Program Manager

Job Title

Program Manager

Role Summary

Lead Central Hardware System (CHS) program execution for chipset programs in San Diego, managing schedule, resources, risks, change requests, and tape-out readiness across CHS and partner teams.

Work with CHS engineering leads, BU chipset program managers, Finance, and external partners to drive plans, trade-offs, and decisions from early planning through design and NPI.

Experience Level

Entry-level / Early career - requires 2+ years of Program Management or related experience. Semiconductor development or manufacturing experience is required.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain integrated CHS schedules; manage dependencies and the critical path.
• Assess downstream impacts of partner schedule or requirement changes and propose recovery options and trade-offs.
• Plan and track headcount (HC) and NRE; identify gaps and review forecasts with leadership and Finance.
• Maintain CHS risk and issue register; score risks, define mitigations/contingencies, and drive closure.
• Manage change requests; evaluate impacts on schedule, resources, and cost and drive stakeholder decisions.
• Track tape-out checklist (TOCL) sign-offs and ensure closure ahead of tape-out.
• Run chipset core meetings, capture decisions and action items, and follow up to completion.
• Prepare regular status reports and executive briefings for Director and VP audiences.
• Leverage AI tools and automation to build dashboards, track program health, and reduce manual reporting.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience:

• Minimum 2+ years of Program Management or related experience.
• Direct experience in semiconductor development or manufacturing; working knowledge of the SoC and silicon lifecycle from architecture and tape-out through bring-up and customer sampling.
• Understanding of IC package design and development (substrate design, tape-out, assembly).
• Experience with HC and NRE planning, tracking, and forecasting for engineering programs.
• Hands-on experience with project management tools (MS Project, JIRA) and building integrated schedules with cross-team dependencies.
• Experience using AI/automation tools (e.g., Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power BI, Power Automate) to automate reporting and routine program work.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to explain technical trade-offs to engineering teams and leadership.
• Experience working in large matrixed organizations and interacting with senior leadership.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. The posting allows advanced degrees to substitute for up to two years of work experience (Master’s = one year, Doctorate = two years). Preferred fields include Electrical, Electronics, Computer, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering. PMP certification (or equivalent) is listed as preferred.

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.