Sr. Modem Power Engineer
$122,500 - $183,700 USD yearly
Originally posted 15 May 2026 by the employer.
About the role
As a Modem Software Engineer, you will design, implement, verify, validate, and commercialize Wireless WAN (or cellular) core network and data connectivity software solutions on Qualcomm modems. The role focuses on critical modem stack software, firmware, and hardware features across 5G NR, LTE Advanced, and emerging 6G standards with an emphasis on power and thermal optimization.
What you'll do
- Investigate, analyze, and optimize systems for power and thermal characteristics while monitoring performance KPIs across UE and network protocol perspectives. - Integrate and test system-level features across modem capabilities, design test content, and optimize system performance with a focus on evaluating power cost. - Analyze and debug issues related to power optimization features, balancing power efficiency, stability, and system performance. - Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across software development, system design, and chipset architecture to triage issues, manage bug tracking, and drive closure. - Prototype algorithms and designs as proof of concept for modem power optimization features. - Apply AI/ML techniques and LLM-based tools to automate analysis, enhance debugging, and streamline feature integration processes.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 2+ years of software engineering, embedded software, or related experience (or Master's degree with 1+ year, or PhD). - Experience working with software engineering or embedded software development.
Nice to have
- Advanced understanding of digital communications, RF propagation, and telecommunications concepts. - Exposure to 5G NR, LTE, and emerging 6G technologies. - Familiarity with data protocols (such as IP and TCP) through coursework or projects. - Awareness of air interface performance analysis and optimization. - Programming ability in Python or similar languages. - Familiarity with real-time operating systems and multi-threaded processor architectures. - Familiarity with commercial wireless test equipment (such as Keysight, R&S, or Anritsu). - Exposure to AI/ML and Large Language Models (LLMs) with interest in wireless system design and power optimization. - Knowledge of Embedded Power Architecture, power grid analysis, and basics of power measurement techniques.
Skills: modem stack software, firmware, power optimization, 5G NR, real-time operating systems
This role has been open 161 days — well above the 54-day median for Embedded Firmware Engineering roles.
Embedded Firmware Engineering · Systems Software
|
Open roles in category
765
|
Median days open
54 d
|
Median salary
$169k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Qualcomm | All employers we track in this specialty (765 roles · 84 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 126 | 765 |
| Open roles in the wider Software, Firmware & Systems family | 739 | 6277 · 144 employers |
| Median days open | 54 d | 54 d (same as this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $169k |
Skills observed across this category: modem stack software, firmware, power optimization, 5G NR, real-time operating systems
Who's hiring in this category
- Qualcomm (this employer) · 126 open roles · median 53 d
- Micron Technology · 65 open roles · median 87 d
- AMD · 63 open roles · median 39 d
- NVIDIA · 58 open roles · median 57 d
- Lattice Semiconductor · 45 open roles · median 44 d
- NXP Semiconductors · 36 open roles · median 31 d
How we counted: 765 open Embedded Firmware Engineering (Systems Software) roles from 84 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 24 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.