Senior Director, SoC Architecture

Job Title

Senior Director, SoC Architecture

Role Summary

Lead SoC architecture strategy and execution for machine learning and AI-accelerated solutions, aligning hardware and software teams to deliver efficient inference and training capabilities on Qualcomm platforms.

Senior technical and people leader responsible for defining architecture guidelines, directing optimized ML software/hardware co-design, and driving cross-functional execution across product roadmaps.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Role requires extensive leadership and technical experience (typical experience range: 8+ years in relevant engineering roles; see Education Requirements for degree/experience equivalencies).

Responsibilities

Accountable for high-level SoC and ML architecture direction, team leadership, and delivery of optimized ML solutions for product deployment.

• Define strategy and architecture for ML hardware and software co-design (inference and training).
• Oversee development of optimized software (kernels, compiler tools, model-efficiency tools) to leverage hardware features.
• Set modeling and architecture guidelines for teams; review and approve designs and optimizations.
• Drive roadmaps and execute on product proposals of varying complexity.
• Communicate results and progress to senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and performance standards for the functional area.
• Provide supervision and mentorship to managers and technical leaders.

Requirements

Must-have technical and leadership skills. Degrees and formal education expectations are listed under Education Requirements below.

• 8+ years of senior engineering experience in hardware, software, or systems engineering (minimum experience level implied by degree/experience equivalencies).
• 5+ years using machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Caffe).
• 5+ years working with low-level OS and hardware interactions (e.g., Linux, Android, QNX).
• 5+ years in embedded systems development and optimization, with application to ML domains (e.g., NLP, multimedia).
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages used for ML and systems work (e.g., Python, C, C++).
• Practical knowledge of statistics and probability applied to ML (e.g., Bayesian methods, conditional probability).
• Proven technical leadership and experience influencing large matrixed organizations and senior leadership.
• Experience managing operating budgets or project financials and delivering against business objectives.
• Track record of developing novel ML architectures or optimizations.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field with 10+ years relevant experience; OR Master's in those fields with 9+ years relevant experience; OR PhD in those fields with 8+ years relevant experience. Equivalent practical experience will be considered. Preferred: Master's degree in a related field.

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.