Staff Software Engineer – Platform Debug

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 151,900 - 227,900; Full time

Job summary

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Software Platform Debug Engineer to design, develop, and debug low-level software enabling debug visibility on high-performance server platforms.

You will work near the hardware/software boundary across firmware, OS, platform software, and host tooling to solve complex system-level issues. This senior-to-staff level role expects strong ownership, deep systems knowledge, and influence on technical direction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science or related field with 4+ years of software engineering experience.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science with 3+ years of software engineering experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science with 2+ years of software engineering experience.
• 2+ years of work experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain software to support debug functionality across multiple system layers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve highly complex software defects across integrated components.
• Analyze system behavior by gathering and correlating information across modules, subsystems, and interfaces.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and software teams to identify root causes and deliver fixes.
• Develop and execute unit and integration tests to ensure stability and correctness.
• Perform thorough code reviews and provide constructive technical feedback.

Skills

C

C++

Java

Python

Education

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

Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science

PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science

Tools

JTAG tooling

High-performance trace

System crash analysis

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary

We are seeking a skilled Software Platform Debug Engineer to design, develop, and debug low‑level software that enables and supports debug visibility on high‑performance server platforms. These debug features include both dynamic debug (e.g., peek/poke) and post‑mortem (crash) capabilities. In this role, you will work close to the hardware/software boundary, solving complex system‑level issues across firmware, operating systems, platform software, and host tooling. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust, scalable solutions that meet demanding performance and reliability requirements.

This position is suitable for Senior‑or Staff‑level engineers who demonstrate strong technical ownership, deep systems knowledge, and the ability to influence technical direction. This is a replacement headcount.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain software to support debug functionality across multiple system layers
• Troubleshoot and resolve highly complex software defects across integrated components
• Analyze system behavior by gathering and correlating information across modules, subsystems, and interfaces
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and software teams to identify root causes and deliver effective fixes
• Communicate progress, risks, and mitigation strategies clearly to project leads and stakeholders
• Identify design or implementation gaps and proactively drive solutions
• Contribute technical input and solution strategies during design and debug reviews
• Develop and execute unit and integration tests to ensure stability and functional correctness
• Perform thorough code reviews and provide constructive technical feedback
• Manage priorities, timelines, and deliverables for small‑to-medium‑sized initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• 2+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building software stacks for high‑performance systems
• 5+ years of experience in debug software development (tools, firmware, applications)
• Master’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering
• 10+ years of experience building and debugging software for high‑performance platforms
• Experience with ARM debug architectures or frameworks

Technical Skills & Expertise

• Experience designing and/or supporting debug capabilities in complex SoCs and high‑performance CPU architectures, including:
  • JTAG debug and tooling
  • High‑performance trace
  • System crash analysis
• Strong understanding of computer architecture, including:
  • High‑performance server designs
  • Hardware/software interfaces
• Proficiency in C and assembly language
• Systems programming experience using Python or similar languages
• Familiarity with modern build systems and distributed version control workflows
• Experience developing and debugging:
  • Platform and system software
  • Firmware and boot software
  • Debug and diagnostic tools

Level of Responsibility

• Autonomy: Operates independently with minimal supervision
• Communication: Conveys complex technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership
• Influence: Provides technical input that impacts key architectural and organizational decisions
• Execution: Manages multi‑step, high‑complexity tasks with strong attention to detail
• Innovation: Applies creativity and technical judgment to develop new approaches and solutions
• Problem Solving: Uses advanced analytical reasoning to diagnose and resolve complex system issues

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).

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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.

Pay Range And Other Compensation & Benefits

$151,900.00 - $227,900.00
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.