ARM Server SoC Software & Firmware Systems Engineer (Sr. Staff / Principal)

Job Title

ARM Server SoC Software & Firmware Systems Engineer (Sr. Staff / Principal)

Role Summary

Senior technical leader responsible for system-level architecture of ARM server SoC platforms across silicon, firmware, OS, hypervisor, and platform services. The role guides cross-team architectural decisions, tracks execution across organizational boundaries, and ensures production-quality delivery for datacenter and hyperscale customers.

Experience Level

Senior (Sr. Staff / Principal). The posting requests senior-level experience; the role expects multi-year senior experience (examples in posting: 12+ years in system software, firmware, or SoC architecture).

Responsibilities

Deliver system-level architecture and technical leadership across hardware and software domains.

• Own and drive system architecture for ARM server SoCs across CPU, SoC, firmware, OS, hypervisors, and platform services.
• Act as a technical integrator across firmware, OS, performance, RAS, security, memory, PCIe, and platform teams.
• Define and enforce cross-layer contracts (HW–FW–OS–Hypervisor) using standards such as ACPI, PSCI, SBSA/SBBR, SystemReady.
• Provide architectural leadership for boot flows, runtime firmware, power/performance management, RAS, security, virtualization, and telemetry.
• Identify architectural risks and cross-team dependencies early; guide execution and resolve issues to closure.
• Review designs and implementations for adherence to architectural intent, scalability, and production readiness.
• Translate hyperscaler and customer requirements into technical architecture and execution priorities.
• Produce architecture documentation, technical guidance, and executive summaries; mentor senior engineers and architects.

Requirements

Key must-have skills and experience for successful candidates, plus concise preferred items.

• Must-have: 12+ years experience in system software, firmware, or SoC architecture for server or datacenter platforms.
• Must-have: Strong understanding of ARM64 server architectures and system software stacks.
• Must-have: Broad technical depth across firmware, OS, hypervisors, power/performance management, RAS, memory, PCIe, and platform services.
• Must-have: Demonstrated experience leading large cross-functional technical initiatives without direct authority.
• Must-have: Ability to reason at system level and balance architectural rigor with execution realities; excellent communication skills.
• Nice-to-have: 15+ years delivering production server SoCs or hyperscale platforms; direct experience with hyperscaler customers or datacenter operators.
• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with ARM, OCP, or related industry standards bodies and experience operating at Sr. Staff / Principal level.
• Nice-to-have: Practical experience with low-level programming and scripting (examples in source: C/C++, Python, Java).

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field is requested. Master's degree or PhD are listed as preferred/alternative paths; equivalent industry experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced degree. (Degrees and fields appeared across the posting: BSc/BS/BE in CS/EE, MS/Master's, PhD; explicit allowance for equivalent practical experience.)

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.