Legal Counsel, Direct Procurement

Qualcomm • San Diego, CA

2d

About The Position

Qualcomm is looking for an experienced attorney for its legal department in San Diego, California. This role will provide specialized legal support to Qualcomm’s direct procurement function—managing legal risk, driving compliance, and structuring agreements for supplier relationships that directly impact Qualcomm’s semiconductor product development, manufacturing operations and supply chain.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate degree or international equivalent.
• 5+ years of relevant experience as counsel at a law firm or in-house.
• Active bar license to practice law in the state or jurisdiction where the employee will be practicing (or ability to obtain upon hiring).
• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent; admitted to a U.S. state bar with active status.
• 5+ years of legal experience, including in-house counsel or law firm background in procurement or commercial contracts.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex procurement contracts—especially in semiconductor, manufacturing, or technology sectors.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to simplify complex legal issues for non-legal stakeholders.
• Excellent multitasking and prioritization in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and proactive, with strong commercial judgment.
• Collaborative team player who works both independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with antitrust law, IP licensing in procurement, and global supply chain dynamics.
• At least 3 years of drafting and negotiation experience.

Responsibilities

• Contract Negotiation & Drafting
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements including purchase orders, supply contracts, equipment/materials procurement, engineering services, manufacturing services, and hardware/software licensing agreements.
• Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance
• In conjunction with subject matter experts, advise on and mitigate legal and regulatory risks related to procurement.
• Procurement Lifecycle Support
• Support end-to-end procurement: from RFPs/RFQs, supplier due diligence and onboarding, to contract close-out and amendment processes.
• Policy, Process & Template Development
• Create and maintain procurement legal templates and playbooks, embedding best practices and compliance standards aligned with corporate policy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Act as a trusted advisor to procurement, business unit legal, engineering, supply chain, finance, compliance, and operations teams.
• Training & Knowledge Sharing
• Conduct targeted training for business stakeholders on contracting best practices, legal risks, and procurement processes.
• Dispute Resolution & Supplier Management
• Provide legal guidance on supplier performance issues, escalate disputes, and support resolution strategies.

Benefits

• Play a vital role in shaping legal strategy across Qualcomm’s direct sourcing operations—supporting the development of next-gen semiconductor products.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, business unit legal, finance, supply chain, compliance, and contracts teams on high-impact projects.
• Be part of a dynamic in-house legal group dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees