Innovation Manager

Cirrus Logic•Austin, TX

22h

About The Position

Cirrus Venture Labs (CVL) is Cirrus Logic's startup-to-business-unit incubation engine, developing disruptive, scalable, monetizable innovations for high-impact industry problems. Its decentralized model combines technology incubation, cross-functional engineering teams, strategic partnerships, and external ventures to develop foundational technologies and silicon-centric business models in markets new to Cirrus Logic. Areas of interest include Physical AI, edge computing and algorithms, intelligent sensing and sensor networks, data center power infrastructure, and advanced control and drive systems. The Innovation Manager operates as an internal founder, owning emerging technology ventures from problem discovery and opportunity definition through prototyping, business validation, and incubation toward scale. The role shapes technical and commercial vision, identifies critical assumptions, secures resources and partnerships, and builds conviction around opportunities that could create new product categories and businesses. The manager works with considerable autonomy and collaborates with internal engineering teams, startups, customers, industry experts, and external partners to turn hypotheses into validated, commercially compelling innovations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
At least 7 years of experience in technical product leadership, technology development, engineering leadership, or entrepreneurial roles, including advancing emerging technologies in semiconductors, software, embedded systems, or related industries.
Strong technical foundation in hardware and/or software systems and architectures, with demonstrated depth in at least one relevant domain and the ability to rapidly develop working knowledge of unfamiliar technologies.
Ability to operate autonomously in ambiguous environments, formulate technology and business hypotheses, make informed decisions under uncertainty, and take end-to-end ownership of outcomes.
Ability to identify high-impact problems, evaluate nascent technologies, define technical and commercial success criteria, and advance concepts through prototyping and validation.
Ability to assess market opportunities, competitive differentiation, business models, investment requirements, and commercialization pathways for emerging technologies.
Experience developing and negotiating commercial or technical agreements with external organizations, such as technology licensing, joint development, strategic partnerships, or other collaborations.
Ability to influence, mobilize, and lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, research, product, and business functions without relying solely on direct organizational authority.
Exceptional ability to translate complex technical and business concepts into compelling narratives, investment proposals, and actionable recommendations for technical teams, external partners, and executive leadership.
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; visa sponsorship or transfer is not available.
Must be able to access technical data without requiring an export license; export licenses are not available for this role.

Nice To Haves

Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant technical discipline, or an MBA with a strong technical foundation.
Deep experience in one or more relevant domains, including Physical AI and edge ML algorithms, embedded compute architectures, intelligent sensing and distributed sensor networks, data center power infrastructure, power electronics, robotics, or advanced control and drive systems.
Experience founding, building, or leading early-stage technology ventures, or participating in corporate incubation, venture studios, or new business creation initiatives.
Demonstrated experience structuring and closing technology partnerships, co-development agreements, licensing arrangements, or strategic investments, including familiarity with IP rights, exclusivity, funding milestones, and commercial terms.
Established network and experience engaging with startups, venture capital firms, universities, research institutions, and emerging technology ecosystems.
Experience leading agile, cross-disciplinary development teams to test technical hypotheses, validate customer needs, and advance early-stage concepts toward scalable products.
Experience developing business cases, financial models, investment proposals, and commercialization strategies for new technologies or emerging markets.

Responsibilities

Act as the founder and directly responsible individual for emerging technology ventures, owning their vision, strategy, execution, and progression from early exploration through incubation and business-unit transition.
Identify, assess, and prioritize high-impact industry problems and emerging technology opportunities, leveraging Cirrus Logic's core competencies while exploring new capabilities and markets.
Investigate opportunities across Physical AI, edge intelligence, sensor networks, advanced power delivery, control systems, and other technologies bridging the physical and digital worlds.
Mobilize internal engineering teams, startups, customers, and external experts to rapidly prototype and validate technologies, architectures, and applications.
Develop technology and business hypotheses; assess market potential and differentiation; define critical assumptions and success criteria; and drive evidence-based investment decisions.
Identify, structure, negotiate, and help close external technology partnerships, co-development agreements, licensing arrangements, and strategic collaborations.
Develop investment proposals, secure internal funding and resources, and explore external funding and partnership models.
Build relationships with customers, startups, venture investors, academic institutions, and industry experts to validate needs and establish strategic collaborations.
Assemble and lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, research, product, and business functions, aligning stakeholders and resources around venture objectives.
Develop narratives, business cases, and investment recommendations, and communicate venture progress, risks, opportunities, and strategic value to senior leadership and stakeholders.