Senior Staff Principal Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & ARM Server Platforms

Qualcomm

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Santa Clara, CAAustin, TXSan Diego, CA
Salary: $190,200–$285,400 / yr
Posted: 40 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Closes: Mar 16, 2027
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $194k

This role $238k

$124k $303k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 83% of similar roles. Most pay $165,000–$222,000 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $238k versus about $194k 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 575 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $147,900–$221,900 across 550 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Senior Staff Principal Software Engineer, Linux Kernel & ARM Server Platforms

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The Sr. Staff / Principal Software Engineer – Linux Kernel & ARM Server Platforms provides system-level technical leadership for next-generation ARM server platforms. Working within the software engineering group, this role involves shaping architecture across hardware, firmware, operating system, and hypervisor boundaries. You will drive Linux kernel enablement, performance optimizations, and platform drivers while guiding boot flows, virtualization, memory, and PCIe telemetry. The position requires expertise in C, C++, and Python to ensure operating systems run efficiently on server SoCs. You will utilize industry standards including ACPI, UEFI, SystemReady, SBSA/SBBR, and PSCI. The work focuses on solving technical challenges for hyperscale datacenter environments, specifically optimizing system software and ensuring production-quality delivery for high-performance server platforms through cross-functional collaboration with silicon, RAS, and security teams.

What does a Software Engineer earn in California?

Median $214500 from 1193 postings across 76 companies.

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Skills

Linux Kernel C C++ ARM Firmware Python Java ACPI UEFI SystemReady SBSA SBBR PSCI PCIe Virtualization Assembly boot loaders Post-silicon Debug OCP

What you'll do

Provide system-level technical leadership for Linux kernel, firmware, and platform software on ARM server SoCs.
Define architecture across HW, FW, OS, and hypervisor boundaries using standards like ACPI, UEFI, and PSCI.
Drive Linux kernel enablement, performance optimizations, and platform drivers for high-performance server platforms.
Guide boot flows, runtime firmware, power management, virtualization, memory, PCIe, and telemetry enablement.
Ensure operating systems run efficiently on server platforms and support new architectural features.
Review designs and implementations to ensure scalability, robustness, and production readiness.
Influence SoC and platform roadmaps through system-level analysis and technical leadership.
Mentor senior engineers and serve as a technical authority across firmware and system software domains.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering experience.
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Software Engineering experience.
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering experience.
3+ years of work experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python.
12+ years of experience in system software, firmware, or platform software for high-performance or server-class systems (preferred).
10+ years of hands-on Linux kernel development experience (preferred).
15+ years of experience building production software stacks for high-performance or datacenter platforms (preferred).
Proficiency in C and low-level systems programming, including assembly (preferred).

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