Senior Staff Engineer - GPU Power Engineer

Job Title

Senior Staff Engineer - GPU Power Engineer

Role Summary

The GPU RTL Power Engineer will drive power-optimization efforts for Qualcomm GPUs across architecture, microarchitecture, and RTL to improve performance-per-watt for premium smartphone and adjacent market GPUs (Automotive, Compute, XR, AI).

The role partners with hardware, software, and system teams to analyze benchmarks and games from early specification through silicon bring-up, and to implement RTL- and system-level power-efficiency strategies.

Experience Level

Senior-level; this posting targets very experienced engineers (typically 12+ years of relevant industry experience for Senior Staff level).

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include power analysis, optimization, and cross-team collaboration across the GPU design flow.

• Perform performance-per-watt and power-efficiency analysis for GPU blocks and subsystems on industry benchmarks and games from specification to silicon.
• Define and drive RTL-level power-optimization strategies (clock/enable efficiency, switching reduction, low-power design patterns).
• Partner with architects, RTL designers, backend and software teams to evaluate power/area/timing trade-offs and inform microarchitectural decisions.
• Use RTL power analysis and emulation flows to identify and resolve power anomalies; debug RTL or gate-level issues to root cause.
• Develop automation, data pipelines, and AI/ML-driven analysis workflows (primarily using Python) to scale power analysis and reporting.
• Document methodologies, create best-practice guidelines, and communicate findings to global teams and stakeholders.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience required for the role; preferred qualifications follow.

• Deep understanding of RTL power optimization fundamentals (switching activity, clock/enable efficiency, RTL low-power patterns).
• Experience with RTL power-analysis tools such as PowerArtist, PTPX, PowerPro, or equivalent flows.
• Knowledge of low-power techniques including clock gating, power gating, and dynamic vs. leakage power trade-offs.
• Familiarity with emulation power methodology and how RTL design decisions affect post-layout power and timing.
• Understanding of backend flows (logic synthesis, place-and-route) and their impact on power.
• Proven ability to debug RTL/gate-level power anomalies and identify root causes.
• Strong Python skills for automation, data processing, and analytics; experience building scalable analysis pipelines.
• Excellent analytical, debugging, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to work effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous, global teams.
• Preferred: knowledge of graphics architecture and experience with OpenGL and/or Vulkan APIs.

Education Requirements

Qualcomm seeks candidates with a technical degree: Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or a related engineering/technical field. Experience expectations vary by degree level (examples in the posting include Bachelor's with multi-year experience and Senior Staff roles typically expecting ~12+ years of experience).

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.