing:

North America Research Partnerships (SARA)

• Identify, assess, and develop strategic research partnerships with key universities and research institutions in North America
• Build long-term relationships with leading professors, principal investigators, and research centres aligned with Synopsys technology and customer/government priorities
• Support contract negotiation and coordination related to research collaborations, including IP, licensing, and compliance matters
• Scout emerging research areas and university spin-offs relevant to Synopsys’ technology roadmap, including support for early-stage engagement and potential M&A deal sourcing

Workforce Development (WFD)

• Serve as the North America point of ownership for planning and execution of Workforce Development programs, aligned with Synopsys’ global strategy and regional business priorities
• Develop a deep understanding of U.S. federal and state workforce development initiatives related to semiconductors, EDA, and advanced packaging
• Position Synopsys as a strategic partner for government, academia, and industry consortia addressing workforce gaps
• Collaborate with universities, government agencies, and customers to secure and execute multi-million-dollar workforce development projects
• Support the scaling of workforce development programs that expand access to Synopsys technology and prepare students for industry roles
• Build and manage a portfolio of WFD initiatives, including prioritization, resource allocation, and ROI tracking
• Develop and maintain a structured pipeline of WFD opportunities (federal, state, and industry-funded), including proactive identification and qualification
• Drive scalable program models (e.g., curriculum creation on demand, hands-on design experiences, cloud-based tool access programs) to increase relevant talent development
• Define and track success metrics, including institutional adoption, talent pipeline outcomes, and strategic/revenue impact
• Ensure alignment with global Workforce Development leadership to replicate best practices and maintain consistenc