Software Engineer - WLAN

Job Title

Software Engineer - WLAN

Role Summary

Join the WLAN HAL-PHY firmware team to design, implement, and validate low-level firmware for next-generation WLAN chipsets. The role requires ownership of architecture, silicon bring-up, lab validation, and delivery of production-quality C/C++ firmware in resource-constrained embedded environments.

This position is not eligible for Qualcomm immigration sponsorship. The team has an AI-first engineering culture; engineers are expected to use and contribute to AI-assisted development and analysis tools daily.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Preferred 2+ years of software engineering experience; candidates with up to 7 years are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include firmware design, validation, optimization, and collaboration with hardware teams.

• Design and re-architect firmware modules and document design decisions.
• Write, review, and maintain production-quality low-level C/C++ firmware for DSP/ARM-based, resource-constrained processors.
• Develop WLAN offload firmware for dedicated co-processor cores and implement features for 802.11be and future WLAN standards.
• Perform silicon bring-up, lab validation, and partner with chip designers, board engineers, and RF specialists.
• Diagnose and resolve complex WLAN and RF system performance issues using RF test equipment and IQ capture data.
• Profile and optimize firmware for throughput, latency, power, and memory footprint.
• Support customer launches and production field issue resolution; occasional travel to customer sites may be required.
• Participate in and help refine AI-assisted SDLC pipelines, automated code review, and AI-driven triage workflows.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and expectations.

• Hands-on experience writing production-quality C/C++ firmware for embedded systems.
• Experience with WLAN firmware, protocol implementation, or RF system debugging.
• Experience with silicon bring-up and lab validation workflows.
• Strong debugging skills for complex, ambiguous failures and root-cause analysis.
• Familiarity with version control systems (Git, Perforce) and development tooling.
• Comfortable using AI coding assistants and AI-driven analysis tools as part of daily development; able to validate AI output against hardware specifications.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with database management software and APIs.
• Prior work with MCP toolchains, automated code review pipelines, or AI-based crash triage tools.
• Experience optimizing for real-time throughput, low latency, and constrained memory footprints.

Education Requirements

Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field. Preferred: Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field. The posting also encourages candidates with up to 7 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.