Shaping the Future Through Experience

This summer, Cadence hosted five interns in partnership with Break Through Tech at our San Jose headquarters. Over the course of three weeks, a cohort of bright undergraduate students from San José State University (SJSU) stepped into our offices not just to learn technical skills, but also to collaborate and grow their networks. As a proud SJSU graduate, a program like this would have been a game-changer for me in college. These opportunities open doors to life-changing experiences in careers. Students make valuable connections that lead to mentorship and guidance, helping them shape their future in the industry.

What Is a Sprinternship?

Sprinternships are paid, micro-internships designed to give students early exposure to the tech world. In partnership with Break Through Tech, Cadence volunteers guided students through challenge projects, career development workshops, and networking events. From volunteer opportunities to site-wide events, the Sprinternship was infused with Cadence's culture of innovation and collaboration.

"It was inspiring to see how quickly the students picked up new concepts and applied them creatively."
– Leticia Guzzetta, Sr. Technical Comms Manager

Real Projects, Real Impact

Each Sprintern team was assigned a Challenge Project, such as creating a Python script that automated the conversion from HTML to PDF, combining a set of HTML files into a single, comprehensive PDF document that included a cover page, functioning internal links, and bookmarks for navigation. Receiving guidance from Cadence mentors, students tackled technical problems, collaborated on solutions, and presented the culmination of their work to peers and leaders.

"Watching the students showcase their final projects to Cadence leaders and employees was a proud moment. They left with more confidence."
– Franchon Warmack, Talent Acquisition Programs Lead

Reflections from Sprinterns

"This was a huge learning experience because I had never worked on a real-world project before. In these three weeks, I have learned so much and have understood a lot along the way. If I'm given another project, I will know where to start and how to go through the process."
– Yamini Karthik, BS Computer Science, SJSU

"It was an enlightening experience exploring the company culture cultivated at Cadence. We were treated like employees. We had cubicles, individual places to work, and were trusted to do our work on time and well."
– Justin Lee, BS Computer Science, Minor in Mathematics, SJSU

A Culture of Mentorship

Volunteers played a key role in shaping the experience, offering technical support, career advice, and encouragement. Seven volunteers across various Cadence groups, including Silicon Solutions, IT, Custom IC and PCB, HR, Finance, and Customer Success Team, provided the students with technical guidance and mentorship.

"I really enjoyed being able to provide some career and personal branding advice."
– Peter Shepherd, Accounting Manager

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the success of the San Jose Sprinternship, we're already looking forward to what's next. Our Austin and Burlington sites are preparing to host their group of Sprinterns in the fall! Learn more about open roles at Cadence on our Careers Page.