RF Front End Program Manager

Qualcomm•San Diego, CA

4d•$171,200 - $256,800•Onsite

About The Position

The RF Front End (RFFE) Business Unit is at the heart of Qualcomm's wireless leadership — designing and delivering the power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, RF switches, filters, and antenna-tuning solutions that connect billions of devices to the world. We are looking for a Program Manager who understands RF systems at a technical level and can translate that knowledge into sharper decisions, stronger stakeholder alignment, and faster, higher-quality product delivery. In this role, you will own the end-to-end program lifecycle for complex RFFE module and component programs — from technology feasibility and design through wafer fabrication, assembly, test, qualification, and high-volume manufacturing (HVM) ramp. You will operate at the intersection of RF engineering, product management, supply chain, and global customers, serving as the connective tissue that turns breakthrough RF technology into market-ready products — on time, on budget, and at world-class quality. This is a role for someone who wants to raise the bar — elevating program management to a strategic differentiator for the RFFE business. You will drive process innovation, influence product and technology roadmap decisions, and help build a next-generation program management organization that scales with the ambition of our portfolio. Position requires to be in San Diego full time, 5 days a week.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
5+ years of Program Management or related work experience.
Demonstrated understanding of the RF front-end signal chain (PA, LNA, filters, switches, antenna tuners) or analogous complex hardware subsystems.
Working independently with minimal supervision; expected to exercise sound judgment and drive outcomes autonomously across complex, ambiguous problem spaces.
Making decisions with significant impact on program cost, schedule, quality, and customer commitments; errors may have substantial financial or reputational consequences requiring senior leadership involvement to correct.
Using advanced verbal and written communication skills to convey complex technical and business information to diverse audiences. Requires strong negotiation, influence, and the ability to drive alignment among stakeholders with competing priorities.
Completing tasks that are undefined or loosely defined; substantial creativity and systems-level thinking are necessary to develop new processes, solve novel problems, and achieve ambitious objectives.
Using deductive and inductive problem-solving in environments where information is frequently incomplete, conflicting, or rapidly evolving. Advanced data analysis and interpretation skills are essential.
Actively participating in strategic planning within the RFFE BU, influencing product direction, operational priorities, and organizational capability development.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (RF/Analog/Mixed-Signal emphasis) or related field.
8+ years of Program Management or technical leadership experience in semiconductor NPI (New Product Introduction), with at least 3 years in an RF, RFFE, or wireless-adjacent domain.
4+ years of hands-on or management experience spanning the full silicon/module lifecycle: design, tape-out, wafer fab, packaging/assembly (e.g., SiP, MCM, Fan-Out WLP), test development, qualification, and HVM ramp.
Working knowledge of RF semiconductor technologies such as SOI, GaAs, BAW/SAW filtering, and advanced packaging techniques.
3+ years of work experience in a role requiring regular interaction with senior and executive leadership (Director level and above), including experience presenting program status, trade-off analyses, and strategic recommendations.
3+ years of experience working in a large, matrixed, global organization — coordinating across engineering, product management, marketing, supply chain/sourcing, and customer account teams across multiple time zones.
Demonstrated ability to integrate AI and automation tools to optimize program management workflows, reporting, and decision-making (e.g., predictive scheduling, automated risk dashboards).
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, with experience using metrics (OTD, yield, cycle time, cost) to drive program health and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Own the Program Plan of Record — Develop, manage, and execute the end-to-end Plan of Record (schedule, budget, scope, resources, risk) for complex RFFE module and component programs, from concept through HVM ramp and sustaining.
Be the Technical Bridge — Leverage RF domain knowledge to engage credibly with design, systems, and test engineering teams; translate technical risks and trade-offs into clear program actions and leadership-ready communications.
Drive Cross-Functional Alignment — Serve as the key liaison across RF design, product management, supply chain, test/qualification, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams. Proactively resolve conflicts, remove blockers, and drive decisions across stakeholders with differing priorities.
Lead NPI Execution with Rigor — Manage phase-gate governance (e.g., T-gates / milestone reviews), ensuring that exit criteria are met with discipline and that programs advance with full stakeholder alignment. Track and manage all key program metrics; identify deviations from plan and escalate with corrective action proposals.
Champion Process Innovation — Identify systemic inefficiencies in program execution and drive the adoption of best-in-class processes, tools, and automation. Raise the standard for how program management operates within the RFFE BU — establishing repeatable frameworks that scale across the portfolio.
Manage Risk as a Strategic Discipline — Build and maintain comprehensive risk and issue trackers; develop mitigation and contingency plans; drive proactive risk reviews with engineering and supply chain stakeholders. Anticipate problems before they become crises.
Communicate with Impact — Deliver clear, concise, and insight-rich program status updates, executive summaries, and escalation briefs to audiences ranging from working-level engineers to leadership. Tailor message, format, and cadence to the audience.
Mentor and Elevate — Contribute to the growth of the broader program management organization by sharing best practices, and helping establish a culture of technical excellence and accountability.