Principal Jobs at Qualcomm with Visa Sponsorship
Principal jobs at Qualcomm sit at the intersection of deep technical leadership and cross-functional influence, typically requiring advanced expertise in semiconductor technology, wireless systems, or media platforms. Qualcomm has a well-established sponsorship infrastructure that supports international candidates across multiple visa categories throughout the hiring process.
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Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
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 Qualcomm Software Engineer, you will design, develop, create, modify, and validate embedded and cloud edge software, applications, and/or specialized utility programs that launch cutting-edge, world class products that meet and exceed customer needs. Qualcomm Software Engineers collaborate with systems, hardware, architecture, test engineers, and other teams to design system-level software solutions and obtain information on performance requirements and interfaces.
Role Overview
- Strong development experience with C/C++ and strong programming skills
- Hands-on development experience on Linux Embedded, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian platform software stacks
- Hands-on development experience with the Linux kernel, performance tuning, and board support packages
- Demonstrated hands-on architectural knowledge of end-to-end software flow for a typical embedded SoC
- Ability to navigate touchpoints in different stages of the software stack, examine technical issues, and interface with customers by collaborating with technology teams
- Working knowledge and experience with second-stage bootloaders such as U-Boot, systemd-boot, and UEFI
- Strong deductive problem-solving skills, with effective verbal and written communication for cross-team collaboration
- Hands-on experience with the full software development life cycle including design, implementation, deployment, and support
- Practical enablement of industrial solutions with virtualization using KVM or other hypervisors is beneficial
- Strong networking concepts and systems programming experience is beneficial
- Real-time use-case enablement with performance tuning for real-time applications on Guest or Host OS is beneficial
Minimum Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience. -
4+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
- 12+ years of designing and leading real-time embedded and industrial solutions with hands-on experience
- Strong understanding of board support packages, hypervisors, RTOS, and OS concepts and fundamentals
- Strong understanding of Linux kernel and internals
- Knowledge of SoC systems and related concepts, including bring-up
- Strong aptitude, fast learner, self-motivated, and willing to work across a broad range of technology areas
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end software architecture, definition, and execution of IoT products running Linux Embedded and Ubuntu on Qualcomm SoCs
- Perform bring-up and develop proof-of-concept IoT solutions
- Work across diverse technology areas to develop cutting-edge features
- Collaborate closely with Product Management and Program Management on Plan of Record definition, planning, and execution
- Work effectively with geographically distributed teams across time zones
- Ensure product deliverables are completed on time and meet expectations for functionality, stability, power, and performance
- Engage with customers and development partners to understand technical requirements, perform high-level feasibility analysis, and collaborate with technology teams to deliver solutions
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:
$192,600.00 - $289,000.00
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 Principal Jobs at Qualcomm
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
Qualcomm's Principal roles require a directly related advanced degree, not just general engineering experience. Review your transcripts and resume to confirm the field of study maps precisely to the specific technical domain of the role before applying.
Target teams working on media platform architecture
Qualcomm's media and entertainment work spans codec development, display processing, and streaming infrastructure. Searching for Principal openings tied to these product lines puts you in front of hiring managers whose teams have the most active sponsorship pipelines for senior technical contributors.
Clarify your visa category before the offer stage
Qualcomm sponsors H-1B, TN, and F-1 OPT, among others, but your current status determines what transition is possible. Raising this early in the process, before the offer letter is drafted, gives the recruiting team time to route your file to their immigration counsel correctly.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Principal openings by sponsorship type
Not every Principal listing at Qualcomm explicitly states which visa categories are supported. Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically by visa type and company, so you can focus your applications on roles where your current status is already a known fit.
Understand how PERM timing affects Green Card planning
If permanent residence is your long-term goal, Qualcomm's EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship requires a PERM labor certification, which DOL processing alone can run well over a year. Factor this into conversations with your hiring manager and ask whether the team has initiated PERM for comparable roles before.
Prepare for prevailing wage scrutiny at the Principal level
DOL prevailing wage determinations for Principal-level roles in technology often land at Wage Level III or IV. Confirm your offered compensation meets the applicable wage level for the posting location before your I-129 is filed to avoid a USCIS Request for Evidence on wage compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qualcomm sponsor H-1B visas for Principals?
Yes, Qualcomm sponsors H-1B visas for Principal roles and has a dedicated immigration team that manages the process. Because the H-1B cap lottery runs once per year with a registration window in March, your start date and current status will determine whether a cap-subject filing is needed or whether a cap-exempt path applies.
How do I apply for Principal jobs at Qualcomm?
Applications go through Qualcomm's careers portal at qualcomm.com/careers. Principal roles often require a tailored submission that demonstrates domain depth, not just years of experience. Migrate Mate aggregates Principal openings at Qualcomm filtered by visa sponsorship eligibility, which helps you identify the right listings before applying directly through the official portal.
Which visa types does Qualcomm commonly use for Principal roles?
Qualcomm supports H-1B and H-1B1 visa for specialty occupation workers, TN visa status for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying roles, F-1 OPT and CPT for students transitioning into full-time positions, and J-1 visa for certain exchange visitor scenarios. For permanent residence, EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa categories are available depending on the role's requirements and the candidate's background.
What qualifications does Qualcomm expect for a Principal-level hire?
Principal roles at Qualcomm in media and entertainment typically require an advanced degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field, paired with significant hands-on experience in areas like video processing, wireless media delivery, or display technology. For H-1B purposes, USCIS must confirm the role qualifies as a specialty occupation, so the degree-to-job-duty alignment carries real filing weight.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a Qualcomm Principal role?
Timeline depends on your current status. H-1B cap filings require registration in March, with a potential October 1 start date. H-1B transfers from another employer can proceed year-round. PERM for a Green Card adds a year or more before an I-140 can even be filed. Discussing your status and timeline with Qualcomm's HR team before the offer stage helps avoid unnecessary delays.