Staff Engineer Jobs at Qualcomm with Visa Sponsorship
Staff Engineer jobs at Qualcomm span hardware design, software systems, and silicon architecture, with a consistent track record of sponsoring international talent across multiple visa categories. If you're targeting a technical leadership position here, Qualcomm has established pathways to support your work authorization from offer through long-term status.
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Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Modem Technologies Software
General Summary:
This individual leads the design, implementation, verification, validation, and commercialization of access stratum software for cellular modems across multi RAT technologies such as 5G and 4G. Translates 3GPP specifications into high quality modem software, ensuring strong performance in areas such as throughput, latency, mobility, and power efficiency. Synthesizes ambiguous requirements, collaborates with cross functional teams, and delivers a robust modem solution that meets industry and customer expectations. Own the development and integration of access stratum functionality for multi RAT modems, ensuring alignment with 3GPP specifications and product requirements. Architects, optimizes, and enhances multi RAT behavior—such as mobility, connectivity, resource coordination, and system interaction—to improve throughput, latency, reliability, and power. Improves software architecture, timing, resource usage, and interactions between layers to achieve stable and efficient modem operation across different radio conditions. Uses logs, tests data, and real world results to identify performance gaps and make software design improvements for multi RAT operation, mobility, and access stratum responsiveness. Builds and executes test strategies to validate access stratum features, evaluate system behavior, and ensure compatibility with 3GPP standards and customer expectations. Works with system, protocol, firmware, validation, and product teams to deliver end to end access stratum solutions and resolve cross functional integration issues. Debugs and resolves access stratum issues during bring up, testing, and customer or field deployments. Refines software interfaces, maintain code quality, and guide the evolution of the modem’s access stratum framework. Produces clear design documents and feature descriptions, and actively participate in technical discussions, planning, and leadership activities. Acts as a strong contributor at design reviews and project meetings and communicates and implements a development plan.
Basic Qualifications:
Will accept a Master's Degree (or foreign academic equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related degree field and six (6) months of experience in a related occupation.
Compensation:
- Pay Range: $155,000.00 - $232,600.00/year
Applicants:
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 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.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Staff Engineer Jobs at Qualcomm
Align your portfolio to Qualcomm's tech stack
Qualcomm's Staff Engineer roles emphasize modem firmware, RFFE systems, or multimedia processing pipelines. Tailor your resume and project portfolio to reflect hands-on work at that architectural level before you apply, not after you receive interest.
Verify your OPT or CPT timeline before applying
If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm your remaining authorization window against Qualcomm's typical offer-to-start lead time. A gap between OPT expiry and H-1B cap-subject start date on October 1 can disrupt onboarding if not planned early.
Target Qualcomm's San Diego and Austin engineering hubs
Staff Engineer openings cluster around Qualcomm's core semiconductor and media technology sites. Prioritizing these locations increases your chances of landing on a team with existing H-1B or TN sponsorship infrastructure already in place.
Use Migrate Mate to surface open Staff Engineer roles
Qualcomm posts Staff Engineer positions across multiple job boards, but not all surface sponsorship context. Use Migrate Mate to filter specifically for Qualcomm roles where H-1B or other work authorization support has been documented, so you're not guessing.
Clarify sponsorship scope during the offer stage
Qualcomm sponsors multiple visa categories, but not every team sponsors every type. During negotiations, confirm whether your offer covers H-1B cap filing, Green Card PERM initiation, or both, so there are no surprises after you accept.
Prepare an experience-equivalency brief for USCIS petitions
Staff Engineer titles at Qualcomm often involve specialized domain expertise that may need supporting documentation beyond a degree. A well-organized brief linking your technical work to the DOL specialty occupation standard strengthens your H-1B petition considerably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qualcomm sponsor H-1B visas for Staff Engineers?
Yes, Qualcomm sponsors H-1B visas for Staff Engineers and has a well-established process for doing so across its engineering teams. The company also supports H-1B1 visa and TN visa categories depending on your nationality. Sponsorship is typically handled through Qualcomm's in-house immigration team, though not every open role or business unit will initiate a new cap-subject petition, so confirming scope during the offer stage is essential.
How do I apply for Staff Engineer jobs at Qualcomm?
Applications go through Qualcomm's careers portal at qualcomm.com/careers. Staff Engineer roles typically require you to submit a resume, and shortlisted candidates go through a multi-stage technical interview process covering systems design, domain architecture, and coding. You can also find and filter Qualcomm's Staff Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces roles with documented sponsorship context so you can prioritize where to focus your applications.
Which visa types does Qualcomm commonly use for Staff Engineers?
Qualcomm sponsors several visa categories for Staff Engineers, including the H-1B, H-1B1 visa (available to Chilean and Singaporean nationals), TN (for Canadian and Mexican nationals under USMCA), and F-1 OPT and CPT for current students. For longer-term pathways, Qualcomm also supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card sponsorship and J-1 visa exchange visitors, giving it broad flexibility across candidate profiles and nationalities.
What qualifications does Qualcomm expect for Staff Engineer roles?
Staff Engineer roles at Qualcomm generally require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field, with a master's or PhD preferred for research-adjacent tracks. Beyond credentials, Qualcomm looks for deep technical ownership in areas like RF systems, multimedia codecs, or low-level software architecture. Prior experience at the principal or senior engineer level, with demonstrated impact on product architecture, is typically expected.
How do I understand the visa filing timeline once I have a Qualcomm offer?
For cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS opens registration in March for an October 1 start date, so your offer timing relative to that window matters. If you're already on a valid status like OPT, Qualcomm can file for a change of status without requiring you to leave the U.S. For TN, the process is faster and can often be completed at the port of entry within weeks of an offer being finalized.