Linux Kernel Engineer at Qualcomm in Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Company:

Qualcomm China

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary:

Company Overview

Qualcomm is a company of inventors that unlocked 5G ushering in an age of rapid acceleration in connectivity and new possibilities that will transform industries, create jobs, and enrich lives. But this is just the beginning. It takes inventive minds with diverse skills, backgrounds, and cultures to transform 5G's potential into world-changing technologies and products. This is the Invention Age - and this is where you come in.

Job Overview

We are seeking a talented and experienced engineer to lead the design and development of Linux Kernel features for our next-generation IoT products. In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end architecture and implementation of critical kernel subsystems, ensuring optimal performance, power efficiency, and stability on Qualcomm SoCs.

As a technical lead, you will drive the software strategy for IoT platforms, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate closely with hardware, system, and upstream communities to deliver cutting-edge Linux solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Lead the design and architecture of Linux Kernel features for IoT products, including high-level OS design, driver frameworks, and system optimization.
• Kernel Development: Design, implement, and debug complex kernel drivers and subsystems (e.g., Scheduler, Memory Management, Power Management, Remoteproc/IPC).
• Upstreaming: Actively participate in the Linux open-source community; review code, submit patches, and ensure Qualcomm features are upstreamed to the mainline kernel.
• Optimization: Analyze and optimize system performance (throughput, latency) and power consumption for battery-powered IoT devices.
• Collaboration: Work closely with hardware designers, system architects, and test teams to define software requirements and resolve complex cross-domain issues.
• Mentorship: Mentor and guide junior and senior engineers, conducting code reviews and fostering best practices in kernel development.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience: 12+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
• Technical Skills:
  • Rich experience with ARM based IOT products
  • Expert proficiency in C programming and data structures.
  • Deep understanding of Linux Kernel internals (e.g., Process Scheduler, Memory Management, Interrupt handling, Synchronization, Device Model).
  • Extensive experience with Device Driver development on embedded systems (e.g., I2C, SPI, UART, USB, PCIe).
  • Experience with ARMv8/ARM64 architecture and low-level software/hardware interaction.
  • Proficiency with Git and Linux build systems (Make, Kconfig).

Preferred Qualifications

• Domain Expertise:
  • Proven track record of upstreaming contributions to the Linux Kernel (please provide links to patches/LKML discussions).
  • Experience with Yocto Project/OpenEmbedded build environments.
  • Knowledge of Virtualization technologies (KVM, VirtIO, Type-1 Hypervisors).
  • Familiarity with heterogeneous computing (interacting with DSPs, NPUs, or other remote processors via Remoteproc/RPMSG).
• Soft Skills:
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
  • Ability to work independently and lead projects in a fast-paced, global environment.

Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience. OR Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience. OR PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

• 3+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).

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.

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