CPU Firmware Verification and Validation Engineer

Job Title

CPU Firmware Verification and Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Lead a global verification and validation organization responsible for CPU firmware and related software stacks, ensuring integration, stability, scalability, and lifecycle support across product lines.

This role combines hands-on technical leadership with people and program management to improve quality, reduce operational risk, and accelerate delivery.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Posting specifies very senior experience (examples include 15+ years in embedded software/firmware quality and at least 5 years of leadership experience).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include building and operating a global FW verification and validation capability and driving quality across releases and programs.

• Build, manage, and scale a global firmware verification and validation (Software QA) organization.
• Define and execute automation strategies to optimize CI/CD for firmware and software delivery.
• Plan resource allocation across multiple concurrent programs and manage support pipelines and SLAs.
• Improve firmware release cadence and enforce quality standards through robust testing and validation.
• Implement risk-management practices to ensure production stability and reliability.
• Manage and reduce technical debt through proactive planning and execution.
• Act as quality interface between production software teams and customer engineering groups.
• Provide coaching, career development, and knowledge-retention practices for a distributed engineering organization.
• Contribute to firmware architecture and design with a focus on integration and design-for-test.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience, followed by preferred qualifications.

• Minimum ~15 years in embedded software/firmware quality engineering with at least 5 years in leadership or people-management roles.
• Proven experience coordinating with cross-functional teams (SoC, firmware development, release/configuration management, product/program management).
• Strong background in CI/CD, test automation, and tools integration to accelerate validation and reduce integration issues.
• 4+ years practical experience programming or scripting in languages such as C, C++, Java, and Python.
• Experience with firmware/software deployment and testing in embedded systems and SOC-focused SW/FW engineering (minimum ~5 years desirable).
• Familiarity with C/C++ toolchains (GCC, LLVM, ARM toolchains) and firmware integration layers (BIOS/UEFI, OS for x86/ARM64/RISC-V).
• Experience defining and tracking quality metrics, SLAs, and support pipelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication of technical requirements, problem statements, and solutions across regions.
• Nice-to-have: experience with Windows/Linux/Android internals; Powershell, Shell/Bash scripting; and applying AI tools to automate/accelerate validation.

Education Requirements

Relevant degrees expected: Bachelor's in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems or a related technical field. The posting also lists alternative degree/experience combinations: Bachelor's degree + ~8 years' software engineering experience, Master's degree + ~7 years' experience, or PhD + ~6 years' experience. Equivalent practical experience may be considered where appropriate.

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.