Principal Linux Platform Engineer

Qualcomm • San Diego, CA

80d • $192,600 - $289,000

About The Position

We are seeking a seasoned Principal Linux Platform Engineer to lead the development and deployment of Qualcomm's Cloud AI 100 accelerator cards across data center and edge environments. This role demands deep technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership in building scalable, secure, and high-performance Linux-based systems for AI inference workloads.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience, OR Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience, OR PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• 4+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
• 8+ years of experience in Linux kernel development, device drivers, and runtime systems.
• Proven expertise in PCIe, IOMMU, MSI, and low-level hardware-software integration.
• Strong background in cloud-native architectures, virtualization, and container orchestration.
• 8+ years of experience in C/C++, Python, and Linux shell scripting.
• Experience with Protocol Buffers, secure boot, and firmware lifecycle management.

Nice To Haves

• Masters degree.
• Prior experience with Qualcomm's AIC100 SoC or similar AI accelerators.
• Contributions to open-source Linux kernel or Kubernetes device plugin projects.
• Strong understanding of edge computing and hybrid cloud deployments.

Responsibilities

• Architect and evolve the Cloud AI 100 Linux Runtime, including advanced user space libraries for inference, telemetry, and diagnostics.
• Develop kernel drivers interfacing with the AIC100 SoC, optimized for performance and reliability.
• Lead integration of Qmonitor, a Protocol Buffers-based client-server tool for device configuration and monitoring.
• Define and drive best practices for SDK deployment across Linux distributions (CentOS, Ubuntu, RHEL).
• Design secure and efficient PCIe passthrough and IOMMU configurations for virtualized environments (KVM, Hyper-V).
• Ensure robust secure boot, firmware integrity, and hardware root of trust across hybrid and flash-less boot modes.
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate cross-functionally to align platform capabilities with product goals.

Benefits

• $192,600.00 - $289,000.00 salary range.
• Competitive annual discretionary bonus program.
• Opportunity for annual RSU grants.
• Highly competitive benefits package designed to support success at work, at home, and at play.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Education Level: Master's degree