DDRSS Systems Engineer

Job Title

DDRSS Systems Engineer

Role Summary

The DDRSS Systems Engineer validates, tunes, and optimizes the DDR memory subsystem across pre-silicon and post-silicon platforms. The role develops and maintains low-level DDR firmware and system APIs, performs bring-up and characterization, and collaborates with design, validation, software, and architecture teams to enable reliable, high-performance memory features.

Experience Level

Entry / Early-career. Typical candidates have ~1–3 years of relevant experience in embedded firmware, system validation, or hardware/software integration.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include firmware development, system bring-up, and cross-domain debugging and analysis.

• Develop and maintain low-level firmware and system APIs for DDR initialization, training, power management, and performance features.
• Validate firmware in simulation, emulation, FPGA, and silicon environments.
• Perform DDR subsystem bring-up and characterization on pre-silicon and post-silicon platforms.
• Collect and interpret stability, performance, power, and reliability data to guide design decisions.
• Analyze and debug system issues spanning hardware, firmware, and software domains.
• Collaborate with design, DV, software, architecture, and product teams to enable and optimize DDR features.
• Contribute to the definition and validation of next-generation memory subsystem capabilities.

Requirements

Concise list of required and preferred technical skills. Degree information is summarized under Education Requirements below.

Must-have:

• 2+ years of experience in embedded firmware or low-level software development.
• Strong programming skills in C.
• Experience with embedded system debugging and hardware/software integration.
• Understanding of digital design fundamentals and computer architecture concepts.
• Experience using lab equipment and silicon debugging tools to collect and analyze system data.
• Familiarity with LPDDR memory interface concepts and protocol fundamentals.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with LPDDR4/LPDDR5/LPDDR5X protocols, training algorithms, and power management features.
• DDR subsystem validation, characterization, and post-silicon bring-up experience.
• Experience developing or maintaining Verilog/SystemVerilog simulation testbenches and validation environments.
• Familiarity with memory controllers, caches, coherent interconnects, and SoC architecture.
• Experience with emulation platforms, FPGA prototyping, Python/scripting for validation and data analysis, and performance/power optimization.

Education Requirements

Minimum qualifications specify one of: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field plus 2+ years relevant experience; OR Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field plus 1+ year relevant experience; OR a PhD in Science, Engineering, or a related field. Typical fields referenced include Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, and VLSI.

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.