Principal Software Engineer – Mobile Software Architecture
$197,000 - $295,400 USD yearly
Originally posted 7 October 2026 by the employer.
About the role
The Principal Software Engineer for Mobile Software Architecture defines and delivers end-to-end system features across Qualcomm Mobile platforms. The role architects high-level designs across CPU, NPU, DSP, memory, virtualization, security, kernel, and Android frameworks for Snapdragon Mobile Handset products.
What you'll do
- Own the end-to-end architecture of critical Mobile system features from concept through commercialization. - Define system-level architecture across multiple IPs and software layers, including CPU, NPU, DSP, memory, virtualization, security, kernel, and Android frameworks. - Develop architecture for complex features and experiences built around AI for Snapdragon Mobile products. - Partner with HW, kernel, Android, CoreTech, and subsystem SW teams to align on requirements and prototype designs. - Engage directly with OEMs and external partners to establish system-level requirements, usage models, and constraints. - Drive feature requirement definition, review, and acceptance across cross-SoC and cross-product initiatives.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field with 8+ years of software engineering experience (or Master's degree with 7+ years, or PhD with 6+ years). - 4+ years of work experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Java, or Python. - Extensive experience in system-level software architecture for mobile, embedded, or large-scale platform software. - Deep expertise in Android OS, Linux kernel, and system software stacks. - Proven track record leading complex, cross-IP, cross-organization system features and working directly with OEMs and external partners.
Nice to have
- Experience with virtualization technologies such as pKVM, hypervisors, and secure VMs. - Background in AI/ML system software, NPU/DSP integration, or runtime/model management. - Experience with mobile SoC architecture and HW/SW co-design. - Experience architecting, designing, and implementing SW frameworks for complex heterogeneous or multi-processor systems. - Experience modeling AI networks and workloads to extract performance and power estimates. - Master’s or PhD in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.
Skills: Mobile software architecture, Linux kernel, Android frameworks, system-level software architecture, virtualization technologies
This role has been open 17 days — well below the 65-day median for Systems Software Engineering roles.
Systems Software Engineering · Systems Software
|
Open roles in category
680
|
Median days open
65 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 (680 roles · 71 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 176 | 680 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 739 | 6277 · 144 employers |
| Median days open | 82 d | 65 d (+17 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $209k |
Skills observed across this category: Mobile software architecture, Linux kernel, Android frameworks, system-level software architecture, virtualization technologies
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm (this employer) · 176 open roles · median 82 d
- NVIDIA · 134 open roles · median 44 d
- AMD · 58 open roles · median 53 d
- Mobileye · 23 open roles · median 88 d
- Arm Holdings · 20 open roles · median 122 d
- Broadcom · 19 open roles · median 61 d
How we counted: 680 open Systems Software Engineering (Systems Software) roles from 71 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 25 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.