UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 28, 2013

CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(408) 943-1234

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (“Cadence”) entered into an employment agreement with Martin N. Lund, its Senior Vice President, Research and Development, SoC Realization Group, effective March 28, 2013 (the “Employment Agreement”). Mr. Lund’s base salary, bonus participation and equity grants remain unchanged and are consistent with the description provided in Cadence’s definitive proxy statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2013.

Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, if Mr. Lund’s employment is terminated by Cadence without “Cause” or if Mr. Lund terminates his employment in connection with a “Constructive Termination” (each as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Lund will be entitled to the benefits set forth in the form of Executive Transition and Release Agreement attached to the Employment Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) in exchange for his execution and delivery of the Transition Agreement.

The Transition Agreement provides for the employment of Mr. Lund as a non-executive employee for up to 1 year after his termination, with continued coverage under Cadence’s medical, dental and vision insurance plans, at Cadence’s expense, should Mr. Lund elect COBRA coverage. In addition, the outstanding unvested options and incentive stock awards (other than any incentive stock awards subject to performance-based vesting criteria) held by Mr. Lund on the date of his transition to a non-executive position that would have vested over the succeeding 12-month period will immediately vest and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable. Incentive stock awards subject to performance-based vesting criteria will remain outstanding and continue to vest through the end of the applicable performance period, provided such performance period ends within 12 months following the date of transition and to the extent earned upon satisfaction of the performance-based vesting criteria prescribed for such awards. Upon the end of such performance period, such awards will immediately vest with respect to the portion thereof that would have vested over the 12 months following the date of transition, and there will be no further vesting of such awards.

Provided Mr. Lund does not resign from Cadence and executes and delivers a release of claims and Cadence does not terminate his employment during the term of the Transition Agreement, Mr. Lund shall receive the following benefits pursuant to the Transition Agreement: (i) a monthly salary of $4,000 for a period of 6 months, commencing on the first pay date that is more than 30 days following the date that is 6 months after the commencement of the transition period, (ii) a lump-sum payment of 100% of his annual base salary (at the highest rate in effect during his employment as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, SoC Realization Group) on the 30th day following the date that is 6 months after the commencement of the transition period, and (iii) a lump-sum payment of 75% of his annual base salary (at the highest rate in effect during his employment as Senior Vice President, Research and Development, SoC Realization Group) on the 30th day following the date of his termination under the Transition Agreement. The Transition Agreement also requires Mr. Lund to comply with non-solicitation and non-competition provisions in favor of Cadence and, subject to such limitations, does not otherwise preclude Mr. Lund from accepting and holding full-time employment elsewhere.

If, within 3 months before or 13 months after a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Lund’s employment is terminated without “Cause” or Mr. Lund terminates his employment in connection with a “Constructive Termination,” then, in exchange for Mr. Lund’s execution and delivery of the Transition Agreement, (x) the payments described in clause (ii) of the paragraph above shall be 150% of his highest annual base salary instead of 100% of his highest annual base salary, (y) the payments described in clause (iii) of the paragraph above shall be 112.5% of his highest annual base salary instead of 75% of his highest annual base salary, and (z) all of Mr. Lund’s outstanding stock options and incentive stock awards will immediately vest in full and become exercisable.

Mr. Lund is not entitled to benefits under the Transition Agreement if his employment is terminated for “Cause,” as a result of his “Permanent Disability” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or death or if he voluntarily terminates his employment (other than in connection with a “Constructive Termination”). However, if Mr. Lund’s employment is terminated due to his death or “Permanent Disability,” and he or his estate executes and delivers a release of claims in the form attached to the Employment Agreement, the outstanding unvested options and incentive stock awards held by Mr. Lund on the date of his termination that would have vested over the succeeding 12-month period will immediately vest and, to the extent applicable, will become exercisable and remain exercisable for a 24-month period following his termination date (but no later than the original expiration period of the applicable award). In addition, if Mr. Lund’s employment terminates on account of his “Permanent Disability” and Mr. Lund elects COBRA continuation coverage, Cadence will pay Mr. Lund’s COBRA premiums for 12 months following termination.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 2, 2013