Q

Qualcomm

Designs mobile chips and licenses wireless patents

Senior Director - Handset Technology Product Manager, Product Management

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$237.8k - $356.8k+ Annual discretionary bonus + Annual RSU grants
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, PhD
San Diego, CA, USA
In Person
ProductTechnical Product Management
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field is required.
  • At least 15 years of experience in semiconductor, mobile platform, system architecture, product management, or related fields is required.
  • Deep technical understanding is required across multiple mobile technology domains, including CPU architecture and performance; GPU and gaming technologies; AI accelerators and machine learning systems; camera and computational imaging; multimedia and media processing; mobile system architecture; memory and I/O subsystems; power, performance, and thermal optimization; and mobile software and operating systems.
  • Demonstrated success leading large cross-functional initiatives involving multiple engineering organizations is required.
  • Proven ability to define technical requirements that span multiple technology teams and drive execution to completion is required.
  • Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities are required.
  • A track record of influencing senior leadership and technical stakeholders without direct authority is required.
  • Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills are required.
  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related technical field is required by the minimum qualifications.
  • At least 10 years of product management or related work experience is required by the minimum qualifications.
  • Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may substitute for up to two years of work experience: a master's degree substitutes for one year and a doctorate substitutes for two years.
Responsibilities
  • Identify and analyze emerging mobile use cases across AI, multimodal experiences, gaming, imaging, content creation, productivity, ambient computing, XR, and next-generation user interfaces.
  • Develop a deep understanding of customer and OEM requirements and translate them into long-term platform and IP investment strategies.
  • Drive handset technology planning by ensuring architectural decisions support differentiated mobile experiences.
  • Convert complex end-user experiences into measurable technical requirements across multiple technology domains.
  • Develop cross-functional requirements spanning CPU, GPU, NPU, camera, multimedia, memory, connectivity, security, and software organizations.
  • Establish end-to-end usage models, workloads, KPIs, and success criteria that guide engineering execution.
  • Identify technology gaps and coordinate solutions across multiple engineering teams and organizations.
  • Partner with architecture, product management, and engineering teams to ensure future IP development aligns with real-world mobile workloads and customer needs.
  • Drive alignment between long-term technology investments and handset product requirements.
  • Influence IP roadmaps through quantitative workload analysis, system-level bottleneck identification, and competitive assessments.
  • Work with technology product management and engineering teams to define mobile use cases for early technology planning, architecture reviews, and roadmap development.
  • Define and drive strategic initiatives requiring collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines and business units.
  • Facilitate technical decision-making among stakeholders with competing priorities.
  • Build consensus around architectural tradeoffs, investment priorities, and feature roadmaps.
  • Navigate ambiguity and independently drive programs to completion.
  • Engage directly with OEMs, ecosystem partners, developers, and internal business leaders to understand future market needs.
  • Distill customer feedback into actionable requirements and technology opportunities.
  • Serve as a technical representative during executive reviews and strategic customer discussions.
Desired Qualifications
  • An advanced degree (master's or PhD) in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline is preferred.
  • Advanced business acumen, such as an MBA or equivalent experience, is highly desirable.
  • Experience working directly with mobile OEMs or ecosystem partners is preferred.
  • Experience influencing semiconductor architecture and IP roadmaps is preferred.
  • Expertise in mobile AI, agentic systems, computational photography, gaming technologies, or future mobile user experiences is preferred.
  • Demonstrated success driving technology strategy for complex mobile platforms is preferred.
  • Experience conducting competitive analysis, workload characterization, or use-case-driven architecture planning is preferred.

About the company

Q

Qualcomm

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cbWebsite

Qualcomm designs the Snapdragon processors and modems inside many Android phones, and it licenses its wireless patents to device makers around the world. It helped commercialize CDMA, the cellular technology behind 3G networks, and its patents cover core parts of the 4G and 5G standards that phones use to connect. The company does not run its own chip factories; contract foundries make its chips, which it sells to makers of phones, PCs, cars, and connected devices. Device makers also pay Qualcomm royalties for using its patented technology, which forms a second business alongside chip sales. Qualcomm was founded in 1985 and is based in San Diego, California.

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

  • Cars are a second engine: automotive chip revenue rose 61% to $1.59 billion in the June 2026 quarter.
  • Pays for learning: Qualcomm funds tuition assistance and apprenticeships and sells staff discounted shares through a stock purchase plan.
  • Profits support stability: Qualcomm earned $2.21 non-GAAP per share in the June 2026 quarter despite a 4% sales dip.

What critics are saying

  • Apple is walking away: Qualcomm expects Apple revenue to fall about 50% from the September to December 2026 quarter.
  • Data-center deals start thin: in July 2026, management said custom chips will cut chip gross margin 1.5 to 2 points.
  • Cuts keep trickling: Qualcomm filed WARN notices in April 2026 covering 144 layoffs, including 68 in San Diego.

What makes Qualcomm unique

  • Phones are only part of it: handsets were $5.09 billion of $8.50 billion chip revenue in fiscal Q3 2026.
  • Cloud giants buy its custom chips: two hyperscaler design wins start producing revenue in the December 2026 quarter.
  • It owns an AI software layer: Qualcomm completed its Modular acquisition in July 2026 for open generative AI software.

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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

6 month growth

3%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

0%
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