Staff & Senior Staff Software Engineer, Core AI Software (Onsite)

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 158,400 - 237,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual discretionary bonus

Annual RSU grants

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Qualcomm in San Diego is seeking an AI Software Engineer to develop cutting-edge machine learning techniques and implement AI solutions across various technology verticals. Responsibilities include designing software for Qualcomm AI Stack SDKs and optimizing performance for resource-constrained systems.

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and have significant software development experience, particularly in C/C++. An understanding of hardware acceleration is also essential.

Competitive compensation, including a salary range of $158,400 - $237,600, plus additional benefits, is offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of general software development experience.
• Experience with development in a Linux environment.
• Strong understanding of hardware acceleration.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for Qualcomm AI Stack SDKs.
• Design core components for AI frameworks on low power platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver AI software solutions.

Skills

Software development

C/C++ proficiency

Data structure and algorithm design

Excellent communication skills

Education

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

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

Tools

Linux

CMake

Job description

General Summary

As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next‑generation experiences and drive digital transformation, creating a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm AI Software Engineer, you will develop and implement cutting‑edge machine learning techniques that enable the efficient utilization of state‑of‑the‑art solutions across various technology verticals.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for the Qualcomm AI Stack SDKs, specifically QAIRT and Genie, to support the execution of the latest generative AI models on Snapdragon platforms.
• Design and implement core components of Qualcomm AI Stack runtime framework for inference on resource constrained AI systems, operating in low power, small memory footprint platforms.
• Validate, analyze, and optimize the performance and accuracy of software through detailed testing of machine learning use cases.
• Debug complex issues, perform root cause analysis, and ensure high system reliability.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust, scalable AI software solutions.
• Lead feature development and application of machine learning techniques into products and AI solutions, enabling customers to do the same.
• Contribute to a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement within the AI Software team.
• Participate in design and code reviews.
• Work independently with minimal supervision and provide guidance to junior team members. Decision‑making will impact your direct area of work and the broader work group.

Minimum Qualifications (Must Have)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
• 5+ years (Staff) / 8+ years (Senior Staff) of general software development experience.
• Proficiency in software development using C/C++.
• Experience with development in a Linux environment.
• Strong software development skills, including data structure and algorithm design, object‑oriented or other software design paradigms, software debugging, and testing.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, presentation, and writing).

Preferred Qualifications (Desired)

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• 3+ years of experience building embedded software applications.
• Familiarity with various generative AI model architectures such as LLMs.
• Strong understanding of hardware acceleration and deployment of generative AI inference at the connected edge.
• Experience with development in various platforms such as Linux, Android, or Windows.
• Knowledge of low‑level interactions between operating systems (e.g., Linux, Android, Windows) and hardware.
• Experience with CMake-based build environments.
• Experience using/integrating Qualcomm AI Stack products (e.g., QNN, Genie).
• Experience with agile software development practices and git‑based SCM.
• Ability to collaborate across a globally diverse team and manage multiple interests.

Minimum Qualifications (Degree and Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 4+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 3+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 2+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.

EEO Statement

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 disability‑[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).

Pay Range and Other Compensation & Benefits

$158,400.00 - $237,600.00

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.

Contact

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