5G/6G Modem Software Engineer

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is seeking engineers for the Modem Software team to design and develop modem firmware powering 5G/6G connectivity across Snapdragon platforms.

You will work on protocol stacks (L1/L2/L3), real-time scheduling, and AI-driven optimization signals, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance wireless solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in relevant engineering field is required.
• 1–2 years of academic or industry experience in C/C++ programming.
• Foundational understanding of embedded systems and real-time OS concepts.
• Knowledge of 3GPP 5G NR/LTE and wireless concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, debug, and optimize modem firmware/software for LTE, 5G-Advanced, and early 6G prototypes.
• Develop and maintain real-time embedded software on proprietary RTOS with strict latency/throughput constraints.
• Collaborate with systems, architecture, and hardware teams on bring-up, integration, and performance optimization.
• Analyze field issues using protocol logs and debugging tools; write unit/integration tests and automation scripts.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

RTOS knowledge

Wireless protocols

Debugging & profiling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

QuRT RTOS

FreeRTOS

ThreadX

Zephyr

JTAG / Trace32 / QXDM

Job description

Company:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Modem Technologies Software

General Summary:

Qualcomm Technologies (QCT) is the world's leading innovator in wireless connectivity and intelligent computing, powering the devices and infrastructure at the heart of the 5G era. Our Snapdragon platforms — spanning smartphones, automotive, IoT, and XR — integrate advanced 5G modem-RF systems with on-device AI to deliver breakthrough experiences at the connected intelligent edge. QCT partners with 100+ network operators worldwide and maintains the industry's largest modem engineering organization, driving the standards and technologies behind 5G-Advanced and the path toward 6G.

As a member of the Modem SW team, you will design and develop modem software that powers 5G/6G NR connectivity across Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset portfolio. You will work across protocol stack layers (L1/L2/L3) to implement 3GPP-compliant features, develop real-time scheduling and resource management algorithms, and use custom scripting languages to dynamically reconfigure the modem in response to real-time network conditions, device states, and AI-driven optimization signals. You will also architect next-generation frameworks that enable our OEM and operator partners to deliver differentiated 5G experiences. Your work will directly influence how billions of devices connect, communicate, and leverage on-device intelligence.

We are looking for engineers with a strong foundation in C/C++ software design and real-time embedded systems, deep understanding of wireless communication principles, a sharp problem-solving mindset, and a passion for shaping the future of wireless connectivity and AI-powered communications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, debug, and optimize modem firmware/software for LTE, 5G-Advanced protocol stack layers and early 6G research prototyping
• Develop and maintain real-time embedded software on proprietary RTOS (QuRT) with strict latency and throughput constraints
• Collaborate with systems, architecture, and hardware teams on modem bring-up, integration, and performance optimization
• Analyze and resolve complex field issues, interoperability problems, and network-specific behaviors using protocol logs, trace tools, and debuggers
• Write and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and automation scripts to ensure software quality
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions and technical documentation

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics/Communication Engineering, or a related field
• 1–2 years of academic or industry experience in C/C++ programming
• Foundational understanding of embedded systems, real-time operating systems and data structures & algorithms
• Basic knowledge of wireless communication concepts (OFDM, MIMO channel coding) or digital signal processing fundamentals

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics/Communication, or Wireless Communications
• 2+ years of industry experience in embedded software development for wireless/telecom systems
• Experience with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as QuRT, FreeRTOS, ThreadX, or Zephyr
• Strong software design and object-oriented design/implementation skills (design patterns, SOLID principles)
• Working knowledge of 3GPP 5G NR / LTE specifications (TS 38.xxx / TS 36.xxx series)
• Experience with modem protocol stack development, state machines, or wireless protocol implementation
• Familiarity with AI/ML fundamentals and interest in applying machine learning to modem optimization (e.g., adaptive scheduling, predictive resource management, beam prediction, link adaptation)
• Understanding of scripting or domain-specific languages for system configuration and modem parametrization
• Experience with debugging and performance profiling in embedded environments (JTAG, Trace32/Lauterbach, QXDM, log analysis tools)
• Familiarity with version control systems (Git/Perforce), CI/CD pipelines, and Agile development practices
• Knowledge of multi-threading, concurrency, inter-process communication, and memory management in resource-constrained environments
• Experience with simulation/emulation environments or lab equipment

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 [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).

EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:

• $114,500.00 - $171,700.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales‑incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.