This role pays more than
69%
of similar roles. Most pay
$177,900–$254,931
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$241k
versus about
$216k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a leading American semiconductor and telecommunications company based in San Diego, CA.
Qualcomm currently has
623 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$148,300–$222,500
across 603 roles with salary data.
As a Director/Principal Engineer – Automotive Software on the Automotive Software Platform team, you will serve as the primary technical counterpart to automotive engineering executives for Cockpit and ADAS programs. You will manage the entire project lifecycle from concept through post-SOP maintenance, coordinating internal hardware, software, systems, safety, and security teams to meet critical milestones. Your role involves translating customer requirements into platform features, leading technical workstreams for RFIs/RFQs, and resolving complex system issues. The position requires expertise in C, C++, Java, or Python, alongside deep knowledge of SoC architecture, embedded software stacks like QNX, Linux, and Android, and automotive standards such as ISO 26262 and ASPICE. You will act as the voice of the customer to align internal product management and engineering efforts with specific vehicle and backend infrastructure requirements.
Act as the primary technical point of contact for automotive programs including Cockpit (IVI) and ADAS systems.
Manage the entire lifecycle of automotive software projects from initial concept through development, validation, and post-SOP maintenance.
Translate customer requirements into specific Qualcomm platform features, hardware specifications, and technical solution proposals.
Coordinate internal engineering teams across hardware, software, safety, and security to meet critical customer milestones.
Resolve critical technical issues by managing escalations and providing clear communication to both customers and internal leadership.
Represent the "voice of the customer" in internal forums to align product management and engineering on roadmap priorities.
Lead technical workstreams for RFIs/RFQs and advanced engagement discussions with automotive OEMs.
Mentor cross-functional teams to prioritize tasks and resolve complex system issues effectively.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience, Master's with 7+ years, or PhD with 6+ years in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
At least 4 years of work experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python.
Extensive experience in software engineering including project management and leadership roles.
Strong background in automotive systems engineering focusing on compute platform architecture and embedded software stacks.
Solid understanding of automotive safety and quality frameworks like ISO 26262, ASPICE, and cybersecurity standards.
Proven experience as a customer-facing technical leader such as a chief engineer or system architect.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a complex matrix organization.
Willingness to travel regularly to domestic and international customer and company sites.