Principal Software Engineer Jobs at Qualcomm with Visa Sponsorship
Principal Software Engineer jobs at Qualcomm span cutting-edge domains like multimedia processing, video codecs, and display technologies. The company has a strong track record of supporting work visa sponsorship for engineering talent, making it a realistic target for international candidates pursuing senior technical roles in the U.S.
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Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering
General Summary:
We are seeking a senior-level Low Power Chip Architect / System Engineer with deep expertise in mixed-signal IC and system design and a proven record of chip-level technical leadership. This is a high-impact role responsible for defining the architecture, driving transistor-level design, and enabling system-level integration of ultra-low-power integrated circuits (ICs) for Robotics and Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.
The successful candidate will bridge high-performance Analog Front Ends (AFEs) with digital logic and firmware, leading programs from initial architecture and specification through simulation, verification, tape-out, and early silicon bring-up. This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration, sound architectural judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
Position requires to be onsite in San Diego, 5 days a week.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
- Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 7+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
- PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 6+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
Responsibilities:
Architecture & Technical Leadership
- Define and support end-to-end system architecture, including partitioning across analog, digital, firmware, and system domains
- Drive architectural trade-offs across power, performance, noise, latency, and silicon area
- Partner with chip leads and system leads from concept definition through silicon bring-up and validation
Mixed-Signal Design & Integration
- Lead feasibility studies and transistor-level design of mixed-signal building blocks including ADCs, DACs, PLLs/DLLs, LDOs, and SerDes
- Architect and integrate ultra-low-power AFEs optimized for battery-operated IIoT and Robotics sensor ASICs
- Drive full-chip execution in collaboration with internal teams and third-party IP vendors and design houses
Modeling, Verification & Silicon Execution
- Develop behavioral and system-level models using MATLAB/Simulink (or equivalent tools) to evaluate noise, linearity, and SNR
- Perform comprehensive pre-silicon verification across PVT corners using industry-standard simulators
- Support post-silicon bring-up, characterization, and reliability qualification, including HTOL and burn-in
- Collaborate with packaging, test, and system teams to ensure successful productization
System & Application Enablement
- Support multi-modal sensor data acquisition, sensor fusion, and edge AI inference workflows
- Contribute to hardware–software integration for efficient system-level deployment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 8+ years of post-degree industrial IC/system design experience OR
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 10–12+ years of industrial IC/system design experience
- Strong expertise in low-power analog and mixed-signal (AMS) IC design
- Hands-on experience with Cadence Virtuoso, AMS sims, verilog and related analog design tools
- Proficiency with Spectre, HSPICE, and board-level simulation methodologies
- Solid understanding of PDKs, LVS, DRC, and PEX flows
- Proven experience with ESD and reliability standards (HBM, CDM, TLP)
- Advanced academic background in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field
- Extensive industry experience in mixed-signal IC and system-level design
- Demonstrated experience as a Chip Lead, System Architect, or Technical Lead
- Proven ability to drive end-to-end silicon programs from concept to production
- Strong capability to work independently and provide technical direction with minimal supervision
- Experience with digital design flows, including synthesis and timing analysis
- Familiarity with firmware development and software integration
- Working knowledge of embedded interfaces such as I2C, I3C, SPI, and MIPI
- Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages
- Experience with deep submicron CMOS technologies and low-power fabrication processes
- Exposure to IC packaging, board-level validation, and system bring-up
- Background in sensor systems, sensor fusion, or edge AI applications
Soft Skills:
- Strong technical leadership and ownership mindset
- Excellent cross-functional communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to mentor and guide engineers across analog, digital, layout, and system domains
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Comfortable making architecture-level decisions under ambiguity
- Effective at managing external vendors, IP providers, and design partners
- Results-driven with a strong focus on execution and quality
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:
$192,000.00 - $288,000.00
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 Software Engineer Jobs at Qualcomm
Tailor your portfolio to Qualcomm's media stack
Qualcomm's Principal Software Engineer roles in media and entertainment frequently require deep experience with video pipeline architecture, codec optimization, or display driver development. Document specific projects at that technical depth before you apply.
Verify your role qualifies as a specialty occupation
USCIS requires that H-1B positions demand a specific bachelor's degree field, not just any degree. For Principal-level roles at Qualcomm, your degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related field must directly connect to the job duties you'll perform.
Search Qualcomm openings filtered by sponsorship on Migrate Mate
Qualcomm posts Principal Software Engineer openings across multiple sites, but not all listings clarify sponsorship eligibility. Use Migrate Mate to browse Qualcomm's open roles already filtered for visa sponsorship so you only spend time on positions that fit your situation.
Align your timeline with H-1B cap deadlines
If you're on F-1 OPT, Qualcomm typically needs to file your H-1B petition by the April 1 USCIS deadline for an October 1 start. Factor in recruiter timelines and confirm your OPT expiration date won't leave a gap before cap-subject status begins.
Prepare for a multi-round technical process
Qualcomm's interview loop for Principal Software Engineers commonly includes system design rounds specific to embedded or multimedia domains. Arriving with concrete examples of leading architecture decisions on media pipelines substantially strengthens your case at the offer stage.
Understand what triggers PERM for your green card path
Principal Software Engineers sponsored for EB-2 or EB-3 Green Cards at Qualcomm go through PERM labor certification with DOL. The process requires Qualcomm to demonstrate no qualified U.S. workers are available, so avoid any job-title changes or significant role shifts while PERM is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qualcomm sponsor H-1B visas for Principal Software Engineers?
Yes, Qualcomm sponsors H-1B visas for Principal Software Engineers and has a consistent record of doing so across its engineering functions, including media and entertainment technology. Sponsorship is typically tied to a specific approved role, so the position description you interview for will need to clearly qualify as a specialty occupation under USCIS criteria before your petition is filed.
How do I apply for Principal Software Engineer jobs at Qualcomm?
Applications go through Qualcomm's careers portal, where Principal Software Engineer openings are listed by business unit and location. To find roles already confirmed for visa sponsorship, browse Qualcomm's listings on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for positions open to international candidates. Tailoring your resume to Qualcomm's media and multimedia engineering focus meaningfully increases your chances of moving past initial screening.
Which visa types does Qualcomm commonly use for Principal Software Engineers?
Qualcomm uses H-1B as the primary work visa for Principal Software Engineers, and also supports H-1B1 visa for eligible nationals, TN visa status for Canadian and Mexican citizens, and F-1 OPT or CPT for recent graduates. For longer-term sponsorship, Qualcomm pursues EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card sponsorship through the PERM labor certification process filed with DOL.
What qualifications does Qualcomm expect for a Principal Software Engineer?
Principal Software Engineer roles at Qualcomm in the media and entertainment space typically require a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field, combined with substantial hands-on experience in areas like video codec development, multimedia frameworks, or display processing. At the Principal level, Qualcomm also looks for demonstrated experience leading technical architecture decisions and influencing cross-functional engineering teams.
How long does the H-1B sponsorship process take if I receive an offer from Qualcomm?
For cap-subject H-1B filings, Qualcomm must register you in the USCIS lottery by mid-March, with employment starting no earlier than October 1 if selected. Standard USCIS adjudication after filing takes roughly three to six months. Premium processing is available and reduces the USCIS decision window to 15 business days, which many employers use to reduce uncertainty before an employment start date.