Full-Time

Linux Peripheral Software Engineer

Software Applications Engineering

Qualcomm

Qualcomm

10,001+ employees

Designs, manufactures, and licenses wireless semiconductors

Compensation Overview

$104k - $156k/yr

+ Annual discretionary bonus + Annual RSU grants

Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

Santa Clara, CA, USA

In Person

The role includes on-site customer support and frequent travel between offices, buildings, and campuses.

Bachelor's

Category
Software Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Bash
Kubernetes
Python
Git
Java
Docker
C/C++
Linux/Unix

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • At least 3 years of combined academic and/or work experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python.
  • At least 3 years of combined academic and/or work experience with debugging techniques.
  • Experience as a Linux kernel engineer or in a similar role.
  • Strong knowledge of Linux kernel architecture and build tools.
  • Strong understanding of computer architecture, including caches, buses, and memory.
  • Familiarity with version control systems such as Git.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.
  • Strong understanding of system performance tuning and optimization.
  • Extensive experience with Linux kernel development, debugging, and profiling tools.
  • Proficiency with real-time operating systems or microkernels, particularly on ARM architectures or Qualcomm's Hexagon microprocessor.
  • At least 3 years of advanced C/C++ programming experience in embedded software systems.
  • Experience creating or managing software build environments using Make, CMake, and Git.
  • Proficiency in scripting languages such as Bash and Python.
  • Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Familiarity with Linux distributions and kernel customization processes, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Rocky Linux.
  • Ability to frequently move between offices, buildings, and campuses up to one-half mile.
  • Ability to transport and install equipment weighing up to 5 pounds.
  • Ability to perform required tasks at various heights.
  • Ability to monitor and use computers and test equipment for more than 6 hours per day.
  • Ability to communicate continuously with colleagues, customers, and vendors in person and remotely.
Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, integrate, and provide customer support for peripheral subsystems on Qualcomm platforms.
  • Work with USB and low-speed peripheral interfaces such as I2C, I3C, and SPI, as well as MIPI-based protocols.
  • Review peripheral bus requirements with customers and analyze system-level use cases.
  • Translate customer requirements into software design and implementation.
  • Develop, debug, and optimize Linux and Android kernels and device drivers.
  • Provide on-site customer support for bringing up, validating, and resolving peripheral-related issues on development platforms.
  • Customize, enable, and optimize Qualcomm software for customer programs.
  • Support new hardware bring-up and troubleshoot complex protocol-level issues across USB, QUP-based peripherals, and MIPI interfaces.
  • Collaborate with hardware, architecture, validation, and customer engineering teams.
  • Own customer issues end-to-end.
  • Deliver documentation, training, and technical guidance to customers.
Desired Qualifications
  • Knowledge of camera, display, augmented reality/virtual reality, video, graphics, or board support package software.

Qualcomm designs and licenses semiconductor technologies for wireless connectivity used in mobile devices, cars, and IoT. Its products include system-on-chips and RF components, plus a large portfolio of patents that it licenses to other companies. The company combines end-to-end semiconductor design with IP licensing to serve mobile, automotive, and IoT markets. Its goal is to expand wireless technology adoption by delivering standards-based silicon solutions and monetizing its intellectual property to support ongoing connectivity innovation.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

1985

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Amazon's September 8, 2026 pact targets up to $60 billion through 2036.
  • Qualcomm's September 8, 2026 Dragonwing IQ-8275 Ubuntu certification strengthens industrial AI deployment.
  • September 2026 Snapdragon X2 driver updates improve gaming compatibility across 22 titles.

What critics are saying

  • Apple's modem exit accelerates in September 2026, cutting Qualcomm's highest-margin royalty stream.
  • Amazon's custom-chip deal prices data-center growth below handset margins, pressuring 2027 profitability.
  • NVIDIA, AMD, and internal hyperscaler silicon can sideline Qualcomm's fledgling data-center ambitions.

What makes Qualcomm unique

  • Qualcomm owns cellular patents and modem silicon, anchoring handset licensing economics.
  • Snapdragon X2 and Dragonwing pair power-efficient Arm compute with broad software certification.
  • Amazon chose Qualcomm for multi-generation AI data-center silicon, validating hyperscaler-custom design.

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Benefits

Premium-free health coverage

Onsite health & fitness centers

Retirement programs

Disability & life insurance programs

Tuition reimbursement

Product discounts

Flexible time off

Parental leave

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

0%
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