Modem HW Design Engineer – AI Driven Next Gen Modem Hardware Development
$162,500 - $243,700 USD yearly
Originally posted 29 September 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This role involves defining specifications and architecture/micro-architecture, developing RTL, and optimizing for area, power, and performance.
What you'll do
- Define specifications and architecture/micro-architecture.
- Develop RTL.
- Optimize for area, power, and performance.
- Collaborate with verification, modeling, and physical implementation teams.
- Engage with system, RF, firmware, and software teams to deliver first-time-right silicon.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of work experience; OR Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of work experience; OR PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of work experience.
- Strong expertise in RTL coding and logic design for wireless modem ASICs or custom datapath components for DSP applications.
- Solid understanding of Verilog, SystemVerilog, C/C++, and SystemC.
- Experience with synthesis, industry LINT, clock domain crossing, low power design and verification.
- Background in wireless/wireline modem technology, DSP, or communication systems.
Nice to have
- BS or MS degree and 5 years of relevant industry experience.
- Knowledge of 4G/5G 3GPP physical layer standards.
- Ultra-deep sub-micron CMOS technology nodes such as 4nm and below.
- Experience with Generative AI, ML, or agentic-AI-based automation.
- Proficiency with Unix/Linux shell scripting, Python/Perl, Makefiles, XML.
Skills: RTL coding, logic design, wireless modem ASICs, DSP applications, Verilog
This role has been open 9 days — well below the 60-day median for Digital/RTL Design roles.
Digital/RTL Design · RTL Design
|
Open roles in category
1019
|
Median days open
60 d
|
Median salary
$185k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Qualcomm | All employers we track in this specialty (1019 roles · 98 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 139 | 1019 |
| Open roles in the wider Digital Design & Verification family | 389 | 3183 · 114 employers |
| Median days open | 59 d | 60 d (−1 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $185k |
Skills observed across this category: RTL coding, logic design, wireless modem ASICs, DSP applications, Verilog
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm (this employer) · 139 open roles · median 60 d
- Synopsys · 86 open roles · median 24 d
- AMD · 73 open roles · median 34 d
- Analog Devices · 50 open roles · median 41 d
- NXP Semiconductors · 48 open roles · median 78 d
- NVIDIA · 46 open roles · median 64 d
How we counted: 1019 open Digital/RTL Design (RTL Design) roles from 98 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 10 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Digital Design & Verification family row. Figures refresh nightly.