Firmware Jobs at Qualcomm with Visa Sponsorship
Firmware jobs at Qualcomm involve working on the software that powers its semiconductor platforms, from modem and connectivity chips to mobile and automotive systems. Qualcomm has a well-established sponsorship infrastructure that supports international engineers across multiple visa categories, making it a realistic target for foreign nationals pursuing Firmware roles.
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Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
Preferred Qualifications:
- BS/BEng in Electrical, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science (or equivalent professional experience) with 5 years' experience in embedded firmware development
- Self-starter who takes initiative and brings technical leadership
- Proficient writing and debugging C and assembly
- Driver development experience in RTOS or OS Kernel environments
- Demonstrated development experience with embedded OSes such as Zephyr, eCos, uC/OS or FreeRTOS
- Experience developing for pre-silicon environments including simulators and FPGA emulation
- Experience defining interprocessor communication interfaces between embedded controllers and the platform
- Familiarity with ARM v8 architecture. Development experience for a ARMV8 platform is a plus.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Drive the firmware design, implementation and verification, in pre-silicon and post-silicon environments.
- Assist in the definition Power Management solutions for future generation of Qualcomm CPUs.
- Actively engage with open-source communities to contribute support for processor architectures, device drivers, and firmware features
- Assist in identifying skills requirements and in hiring engineers, collaborating with other teams on platform bring-up/debug/diags, firmware lifecycle, etc.
Level of Responsibility:
- Works independently with minimal supervision.
- Decision-making is significant in nature and affects work beyond immediate work group.
- Requires verbal and written communication skills to convey information. May require basic negotiation, influence, tact, etc.
- Has a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to make key decisions).
- Tasks often require multiple steps which can be performed in various orders; extensive planning, problem-solving, and prioritization must occur to complete the tasks effectively.
Additional Job Description:
As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all.
As a CPU Power Management FW Developer, you are responsible for working with a team on the enablement of the power management solution for Qualcomm's custom CPUs. You will collaborate internally to help define and implement embedded firmware to manage the power and performance for the CPU subsystem within Qualcomm SoCs across many verticals. You will also participate in various other aspects of the management controller firmware development, including power management, boot, RAS, debug, security and runtime services.
In CPU Power Management FW developer role, you will be working closely both with the hardware power management and firmware development teams. You will have an opportunity to engage with third parties on enablement of new platforms, as well as providing input to our SoC and platform architects on future designs.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
- 3+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
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:
$180,600.00 - $271,000.00
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 Firmware Jobs at Qualcomm
Align your degree to Firmware specialty occupation requirements
Qualcomm's Firmware roles typically require a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. A general engineering degree without a relevant concentration can complicate the specialty occupation determination during H-1B filing, so verify your credential maps cleanly to the role before applying.
Target Qualcomm's chipset-adjacent Firmware openings first
Qualcomm hires Firmware engineers across modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and automotive platforms. Roles tied directly to silicon bring deeper technical specificity that strengthens an H-1B specialty occupation case compared to higher-level embedded software positions that may draw more scrutiny from USCIS.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Firmware openings by visa type
Qualcomm posts Firmware roles across multiple business units, and not every opening is tied to the same sponsorship pathway. Use Migrate Mate to filter active Qualcomm Firmware listings by the visa types you're eligible for so you focus your applications on positions aligned to your status.
Confirm your OPT timeline against Qualcomm's hiring cycle
Qualcomm's Firmware hiring often involves a technical screening, system design interview, and coding rounds before an offer is extended. If you're on F-1 OPT, map your remaining work authorization against this timeline and flag your cap-gap eligibility to your recruiter before your OPT expiry approaches.
Understand how DOL prevailing wage levels affect your offer
For H-1B and PERM filings, Qualcomm must certify your salary meets the DOL prevailing wage for the role's location and level. Firmware roles in San Diego or Santa Clara carry different wage floors, so research wage level classifications before negotiating to avoid a mismatch that delays your Labor Condition Application.
Prepare for USCIS requests on Firmware job duty specificity
USCIS has issued Requests for Evidence on Firmware roles where the job description listed duties that appear in multiple engineering disciplines. Ask Qualcomm's immigration team to confirm the petition language clearly specifies embedded systems, RTOS, or hardware-software interface work tied to a defined chipset platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qualcomm sponsor H-1B visas for Firmware engineers?
Yes, Qualcomm sponsors H-1B visas for Firmware engineers and has done so consistently across its engineering functions. Firmware roles at Qualcomm generally meet the specialty occupation threshold because they require a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. Sponsorship is initiated by Qualcomm's internal immigration team after an offer is extended, so you don't arrange it independently.
How do I apply for Firmware jobs at Qualcomm?
Applications go through Qualcomm's careers portal, where Firmware roles are listed by product line, including modem, connectivity, and automotive platforms. You can also find and filter Qualcomm's visa-sponsoring Firmware openings through Migrate Mate, which shows listings by visa type so you can target roles aligned to your current immigration status before applying directly.
Which visa types does Qualcomm use for Firmware roles?
Qualcomm sponsors Firmware engineers on several visa pathways, including the H-1B, H-1B1 visa for Chilean and Singaporean nationals, TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying engineering occupations, and F-1 OPT and CPT for current students. For longer-term employment, Qualcomm also files EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa petitions, including PERM labor certifications, for Firmware engineers pursuing a Green Card.
What qualifications does Qualcomm expect for Firmware engineering roles?
Most Qualcomm Firmware postings require a bachelor's degree at minimum in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science, with many senior roles expecting a master's degree or equivalent industry experience. Hands-on experience with embedded C, RTOS environments, hardware bring-up, and debugging at the hardware-software interface is commonly required. Familiarity with Qualcomm's own chipset architectures is a differentiator for mid-level and above positions.
How do I time my Firmware application to Qualcomm around the H-1B cap?
The H-1B cap registration window typically opens in March, with a lottery selection shortly after and petitions filed from April 1 for an October 1 start date. Targeting a Qualcomm Firmware offer by January or February gives your employer enough lead time to register you in the lottery. If you're already on OPT, your cap-gap protection under USCIS rules can cover the period between your OPT expiry and the October 1 H-1B start date, provided USCIS receives your petition before your OPT expires.