This role pays more than
81%
of similar roles. Most pay
$169,550–$223,500
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$241k
versus about
$197k
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.
Principal Engineering – Automotive Platform SW joins the Automotive Software Platform team as a high-visibility technical leader overseeing the entire lifecycle of automotive software projects from concept to production. This individual will serve as the chief technical counterpart to OEM engineering leadership, managing project requirements, schedules, and risk mitigation while coordinating internal hardware, software, systems, safety, security, and tool teams. The role involves translating customer needs into platform requirements for SoC, BSP, and reference platforms while advocating for customer priorities in internal forums. Key responsibilities include leading technical workstreams for RFIs/RFQs and managing complex system issues. Required skills include proficiency in C, C++, Java, or Python, alongside expertise in automotive systems such as compute platform architecture, embedded software stacks like QNX, Linux, or Android, and safety frameworks including ISO 26262 and ASPICE.
Oversee the entire lifecycle of automotive software projects from initial concept through production and post-SOP maintenance.
Act as the primary technical point of contact for OEMs regarding SoC, platform software, and system integration.
Translate customer requirements into specific Qualcomm platform features, technical solutions, and product roadmap items.
Coordinate internal cross-functional engineering teams to meet critical project milestones and delivery schedules.
Lead technical workstreams for RFIs/RFQs and advanced engagement discussions with automotive partners.
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, engineering, and sales teams.
Mentor and guide cross-functional teams to prioritize tasks and solve complex system problems 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, embedded SW stacks, and AD stack optimizations.
Solid understanding of automotive safety and quality frameworks such as 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 within a complex matrix organization.
Ability to travel to domestic and international sites as needed.
Computer Vision
Deep Learning
Python
C++
PyTorch
TensorFlow
Keras
Caffe
Linux
Android
QNX
Quantization
Pruning
Distillation
CPU
GPU
DSP
NPU
Containerization