Qualcomm OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Qualcomm hires OPT students across engineering, software development, and technical roles, making it a strong choice for F-1 graduates in semiconductors and wireless technology. The company's E-Verify enrollment supports STEM OPT extensions, and its track record of converting OPT hires to H-1B visa sponsorship makes it a practical long-term option.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
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.
We’re looking for engineers with deep technical expertise, a track record of system-level ownership, and the ability to lead complex development efforts across cross-functional teams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
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.
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.
* Offsite and occasional onsite work with OEMs and Independent Software Vendors may be 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 in C/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.
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-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able to 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).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
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:
$134,800.00 - $202,200.00
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.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
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.
We’re looking for engineers with deep technical expertise, a track record of system-level ownership, and the ability to lead complex development efforts across cross-functional teams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
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.
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.
* Offsite and occasional onsite work with OEMs and Independent Software Vendors may be 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 in C/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.
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-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able to 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).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
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:
$134,800.00 - $202,200.00
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.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Qualcomm OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your degree to Qualcomm's core roles
Qualcomm's OPT hires cluster in electrical engineering, computer science, and signal processing. Before applying, verify your degree field maps directly to your target role using O*NET occupation profiles, since a mismatch weakens your STEM OPT extension eligibility and raises flags during onboarding.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
Your 24-month STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Qualcomm participates, but confirm this in writing before signing your offer letter. E-Verify enrollment is a USCIS requirement, not an internal HR policy, so get documentation from your recruiter upfront.
Target internship roles that convert to full-time OPT
Qualcomm frequently converts summer interns to full-time hires, which is a practical path to post-graduation OPT employment. Applying to returning intern pipelines in chipset design or RF engineering positions you ahead of general applicants who enter through campus recruiting cycles.
Negotiate your start date around OPT activation timing
Your OPT EAD must be active before your first day of work. USCIS processing can run three to five months, so coordinate your application timeline with Qualcomm's onboarding team early. Starting even one day before your EAD arrives violates your F-1 status and jeopardizes future H-1B sponsorship.
Research Qualcomm's H-1B conversion track record
Use Migrate Mate to review Qualcomm's H-1B Labor Condition Application filing history by job title and location. This shows which engineering and product roles the company has historically sponsored for long-term status, helping you target positions with a realistic path beyond your OPT authorization period.
Benchmark your salary against OFLC prevailing wage data
For STEM OPT roles at Qualcomm, your offered salary must meet the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify your offer reflects the correct wage level before accepting. Underpaid offers can create complications when Qualcomm later files your H-1B LCA.
Qualcomm OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qualcomm sponsor OPT visas?
Qualcomm doesn't sponsor OPT directly, since OPT is work authorization USCIS grants to F-1 students, not something employers petition for. What Qualcomm does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD. The company is enrolled in E-Verify, which satisfies the requirement for STEM OPT 24-month extensions.
Which departments at Qualcomm typically hire OPT students?
Qualcomm's strongest OPT hiring concentrates in hardware and software engineering roles, particularly in modem development, RF systems, computer vision, and machine learning. These are STEM-designated fields, making them well-suited for the full 36 months of OPT authorization. Business and non-technical roles see less consistent OPT hiring at Qualcomm.
How do I apply for OPT jobs at Qualcomm as an F-1 student?
Apply through Qualcomm's careers portal and flag your OPT authorization in the work eligibility section. Your DSO at your university initiates the OPT application with USCIS, which takes several months. Time your application so your EAD arrives before your target start date. Migrate Mate can help you map Qualcomm's open roles to your OPT timeline and H-1B conversion potential.
How long does the OPT authorization period last for Qualcomm employees?
Standard OPT provides 12 months of work authorization. If your role at Qualcomm qualifies as STEM-designated and Qualcomm remains enrolled in E-Verify, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension through USCIS, giving you up to 36 months total. That window is typically enough time for Qualcomm to file an H-1B petition on your behalf.
Does Qualcomm convert OPT employees to H-1B sponsorship?
Qualcomm has a consistent pattern of sponsoring H-1B visas for OPT employees in engineering and technical roles. H-1B sponsorship is a separate process from OPT and requires Qualcomm to file a petition with USCIS, subject to the annual cap and lottery. Confirming your team's H-1B history before accepting an OPT offer is a practical step.
How does Qualcomm hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Qualcomm can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Qualcomm's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.