Embedded NPU Software Engineer, Senior

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 127,200 - 190,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual discretionary bonus

Annual RSU grants

Highly competitive benefits package

Job summary

Qualcomm is seeking a Staff Embedded NPU Software Engineer to lead the design and development of embedded platform software across our Snapdragon SoC portfolio. This role involves architecting NPU software frameworks and collaborating with hardware and systems teams to deliver high-performance solutions.

The ideal candidate should possess a bachelor's degree and substantial experience in software engineering, particularly with high-performance microprocessors and NPU programming. Qualcomm offers a competitive salary range and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 2+ years of Software Engineering experience.
• Master's degree and 1+ year of experience preferred.
• PhD in relevant field accepted.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design NPU software frameworks and runtime libraries.
• Lead development and system-level integration of NPU features.
• Optimize software using advanced architecture techniques.

Skills

High-performance microprocessor design

NPU programming

C/C++ proficiency

Debugging tools (Trace32, JTAG)

Real-time operating systems

Education

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

Master's degree in relevant field

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Qualcomm Hexagon DSP

SDK frameworks

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group, DSP Architecture and Design

General Summary

Qualcomm is seeking a Staff Embedded NPU Software Engineer to lead the design and development of embedded platform software for CPU, DSP, and NPU processors and AI engines across our Snapdragon SoC portfolio. You will architect and optimize software frameworks that enable high-performance, low-power multimedia and machine learning workloads across mobile, automotive, compute, and XR platforms.

As part of the NPU Platform Software Team, you will work across all levels of the stack—from low‑level drivers to high‑level frameworks—and collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to deliver scalable, production‑grade solutions. You’ll be expected to drive technical decisions, mentor engineers, and contribute to the evolution of Qualcomm’s NPU software architecture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience with high-performance microprocessor design.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design NPU software frameworks, runtime libraries, and system drivers for compute and AI acceleration.
• Lead development of complex NPU features and ensure system-level integration across CPU/DSP/NPU subsystems.
• Optimize software using advanced NPU architecture techniques (SIMD, multi-threading, memory hierarchy, etc.).
• Collaborate with hardware, systems, and product teams to align software design with platform goals and roadmap.
• Mentor engineers, conduct design/code reviews, and contribute to technical strategy and long-term planning.
• Drive debugging and profiling efforts across the NPU stack to meet performance, power, and reliability targets.
• Participate in off‑site and occasional on‑site work with OEMs and Independent Software Vendors as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in embedded software development.
• Deep expertise in NPU programming, computer architecture, and real-time operating systems.
• Proven experience leading technical projects or owning system‑level software components.
• Strong proficiency inC/C++ and debugging tools (Trace32, JTAG, etc.).
• Experience with Qualcomm Hexagon DSP and SDK frameworks.
• Familiarity with multimedia frameworks (Android, Linux, Windows) and AI acceleration pipelines.
• Exposure to machine learning, computer vision, or signal processing workloads.
• Strong understanding of inter-processor communication and concurrency management.
• Ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction across teams.
• Versatile attitude to learn new architectures and operating systems.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Equal Opportunity 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.

Accommodation Statement

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

Pay Range and Other Compensation & Benefits

Pay range: $127,200.00 – $190,800.00. In addition, you may be eligible for a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and annual RSU grants. Qualcomm also offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play.

Contact Information

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.