Staff Engineer – Core Platform (Linux Drivers & System Software) Chennai, Tamil Nādu, India Software Engineering

Qualcomm; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualcomm India Private Limited seeks a Staff Engineer – Core Platform to develop Linux-based system software for next-generation SoCs. The role focuses on Linux kernel driver development, bootloader integration (U‑Boot), and system bring-up with debugging and performance optimization.

You will lead SoC bring-up, work on BSP components, and collaborate with hardware and firmware teams to ensure robust, power-efficient systems. 10+ years in embedded/Linux is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS or related field with 4+ years of software engineering experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Linux kernel internals and embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with Linux kernel driver development and U-Boot boot flow.

Responsibilities

• Lead SoC bring-up (pre- and post-silicon) and platform enablement.
• Develop and maintain Linux kernel device drivers.
• Linux stability, crash analysis and debugging.
• Enable and debug boot flow from ROM to U-Boot to Linux.
• Design and support BSP components.
• Debug system-level issues (HW/SW interactions, kernel crashes, boot failures).
• Optimize system performance, latency and power efficiency.
• Perform code reviews, design reviews, and mentoring.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and external ecosystem teams.

Skills

C programming

Linux kernel internals

Embedded systems concepts

RTOS concepts

Driver development

System bring-up

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS

Master's degree in Engineering/CS

PhD in Engineering/CS

Job description

Company:

Qualcomm India Private Limited

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled Staff Engineer – Core Platform to develop and enable Linux-based system software for next-generation SoCs. The role focuses on Linux kernel driver development, bootloader integration (U‑Boot), and system bring‑up, including debugging and performance optimization across key hardware subsystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead SoC bring‑up (pre‑silicon & post‑silicon) and platform enablement
• Develop and maintain Linux kernel device drivers
• Linux Stability / Crash analysis & debugging
• Enable and debug boot flow (ROM → U‑Boot → Linux)
• Design and support Board Support Package (BSP) components
• Debug system‑level issues (HW/SW interaction, kernel crashes, boot failures)
• Optimize system performance, latency, and power efficiency
• Perform code reviews, design reviews, and mentoring
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and external ecosystem teams

Required Technical Skills

Programming & Core Systems

• Strong proficiency in C programming
• In-depth knowledge of Linux kernel internals
• Strong understanding of embedded systems and RTOS concepts

Linux Driver Development

Hands‑on experience with:

• Peripheral DMA / Interrupt handling
• PCIe/USB subsystem
• Storage drivers: NAND, NOR, eMMC
• Clock, power management, reset frameworks
• I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO drivers
• Audio drivers (PCM/ALSA)

Bootloader & Low‑Level Systems

• Experience with U‑Boot development and debugging
• Strong understanding of boot architecture and memory initialization
• Familiarity with flash subsystems (QSPI / SPI NAND / eMMC)

Debugging & Tools

• Experience with JTAG / Lauterbach / TRACE32
• Linux debugging tools: dmesg, printk, ftrace, crash analysis
• Strong skills in system‑level debugging and issue root cause analysis

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in embedded systems / Linux kernel development
• Proven experience in SoC bring‑up and BSP development

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• 2+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Applicants:

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e‑mail disability‑[e-mail] or call Qualcomm's toll‑free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).

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