Rack Systems Architect

Qualcomm•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

Our Mission Qualcomm Data Center team is developing High performance, Energy efficient server solution for data center applications. We are looking for highly talented, innovative, teamwork-oriented individuals for our cutting-edge technology work! Our Mission We are dedicated to transforming the industry by reimagining silicon and developing next-generation computing platforms. By joining our team, you’ll collaborate with world-class engineers to create innovative solutions that push the limits of performance, energy efficiency, and scalability. Our focus is on developing reference platforms based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoC, delivering a comprehensive solution that includes hardware, software, reference designs, user guides, SDKs, and more. Overview We are hiring a Rack Systems Architect to define and deliver rack-scale compute systems for next-generation data center platforms. This role owns end-to-end rack architecture, spanning compute, networking, power, and cooling, and translates platform capabilities into scalable, deployment-ready solutions. Operating at the intersection of silicon, systems, and infrastructure, you will drive architecture from concept through production—balancing performance, scalability, reliability, and total cost of ownership (TCO). Why This Role Matters You will define the building blocks of modern data center infrastructure—architecting rack-scale systems that directly impact performance, efficiency, and deployment at scale. Your work enables next-generation platforms to move from silicon to real-world production environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
10+ years of experience in data center hardware, system architecture, or infrastructure design
Proven experience with rack-scale or system-level architecture and integration
Strong expertise in power, thermal, and networking trade-offs at system scale
Solid understanding of high-speed architectures (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, DDR)
Experience leading cross-functional architecture across hardware, software, and systems teams
Strong communication and technical leadership skills
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field
15+ years of experience in platform and rack-scale architecture
Deep knowledge of OCP standards and ORv3 rack architectures
Experience delivering rack-scale systems in production data center environments
Expertise in rack-level power systems and energy efficiency optimization
Experience with liquid cooling technologies (DLC, RDHx, immersion)
Exposure to CXL, composable infrastructure, or rack-scale disaggregation
Experience working with OEMs/ODMs and hyperscale ecosystems

Responsibilities

Define and own rack-scale architecture, including compute topology, networking fabric, power distribution, and rack integration
Develop OCP-aligned Rack Level Designs (RLDs), including ORv3-based architectures
Lead rack-level power architecture (48V/54V), including redundancy, efficiency, and scalability
Define rack-level networking and interconnect architectures (Ethernet, PCIe, emerging fabrics)
Partner with thermal teams on cooling architecture (liquid cooling, air cooling) and system-level trade-offs
Drive rack integration: mechanical layout, cabling, serviceability, manufacturability
Collaborate with software and firmware teams on rack management, telemetry, observability, and validation strategy
Ensure systems are deployment-ready, with focus on reliability, serviceability, and operational efficiency
Evaluate and drive adoption of emerging technologies (CXL, rack-scale disaggregation, next-gen interconnects)
Author architecture specifications, design documents, and trade-off analyses