Sr Staff Engineer, Hardware Design

About the Role

Qualcomm Cloud System Hardware and Validation Engineering is seeking experienced engineers to contribute to the development of next-generation AI products for liquid-cooled data centers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop motherboards, add-in cards, and modules for Qualcomm's new AI SoC/SIP.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (mechanical, thermal, SI, PTE, regulatory, validation, manufacturing) for project execution from concept to production.
• Support rack-level design and integration of cards, servers, and networking switches.
• Develop basic features and components of hardware designs in line with product proposals or roadmaps, under supervision.
• Apply basic design rules and processes for electronic hardware, equipment, and integrated circuitry.
• Read device specification sheets and interpret details for hardware feature design.
• Evaluate devices and document performance over various operating conditions and configurations.
• Assist in assessing common design features to identify potential flaws, compatibility issues, and compliance issues.
• Document details about materials, components, chipsets, and assemblies, and record design changes.
• Troubleshoot basic issues with product designs.
• Provide schedules for own tasks to project lead.
• Develop understanding of Qualcomm products.
• Work with ODMs on joint designs, address technical issues, and support mass production.
• Seek knowledge of industry trends, competitor products, and engineering advances.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• System/card/rack-level development, including architecture, design, validation, and deployment of enterprise-class hardware platforms.
• Rack-Level Expertise:
• Proven experience in rack-level system integration, including chassis, backplane, cabling, airflow, and thermal management.
• Familiarity with rack-scale power delivery, including PDUs, VRMs, PMICs, and power budgeting.
• Experience with rack-level diagnostics and bring-up, including debug of interconnects, signal integrity across long traces/cables, and system-level validation.
• Understanding of rack-level mechanical constraints, EMI shielding, and compliance with data center deployment standards.
• Collaboration with ODMs/OEMs on rack-level design and manufacturing.
• Board-Level Design:
• Deep knowledge of PCIe cards, motherboards, daughtercards, and backplane signal and power delivery.
• Expertise in chassis design, airflow optimization, and thermal management.
• Solid understanding of system software operation from bootloader to OS and application layers.
• Component Qualification:
• Experience qualifying PMICs, voltage regulators (VRs), clock buffers, flash memory, and connectors.
• Design & Validation:
• Hands-on experience in dense, high-layer count PCB designs (8–20+ layers).
• Skilled in PCIe add-in card/module design, debugging in high-performance systems (x86 and ARM).
• Familiarity with JTAG tools for bring-up and debug.
• Experience with networking switches and high-speed Ethernet interfaces.
• High-Speed Interfaces:
• Knowledge of high-speed serial I/O (6–10+ Gbps), PCIe Gen5/6, LPDDR4x/5x, DDR4/5, 200/400/800 GbE.
• Experience with long PCB/cable topologies (0.35–1.5 meter), signal integrity, and compliance with current standards.
• Ability to debug at packet/protocol level.
• Memory & Clocking:
• Experience with LPDDR4x memory technologies, DIMM layout and validation.
• Expertise in clock distribution, power distribution, SMBus, PMBus, SPI, PWM/Tach, and BMC integration.
• Tools & Collaboration:
• Proficient in schematic capture and PCB layout tools (Cadence Allegro, Mentor Expedition).
• Experience with circuit simulation tools (SPICE), signal/power integrity analysis.
• Skilled in using lab equipment: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, SMBus, serial debuggers.
• Strong collaboration with ODMs on joint designs, schematic/layout reviews.
• Firmware & Software:
• Good understanding of x86 FW/SW stack and firmware architecture.
• Experience with BMC hardware/software integration and management.
• Compliance & Testing:
• Familiarity with regulatory, environmental, and compliance testing for rack-level systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
• OR Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
• OR PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
• Additionally, preferred qualifications include:
• 3 to 15 years hardware engineering/Systems development experience or related work experience.
• 3 to 15 years of experience with circuit design (e.g., digital, analog, RF).
• 3 to 15 years of experience utilizing schematic capture and circuit simulation software.
• 3 to 15 years of experience with hardware design and measurement instruments such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, debug tools, etc.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 3 to 15 years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.
• OR Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.
• OR PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.
• 3 to 15 years of experience in HW board design and System design.