Modem System Test Engineer - 6G/5G Data and Networking
$89,000 - $133,600 USD yearly
Originally posted 19 June 2026 by the employer.
Validate end-to-end data features and system performance across platforms supporting 6G/5G modem, WiFi 7/8, and Ethernet technologies.
About the role
Qualcomm is seeking a Modem System Test Engineer in San Diego to validate end-to-end data features, protocols, and system performance across mobile, automotive, IoT, and broadband platforms. The role supports platforms featuring 6G/5G modem, WiFi 7/8, ethernet, and related data technologies.
What you'll do
- Develop and execute system-level test strategies, methodologies, and test plans for data features and use cases. - Define key data performance indicators and evaluate system performance, including CPU/NPU performance towards close-end Edge-AI models, optimizing based on conducted, radiated, and live 6G/5G network testing. - Analyze 3GPP specifications, carrier requirements, and customer specifications to translate them into validation scenarios and test coverage. - Perform log analysis, debugging, and root cause investigation of failures across lab and field environments. - Support feature integration, certification, and commercialization of global products.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Nice to have
- Understanding of wireline, Ethernet, and wireless data protocols, including RLP, PPP, TCP/UDP, IPv4/IPv6, DHCP, DNS, NAT, 464XLAT, VLAN, and 802.11ac/ax/ad. - Knowledge of IP telephony and multimedia protocols such as SIP/SDP, RTP, IMS, and network security concepts including IPSec, EAP, TLS, and WPA2. - Familiarity with software engineering fundamentals, including data structures, embedded operating systems, object-oriented programming, and core algorithms. - Experience with air-interface performance analysis, TCP/IP analysis, packet tracing tools, protocol debugging, and system optimization. - Programming or scripting experience in languages such as C, C++, Java, Python, or shell scripting on UNIX/Linux/Windows platforms. - Knowledge of AI/ML concepts and their application to digital communications.
Skills: modem, 6G/5G, data protocols, networking, system-level test
This role has been open 125 days — well above the 64-day median for Systems Software Engineering roles.
Systems Software Engineering · Systems Software
|
Open roles in category
682
|
Median days open
64 d
|
Median salary
$209k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Qualcomm | All employers we track in this specialty (682 roles · 72 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 175 | 682 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 734 | 6289 · 144 employers |
| Median days open | 83 d | 64 d (+19 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $209k |
Skills observed across this category: modem, 6G/5G, data protocols, networking, system-level test
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm (this employer) · 175 open roles · median 84 d
- NVIDIA · 131 open roles · median 44 d
- AMD · 59 open roles · median 52 d
- Mobileye · 23 open roles · median 86 d
- Broadcom · 22 open roles · median 59 d
- Arm Holdings · 20 open roles · median 120 d
How we counted: 682 open Systems Software Engineering (Systems Software) roles from 72 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 23 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 Software, Firmware & Systems family row. Figures refresh nightly.