Hardware Engineering Internship

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm relentlessly innovates, transforming businesses, enriching lives, and fortifying societies. Our solutions are pivotal in crafting a smarter, interconnected world. Building on our nearly 40-year history of era-defining technology breakthroughs, we deliver leading-edge AI, high performance, lower-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. We are the partner of choice for many of the world’s largest enterprises. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.

About the Role

As a Qualcomm Hardware Engineering Intern, you’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what exists and help establish the new standards for tomorrow. You will leverage your electrical and/or computer engineering degree to work on one of Qualcomm’s multi-disciplinary teams. This internship supports multiple technical tracks, including:

• GPU Engineering
• CPU Engineering
• Digital Design / DV
• SoC Systems Engineering

Based on your resume, you may be aligned to one or more of these tracks. Please clearly indicate your track interest(s) on your resume, as this is the only way to communicate preferences during the recruiting process.

Key Responsibilities

• Engineering design and development in MSM SOC and chipset architecture.
• ASIC implementation of image processing camera IP.
• GPU pipeline validation (stimulus generators, checkers, monitors, drivers, models).
• Graphics power analysis & optimization (Vulkan).
• Validation of CPU and SOC-level micro-architecture concepts.
• Development of test and coverage plans, verification methodology, and scalable environments.
• Execution of verification plans including regression, debug, and bring-up.
• RTL development for modem physical and MAC layer processing.
• Verification component development using SystemVerilog and UVM.
• Modeling cellular modem datapaths for bit-exact correctness.
• Concepts in computer architecture (CPU, GPU, DSP, interconnects, MMUs, etc.).
• System-level performance modeling and simulation.
• Power and thermal management strategies.
• Post-silicon validation and characterization.
• Embedded software design, driver development for Linux/Windows.
• OS principles and HW/SW interaction.
• Experience supporting or optimizing machine learning workloads on embedded systems or accelerators.
• Understanding of power/performance tradeoffs and system-level architecture.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree program in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Must be available for 11–14 weeks during Summer 2027 (May–September).
• Expected graduation date of November 2027 or later.
• 1+ years of academic experience with programming languages such as C, C++, Python, Perl, Verilog, SystemVerilog.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates actively pursuing a degree with an anticipated graduation between November 2027 and June 2028.
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD degree program in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Familiarity with multimedia or communication technologies including audio/video codecs, camera, WLAN, LTE, and 5G.
• Programming experience in C, Perl, Verilog, SystemVerilog, C++, Python, Matlab.
• Familiarity with simulators, coverage tools, waveform viewers.
• Knowledge of digital design, DSP, wireless communication, LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi.
• Exposure to machine learning concepts as applied to digital signal processing or modem architecture is a plus.
• Experience supporting or optimizing machine learning workloads on embedded systems or accelerators.
• Programming experience in C/C++, Python; scripting and profiling tools.

Internship Program Perks

• Paired with a mentor with visibility to your project and team.
• Support from your manager.
• Access to the entire Qualcomm employee community.
• Professional development workshops.
• Social events.
• Cross-functional speaker sessions.
• Executive speaker series.
• Competitive hourly pay.
• Accrued vacation time.
• Relocation coverage.
• Furnished housing accommodations for the duration of your internship.

Internship opportunities may be available in the following locations, depending on team and project needs: Austin, Boulder, Boxborough, Bridgewater, Chandler, Irvine, New York City, Louisville, Raleigh, San Diego, Santa Clara, and Seattle.

Future Employment Considerations

• This internship aligns to a potential role that is not eligible for Qualcomm immigration sponsorship.
• This role may require an export license for candidates with citizenship in certain countries.

Compensation

• $17.00 - $98.00 per hour.

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Salary is only one component of total compensation. Qualcomm also offers a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants. A highly competitive benefits package is also offered.