Director of Engineering – Automotive Software

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 207,600 - 311,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual discretionary bonus program

Opportunity for annual RSU grants

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Qualcomm is looking for a skilled Director/Principal level Customer Project Engineer for their Automotive Software Platform team in San Diego, California. This role involves leading automotive software projects from beginning to end while ensuring that projects meet quality requirements and are delivered on time.

The ideal candidate will work closely with OEM’s engineering teams and Qualcomm’s leadership, managing customer expectations and delivering technical solutions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of Software Engineering or related experience required.
• Project management and leadership experience are crucial.
• Strong understanding of automotive systems engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee automotive software project lifecycle from concept to completion.
• Interface with OEM’s engineering executives and Qualcomm leadership.
• Ensure projects meet quality standards and timelines.

Skills

Programming Languages (C, C++, Java, Python)

Leadership

Problem-Solving

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science

Master’s degree in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

Embedded SW stacks (QNX, Linux, Android)

Software development methodologies and tools

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary

Seeking highly skilled and motivated Director/Principal level Customer Project Engineer for Automotive Software Platform team.

In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the entire lifecycle of automotive software projects from concept to completion. This includes analyzing project requirements, preparing schedules, coordinating team tasks, and ensuring that projects meet quality standards and are completed on time.

In this highly visible role, you will interface directly with the OEM’s engineering executives and Qualcomm’s senior technical and business leadership.

You Will

• Develop a deep understanding of the OEM’s roadmap, vehicle and backend architecture, requirements, and constraints
• Lead and coordinate all technical aspects of business acquisition, delivery execution, and post‑SOP maintenance
• Represent the “voice of the customer” in internal forums, escalating needs and driving alignment across Qualcomm engineering, product management, program management, and sales

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Act as the chief technical counterpart to the OEM’s engineering leadership for all Cockpit (IVI), ADAS and related programs.
• Serve as the main technical point of contact covering SoC, platform software, tools, and system integration topics.
• Work with Software Product (SP) PE internally and manage external customer deliverables/expectations/escalations.
• Lead and manage automotive software engineering projects from conception to completion.
• Prepare, schedule, coordinate, and monitor the assigned engineering projects.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with the customer’s engineering executives, architects, and program leads.
• Anticipate customer needs and translate them into Qualcomm platform requirements, features, and solutions.
• Lead the technical workstreams for RFIs/RFQs and advanced engagement discussions with the OEM.
• Define technical solution proposals based on Qualcomm’s product portfolio, including SoCs, BSP, Platform Software and reference platforms.

Program Execution & Delivery

• Provide overarching technical leadership for all active programs with the OEM, across all phases (concept, development, validation, SOP, and maintenance).
• Coordinate and synchronize Qualcomm internal engineering teams (HW, SW, systems, safety, security, tools, test) to meet customer milestones.
• Drive resolution of critical technical issues, ensuring timely escalation and clear communication to both customer and Qualcomm management.
• Support design reviews, technical workshops, joint debugging sessions, and on‑site integration activities as needed.
• Coordinate with customers and other stakeholders to ensure the Software delivery meet project requirements.
• Identify, analyze, and mitigate project risks and issues.
• Implement and manage project changes and interventions to achieve project outputs.
• Monitor and report on project progress, problems, and solutions.
• Ensure that all engineering work meets standards and customer specifications.

Voice of the Customer & Internal Alignment

• Represent the customer’s priorities, constraints, and pain points in internal reviews, roadmap discussions, and management meetings.
• Provide structured feedback to product management and engineering on gaps, competitive pressure, and future requirements.
• Ensure internal stakeholders understand customer commitments, program risk, and required trade‑offs.

Technical Thought Leadership & Mentoring

• Act as a technical role model: hands‑on, detail-oriented, and able to deep‑dive into complex system issues when required.
• Guide and mentor cross‑functional Qualcomm teams working on the customer, helping them prioritize and solve problems effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• 4+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience in software engineering, including project management and leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles and practices.
• Strong background in automotive systems engineering with focus on:
  • Compute platform architecture (SoC, GPU/DSP, accelerators)
  • Embedded SW stacks (OS such as QNX/Linux/Android, middleware, frameworks, toolchains)
• Solid understanding of automotive safety and quality frameworks (e.g., ISO 26262, ASPICE, cybersecurity standards) and their impact on architecture and execution.
• Proven experience as a customer‑facing technical leader, such as chief engineer, system architect, technical program lead, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams without direct authority in a complex matrix organization.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, data‑driven and structured, with ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• Willingness to travel regularly to customer and Qualcomm sites (domestic and international).
• Proven track record of successfully managing and delivering complex software projects.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment, independently with minimal supervision.
• Experience with software development methodologies and tools.

Equal‑Opportunity Employer

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. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: $207,600.00 – $311,400.00.

This pay scale reflects the broad minimum to maximum for this job. In addition, Qualcomm offers a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants. Employees on sales‑incentive plans are not eligible for the annual bonus. A competitive benefits package supports success at work, at home, and at play.

Contact

For more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.