VLSI Software Engineer

Job Title

VLSI Software Engineer

Role Summary

Develop and maintain internal CAD software for top-level SoC floorplanning, RTL module placement, and datapath routing on Qualcomm's Global CAD team. Work closely with physical design, timing/PDN, and CAD domain experts to deliver tools and infrastructure used by Snapdragon chip teams.

The team leverages internal EDA tooling and ML techniques to improve RTL integration and floorplanning automation.

Experience Level

Mid-level - the posting lists 1–4 years of software development experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Primary engineering responsibilities for developing, enhancing, and supporting CAD tools.

• Develop and maintain tools for top-level chip floorplanning, RTL module placement, and datapath routing to optimize timing and area.
• Add features to internal tools including web GUIs, parsers for design collateral, and high-level APIs.
• Build and extend infrastructure for design regression automation and extraction of standalone testcases from production runs.
• Follow coding best practices: class design, linting, CI/CD, documentation, and unit tests (including GenAI-related tests where applicable).
• Participate in project and software spec development; create UML or architecture diagrams to communicate designs.
• Support Snapdragon design teams by troubleshooting tool issues, fixing corner-case failures, and responding to tickets.
• Collaborate with global CAD developers and VLSI experts across floorplanning, synthesis, place-and-route, and signoff tooling.

Requirements

Core technical must-haves and useful additional skills.

• Proficient in Python or C++; Python preferred. JavaScript experience is a plus.
• Experience developing engineering or CAD/EDA software and delivering production-quality code.
• Familiarity with version control and development platforms (git, GitLab, GitHub).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, linting, automated testing, and writing maintainable code and documentation.
• Ability to translate physical-design and timing requirements into software features and interact with chip designers.
• Strong debugging and problem-resolution skills for production toolchains and regression suites.
• Good communication and teamwork skills in cross-functional engineering environments.

Education Requirements

Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field. Preferred: Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Computer/Compute Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

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.