Staff Software Developer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Staff Software Developer roles are among the most frequently sponsored positions in the U.S., with employers regularly filing H-1B visa and O-1 visa petitions for senior engineers. Most require a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, and specialty occupation approval rates at this level are high. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
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 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.
Job Overview
- Create software/firmware test plans, addressing requirements traceability matrix and test coverage, with respect to feature requirements
- Design, develop, execute and maintain automated software/firmware test suites for the purpose of verifying quality and compliance of Qualcomm products at functional, integration and system levels
- Manually test, where appropriate, the customer experience of installation and deployment of Qualcomm hardware and software in a mobile, compute and automotive environment
- Assist in the creation of a Quality Engineering/Release engineering process with emphasis on continuous integration and continuous deployment
- Assist in achieving production-level software readiness, implement customer use-cases, workload analysis models, workload creation, and collaborating with other teams on bring-up/debug/diags
- Focus on ensuring that existing Operating Systems and customer usage environments run well, while identifying strong opportunity for enhancements, from a power and performance perspective
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in Software/Firmware Validation
- Demonstrated software test engineering in SW/FW engineering with focus on Data Center Servers (minimum 5 years)
- Strong understanding and experience in software/firmware test automation techniques
- Extensive experience working with operating systems like Ubuntu Server, RHEL, SUSE, similar or Windows server
- Work with multiple SW/HW Engineering teams to ensure that all requirements and features of reference platform requirements have been validated at a component, integration, functional and system level
- Strong programming skills with experience in C and/or Python programming languages
- Experience developing automated software/firmware test cases for server platforms, supporting bring-up and production SW releases
Nice to have:
- Prior Experience with SW/FW integration at BIOS/UEFI, BMC firmware, Operating System for x86/ARM64/RISC-V 64bit for server platforms
- Strong understanding of Server firmware Standards, opensource Implementation and specifications for ARM64-based servers
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.
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.
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
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 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.
Job Overview
- Create software/firmware test plans, addressing requirements traceability matrix and test coverage, with respect to feature requirements
- Design, develop, execute and maintain automated software/firmware test suites for the purpose of verifying quality and compliance of Qualcomm products at functional, integration and system levels
- Manually test, where appropriate, the customer experience of installation and deployment of Qualcomm hardware and software in a mobile, compute and automotive environment
- Assist in the creation of a Quality Engineering/Release engineering process with emphasis on continuous integration and continuous deployment
- Assist in achieving production-level software readiness, implement customer use-cases, workload analysis models, workload creation, and collaborating with other teams on bring-up/debug/diags
- Focus on ensuring that existing Operating Systems and customer usage environments run well, while identifying strong opportunity for enhancements, from a power and performance perspective
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in Software/Firmware Validation
- Demonstrated software test engineering in SW/FW engineering with focus on Data Center Servers (minimum 5 years)
- Strong understanding and experience in software/firmware test automation techniques
- Extensive experience working with operating systems like Ubuntu Server, RHEL, SUSE, similar or Windows server
- Work with multiple SW/HW Engineering teams to ensure that all requirements and features of reference platform requirements have been validated at a component, integration, functional and system level
- Strong programming skills with experience in C and/or Python programming languages
- Experience developing automated software/firmware test cases for server platforms, supporting bring-up and production SW releases
Nice to have:
- Prior Experience with SW/FW integration at BIOS/UEFI, BMC firmware, Operating System for x86/ARM64/RISC-V 64bit for server platforms
- Strong understanding of Server firmware Standards, opensource Implementation and specifications for ARM64-based servers
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.
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.
See all 4,698+ Staff Software Developer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Staff Software Developer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Staff Software Developer
Target companies with established H-1B track records
Large tech employers and mid-size product companies sponsor Staff Software Developer roles consistently year after year. A documented history of approvals signals that their legal and HR teams understand the process, reducing your risk of a procedurally weak petition.
Confirm your degree field aligns with the role
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree and the specific job duties. A computer science, software engineering, or information systems degree is ideal. Unrelated degrees require stronger documentation and may invite a Request for Evidence from the adjudicator.
Document your seniority clearly in the offer letter
Staff-level roles carry higher complexity and independent judgment expectations than mid-level positions. Your offer letter and support letter should explicitly describe the technical scope, architecture responsibilities, and cross-functional influence the role involves to support the specialty occupation argument.
Ask whether the employer files premium processing
Premium processing delivers a decision within 15 business days instead of several months. Many employers offer it routinely for senior engineering hires. Confirming this upfront helps you plan your start date and avoid extended gaps between offer acceptance and authorization to work.
Understand how cap-exempt employers change your options
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and qualifying government entities are exempt from the H-1B annual lottery. A Staff Software Developer role at one of these employers can be filed at any time of year, with no random selection determining whether your petition is even considered.
Start conversations early if you're mid-OPT or in a grace period
Immigration timelines move slowly relative to hiring timelines. If your work authorization is expiring, raise it during early interviews so the employer can engage their immigration counsel promptly. Delays in filing can result in gaps in work authorization even after an offer is signed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Staff Software Developer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in nearly all cases. USCIS consistently recognizes software development as a specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a directly related field. Staff-level roles, which typically involve system architecture, technical leadership, and complex problem-solving, present an even stronger specialty occupation argument than entry-level positions. Denials at this seniority level are uncommon when the petition is well-documented.
What if my degree is not in computer science, can I still get sponsored?
Possibly, but it requires more documentation. USCIS allows degrees in closely related fields such as mathematics, electrical engineering, or information systems. If your degree is in an unrelated field, your employer's attorney will need to argue equivalency using a combination of education, professional training, and work experience. A credential evaluation from a recognized organization and detailed experience letters from former employers strengthen the case significantly.
How does the H-1B lottery affect my chances as a Staff Software Developer?
The lottery applies to most private-sector employers and selects registrations randomly, regardless of your qualifications or seniority. Approximately 85,000 slots are available annually against several hundred thousand registrations, producing selection rates around 20 to 25 percent in recent years. One practical strategy is to target cap-exempt employers, which bypass the lottery entirely, or to explore the E-3 visa if you hold Australian citizenship. Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa type to help you identify sponsoring employers aligned with your situation.
Can a Staff Software Developer role support an O-1A visa instead of H-1B?
Yes, if you can document extraordinary ability in your field. The O-1A requires evidence across criteria such as high salary relative to peers, judging others' work, original contributions of major significance, or published work. For a Staff Software Developer, this might include patents, open-source projects with substantial adoption, peer review participation, or recognition through awards. The O-1A has no annual cap and no lottery, making it a viable alternative for engineers with a strong professional record.
What should I look for in a sponsoring employer at the Staff level?
Beyond technical fit, look for employers with an in-house immigration team or a retained immigration law firm, a history of H-1B visa filings at senior levels, and a clear process for extending and transferring status. At the Staff level, you may be at a company for several years, so long-term sponsorship stability matters. Migrate Mate surfaces Staff Software Developer roles specifically at employers that sponsor visas, so you can focus your applications where sponsorship is already confirmed.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Staff Software Developer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.