Rack-Scale AI Hardware & Validation Lead

QUALCOMM, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

The Qualcomm Data Center AI System Hardware and Validation Engineering team seeks a System Hardware and Validation Technical Lead to drive rack-scale designs for next‑gen, liquid-cooled data centers. You will partner with SoC, software/firmware, and rack-level design teams to plan, execute and gate milestones from concept to production.

You will own integration plans across compute nodes, PCIe fabrics, networking, power, cooling, and telemetry; drive co-design of firmware, hardware, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science/engineering, electrical engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in systems or hardware engineering, hardware project lifecycle management, and technical product/program management.
• Experience with rack level systems and components.
• Proven experience collaborating with technical teams to develop systems, solutions, and products.
• Experience managing technical programs across cross-functional teams, establishing processes, and coordinating release schedules, and working in large, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, SharePoint, JIRA/Confluence, and other defect-tracking tools.
• Persuasive communication, organizational, coordination, multi-tasking, and documentation skills.
• Experience with server technologies, including board design, SIPI, thermal and mechanical aspects, BIOS, BMC, and networking.
• Familiarity with Agile methods and practices.
• Experience working with CMs, OEMs, ODMs, and suppliers in product development.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills, with experience managing complex program lifecycles, building sustainable processes, and coordinating release schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution for next-generation Qualcomm rack-scale designs within a matrixed organization spanning multiple teams and global sites.
• Define and manage requirements, scope, schedules, and deliverables in alignment with engineering teams, partners, and stakeholders.
• Own rack-level integration plans across compute nodes/accelerators, PCIe fabrics, networking, storage, power delivery, cooling, and rack management/telemetry.
• Drive firmware/software/hardware co-design execution, aligning BIOS/BMC/Redfish/telemetry requirements with hardware schedules and validation gates.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews and readiness reviews (architecture, schematic/layout, SI/PI, thermal, mechanical, firmware, manufacturing), and close actions to schedule.
• Coordinate platform-level debug and instrumentation (telemetry, logging, health monitoring) to accelerate failure analysis and improve observability.
• Establish and run triage mechanisms (issue intake, prioritization, defect metrics) and drive issues to root cause, corrective action, and verified closure.
• Define and track program-level KPIs (schedule health, build quality, defect trends, coverage, yield, reliability) and publish executive dashboards and weekly program reviews.
• Identify program risks, drive mitigation plans, and manage scope changes while proactively communicating status and decisions to stakeholders.

Skills

Rack-level systems

Cross-functional collaboration

JIRA/Confluence

BIOS/BMC/Redfish

Power delivery

Cooling

Server technologies

Board design

Agile methods

CMs/OEMs/ODMs

Documentation

Education

Master’s degree in CS/EE

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE

PhD in CS/EE

Tools

JIRA/Confluence

Job description

The Qualcomm Data Center AI System Hardware and Validation Engineering team seeks a System Hardware and Validation Technical Lead to drive rack-scale designs for next‑gen, liquid-cooled data centers. You will partner with SoC, software/firmware, and rack-level design teams to plan, execute and gate milestones from concept to production.

You will own integration plans across compute nodes, PCIe fabrics, networking, power, cooling, and telemetry; drive co-design of firmware, hardware, and