Modem Firmware Engineer

Qualcomm • San Diego, CA

1d • $162,500 - $243,700

About The Position

Designs, implements, verifies, validates, and commercializes wireless WAN (cellular) modem air-interface radio access network technologies. The role works on modem access stratum and RF software design, optimization, algorithms, modem hardware, firmware, and systems, collaborating with the RFFE team to define and guide modem IP architecture, RFFE design, hardware APIs, core systems algorithms, and hardware/software/co-processor architecture. It covers transceiver, hardware-control, and wireless Radio Access Stratum implementation for multi-RAT technologies based on industry specifications, particularly 3GPP LTE and 5G NR. The engineer applies WWAN L1/L2/L3 specification knowledge to implement shared resources in a multi-RAT modem and partners with cross-functional teams to deliver cost-effective, high-quality modem IP that meets industry and customer requirements for throughput, latency, power consumption, silicon area, calibration complexity, and code size.

The role owns feature design and implementation, contributes technical leadership within a domain, develops and reviews models, code, simulations, test environments, and test plans, and supports modem bring-up and resolution of implementation, customer, and field issues. It also produces detailed technical documentation and guides less experienced engineers. The position works under some supervision and provides guidance to others, but does not supervise direct reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field and 4+ years of relevant software, hardware, electrical, or systems engineering or related work experience; or a master's degree in one of these fields and 3+ years of relevant experience; or a PhD in one of these fields and 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience or knowledge in modem technologies, including RF, baseband, signal processing, computer architecture, communication protocols, or VLSI.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly in writing and verbally, collaborate across functional areas, and solve problems with incomplete information.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience with programming (e.g., C, C++, Python), computer architecture, or embedded systems.
• 1+ year in a technical leadership role, with or without direct reports; stated as applying only to positions with direct reports.
• 1+ year of applicable wireless, semiconductor, and/or embedded software industry experience.
• 6+ months of WWAN modem development-specific experience.

Responsibilities

• Apply expert modem knowledge and develop or modify methodology for an area of modem hardware, systems, or firmware to execute assignments.
• Lead technical discussions in design reviews and project meetings within a domain, and own feature design and implementation.
• Develop and review models, code, and simulations; identify design accuracy or reliability issues; evaluate tradeoffs and identify solutions.
• Provide guidance to less experienced engineers and collaborate with cross-functional teams to design products that meet customer requirements and standards.
• Develop test environments and comprehensive test plans to test and verify module designs; work across teams to evaluate results and validate the modem against specifications.
• Resolve moderately complex implementation and commercialization issues across functional areas, and support modem bring-up and customer or field issue resolution.
• Write clear, detailed technical documentation and feature descriptions for complex projects to guide users or customers.
• Work within prescribed budgets and resources, plan and prioritize multi-step tasks, and contribute creative solutions and occasional strategic planning within the assigned area.

Benefits

• Competitive annual discretionary bonus program.
• Opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for the annual bonus).
• Competitive benefits package designed to support employees at work, at home, and at play.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior