Director of Engineering (Networking Product)

Job Title

Director of Engineering (Networking Product)

Role Summary

Lead architecture and delivery of the packet processing engine (PPE) and networking forwarding plane. Work cross-functionally with product management, software, design, verification, and validation teams to translate networking objectives into PPE architecture and implementation plans.

Drive technical direction, performance and power analyses, simulation/modeling approaches, and documentation to ensure PPE features meet product and customer requirements.

Experience Level

Senior — role expects substantial senior experience. Minimum ~12+ years relevant experience in networking datapath / packet processing / ASIC architecture; 15+ years preferred.

Responsibilities

Deliver PPE architecture, align stakeholders, and oversee engineering teams to meet networking product goals.

• Define and translate product and software requirements into PPE performance, power, cost, and feature specifications.
• Design PPE architecture for complex forwarding-plane features and identify architecture enhancements.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (design, verification, validation, software) to resolve issues and ensure model-to-DV translation.
• Specify and oversee simulations, power/performance analyses, and other KPI studies at the PPE level.
• Support software enablement and system-level feature bring-up related to PPE functions.
• Write and review clear technical specifications and documentation; communicate guidelines across teams.
• Monitor industry trends and incorporate innovations to improve PPE performance and effectiveness.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and capabilities; senior leadership and cross-functional influence are required.

• Demonstrated experience translating PdM and software requirements into PPE/packet-processing architectural designs and enabling implementation teams (Design/DV/VI/SW).
• Deep experience in networking architecture/design and networking datapath/packet processing.
• Strong debugging and system-level problem-solving skills.
• Proven leadership and ability to influence cross-functional teams under minimal supervision.
• Fluent verbal and written communication in Chinese and English.
• Able to work effectively under tight schedules and stressful situations.
• Minimum 12+ years of relevant experience in networking datapath, packet processing, ASIC architecture, or related roles.

Nice-to-have:

• 15+ years of experience in networking architecture/design.
• 3+ years interacting with senior leadership (VP level and above).
• 4+ years in technical leadership roles with direct reports.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Science, Engineering, or a related technical field is stated. Preferred: MS or higher in EE/CS or related field. Qualcomm lists degree-to-experience equivalencies: Bachelor's +8 years, Master's +7 years, or PhD +6 years in ASIC design/verification/validation/integration or related work; equivalent practical experience is accepted per those mappings.

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.