Senior Technical Standards — RISC-V CPU

Job Title

Senior Technical Standards — RISC-V CPU

Role Summary

Senior contributor focused on semiconductor technical standards with primary emphasis on RISC-V. The role represents Qualcomm in standards forums, works with internal teams to define standards priorities, and collaborates with external partners to develop and promote standards.

Responsibilities include shaping Qualcomm's semiconductor standards strategy, participating as a delegate in industry forums, coordinating cross-functional technical work, and supporting IP protection efforts with legal counsel.

Experience Level

Senior — the posting expects experienced candidates. Guideline: typically 3+ years in ASIC design, verification, or related semiconductor engineering work and demonstrated technical leadership or standards engagement.

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include standards representation, technical influence, and cross-team coordination.

• Serve as Qualcomm delegate and active participant in standards bodies and forums (e.g., RISC-V and related organizations).
• Identify existing and emerging semiconductor standards relevant to Qualcomm and drive internal strategy and prioritization.
• Collaborate with internal engineering, product, and legal teams to define technical positions and protect IP.
• Develop and promote technical standards with external partners and industry consortia.
• Lead or advise on processor architecture, microarchitecture, modeling, compliance certification, and verification efforts.
• Engage with research and academic partners and build relationships across industry stakeholders.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; preferred items listed separately.

• Must-have: Deep knowledge of RISC-V ISA, processor architecture, and microarchitecture.
• Must-have: Experience with processor/core compliance certification, modeling, and verification.
• Must-have: ASIC design or verification experience (posting guidance indicates multi-year experience).
• Must-have: Strong networking, influencing, and communication skills to engage internal and external stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Nice-to-have: System firmware and kernel knowledge.
• Nice-to-have: Understanding of semiconductor technologies, development lifecycle (architecture, implementation, validation, silicon qualification), and EDA tools.
• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with open-source licensing and ecosystems.
• Nice-to-have: Prior experience or contacts within standards organizations (examples: RISC-V, CHIPS Alliance, JEDEC, UEFI, Si2, SEMI, IEEE).
• Nice-to-have: Experience in technical leadership roles and interacting with senior leadership.

Education Requirements

Required: Master's degree in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Preferred: Doctorate (PhD) in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering. The posting also references acceptable alternatives: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Information Systems (with relevant experience), a Master's with reduced experience requirement, or a PhD. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

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.