Principal - Mobile Handset Products

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 197,000 - 295,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. in San Diego seeks an experienced software engineering leader to drive end-to-end development and delivery for premium mobile handset platforms.

You will shape architecture, coordinate cross-functional teams across software, systems, and hardware, influence executives, and ensure successful engagements with global OEMs while advancing platform strategy and product readiness for next-generation devices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• OR Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• OR 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.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Mobile Handset Products software execution for multiple premium-tier chipset programs.
• Drive software readiness across major milestones including architecture definition, bring-up, feature development, integration, validation, commercialization, and customer launch.
• Establish execution strategies, operating mechanisms, and governance models to ensure predictable delivery of large-scale programs.
• Manage execution risk, dependency resolution, and cross-functional alignment across engineering organizations.
• Provide technical leadership for platform software architecture spanning HLOS, firmware, middleware, virtualization, AI, and system software technologies.
• Drive long-term platform strategy, software reuse, scalability, and roadmap alignment.
• Partner with silicon, architecture, and product teams to influence future platform capabilities.
• Lead technology investments that improve platform quality, performance, security, power efficiency, and customer adoption.
• Represent software engineering in executive reviews with Qualcomm leadership.
• Engage directly with strategic OEM and ecosystem partners to align roadmaps and resolve critical issues.
• Lead communications during major escalations, launch readiness reviews, and customer engagements.
• Partner with product management, sales, and customer engineering organizations to drive successful product adoption.
• Drive initiatives that improve engineering productivity, platform stability, development velocity, and software quality.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts across integration, testing, release management, and upgrade workflows.
• Champion scalable platform solutions that reduce engineering effort and accelerate time-to-market.

Skills

C

C++

Java

Python

Education

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

Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field

PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary

Qualcomm is seeking an experienced Engineer to lead software development and execution for next-generation mobile Premium Tier Handset Products. This leader will drive cross-functional engineering strategy, platform delivery, software architecture, productization, and customer enablement across flagship mobile chipset programs. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with strong organizational leadership to drive complex platform execution across software, systems, silicon, product management, and customer engineering teams. This role requires influencing senior executives, leading large cross-functional organizations, and ensuring successful delivery of premium mobile Handset Products to global OEM customers.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Leadership & Execution

• Own end-to-end Mobile Handset Products software execution for multiple premium-tier chipset programs.
• Drive software readiness across major milestones including architecture definition, bring-up, feature development, integration, validation, commercialization, and customer launch.
• Establish execution strategies, operating mechanisms, and governance models to ensure predictable delivery of large-scale programs.
• Manage execution risk, dependency resolution, and cross-functional alignment across engineering organizations.

Technical Strategy & Architecture

• Provide technical leadership for platform software architecture spanning HLOS, firmware, middleware, virtualization, AI, and system software technologies.
• Drive long-term platform strategy, software reuse, scalability, and roadmap alignment.
• Partner with silicon, architecture, and product teams to influence future platform capabilities.
• Lead technology investments that improve platform quality, performance, security, power efficiency, and customer adoption.

Customer & Executive Engagement

• Represent software engineering in executive reviews with Qualcomm leadership.
• Engage directly with strategic OEM and ecosystem partners to align roadmaps and resolve critical issues.
• Lead communications during major escalations, launch readiness reviews, and customer engagements.
• Partner with product management, sales, and customer engineering organizations to drive successful product adoption.

Process & Productivity Transformation

• Drive initiatives that improve engineering productivity, platform stability, development velocity, and software quality.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts across integration, testing, release management, and upgrade workflows.
• Champion scalable platform solutions that reduce engineering effort and accelerate time-to-market.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

OR

Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

OR

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

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of software engineering experience with increasing leadership responsibility.
• 8+ years leading managers and senior technical leaders.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale commercial products in mobile, embedded, or system software environments.
• Strong expertise in operating systems, system software, platform architecture, or mobile technologies.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary organizations across software, systems, and hardware domains.
• Track record of driving execution across geographically distributed teams.
• Experience leading flagship mobile platform programs from concept through commercialization.
• Deep understanding of Android platform development and ecosystem requirements.
• Experience with AI/ML platforms, virtualization, security technologies, and next-generation computing architectures.
• Proven success managing executive stakeholder relationships and customer engagements.
• Strong ability to balance technology innovation with business and product objectives.

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

$197,000.00 - $295,400.00

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.