Director of Engineering for ML hardware design & Architecture

Company: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area: Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Video Systems, HW Architecture

General Summary

The Machine Learning Hardware Accelerator team is seeking an experienced and talented Hardware Design & Architecture Lead. This role will drive the definition and analysis of next‑generation ML hardware accelerator architectures, with a special emphasis on vision applications for mobile and emerging products.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect high‑performance, power‑efficient ML hardware accelerator designs, especially for computer vision workloads (e.g., image classification, object detection, video analytics).
• Analyze and optimize hardware for performance, power, and area (PPA) tradeoffs.
• Define hardware micro‑architecture for efficient implementation of ML algorithms.
• Lead HW IP development, working closely with RTL design, verification, synthesis and physical design teams to improve PPA.
• Collaborate closely with global hardware, software, and systems teams to deliver best‑in‑class ML solutions.
• Work with cross‑functional teams (HW design, verification, SW, systems, marketing, product planning) to align architecture with product goals.
• Use models, simulators, profilers, and real hardware to justify architectural decisions quantitatively.
• Apply knowledge of CPUs, GPUs, DSPs, memory, and bandwidth analysis to ML hardware design.
• Communicate results and technical issues effectively with leads and peers.
• Invent and file patents for innovative hardware solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in hardware development for ML, multimedia, or accelerator technologies (vision, imaging, video, display, audio, etc.).
• Experience in system or chipset development for SoC products, preferably in the mobile market.
• Familiarity with OS principles and HW/SW interaction.
• Experience with SoC bus, interconnect, and memory technologies.
• MS Degree required with 15+ years industry experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Architecture/micro‑architecture of ML or multimedia cores.
  • Experience with ML frameworks and accelerator standards (e.g., TensorFlow Lite, ONNX).
  • VLSI design and verification (Verilog/SystemVerilog/HLS).
  • C/C++/SystemC programming.
  • Hands‑on experience with simulators and performance/power models.
  • Scripting & automation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep domain knowledge in ML for vision (image/video processing, neural network architectures for vision).
• Experience collaborating with global teams across multiple time zones and cultures.
• Experience working with synthesis and physical design teams for HW IP development and PPA improvement.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated technical and people leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
• PhD in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:

$228,400.00 - $342,600.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales‑incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.