Innovation Manager

Cirrus Logic•Austin, TX

16h

About The Position

Cirrus Venture Labs (CVL), Cirrus Logic’s startup-to-business-unit incubation engine, develops disruptive, scalable, and monetizable innovations for high-impact industry problems. Its focus spans opportunities at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds, including Physical AI, edge computing and algorithms, intelligent sensing and sensor networks, data center power infrastructure, and advanced control and drive systems. CVL 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. The Innovation Manager operates as an internal founder, taking ownership of 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 with potential to create new product categories and businesses. It works with considerable autonomy and mobilizes 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, advancing emerging technologies in semiconductors, software, embedded systems, or related industries.
Strong technical foundation in hardware and/or software systems and architectures, with depth in at least one relevant domain and ability to develop working knowledge across 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.
Experience identifying high-impact problems, evaluating nascent technologies, defining technical and commercial success criteria, and advancing 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 collaborative arrangements.
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; the company cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.
Must be able to access technical data without an export license; the company cannot sponsor or obtain export licenses for this role. Export control restrictions may exclude nationals of certain embargoed countries unless an export license is obtained.

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.
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

Own the vision, strategy, execution, and progression of emerging technology ventures 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 in 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 to accelerate technology development and maximize capital efficiency.
Build relationships with lighthouse customers, startups, venture investors, academic institutions, and industry experts to validate unmet needs, identify emerging technologies, and establish collaborations.
Assemble and lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, research, product, and business functions, aligning stakeholders and resources around venture objectives.
Communicate venture progress, risks, opportunities, and strategic value to senior leadership and stakeholders through compelling narratives, business cases, and investment recommendations.