Director of Engineering for ML hardware design & Architecture

Company:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Video Systems, HW Architecture

General Summary:

The Machine Learning Hardware Accelerator team is seeking an experienced and talented Hardware Design & Architecture Lead. This role will drive the definition and analysis of next-generation ML hardware accelerator architectures, with a special emphasis on vision applications for mobile and emerging products.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect high-performance, power-efficient ML hardware accelerator designs, especially for computer vision workloads (e.g., image classification, object detection, video analytics).
• Analyze and optimize hardware for performance, power, and area (PPA) tradeoffs.
• Define hardware micro-architecture for efficient implementation of ML algorithms.
• Lead HW IP development, working closely with RTL design, verification,  synthesis and physical design teams to improve PPA.
• Collaborate closely with global hardware, software, and systems teams to deliver best-in-class ML solutions.
• Work with cross-functional teams (HW design, verification, SW, systems, marketing, product planning) to align architecture with product goals.
• Use models, simulators, profilers, and real hardware to justify architectural decisions quantitatively.
• Apply knowledge of CPUs, GPUs, DSPs, memory, and bandwidth analysis to ML hardware design.
• Communicate results and technical issues effectively with leads and peers.
• Invent and file patents for innovative hardware solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in hardware development for ML, multimedia, or accelerator technologies (vision, imaging, video, display, audio, etc.).
• Experience in system or chipset development for SoC products, preferably in the mobile market.
• Familiarity with OS principles and HW/SW interaction.
• Experience with SoC bus, interconnect, and memory technologies.
• MS Degree required with 15+ years industry experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Architecture/micro-architecture of ML or multimedia cores.
  • Experience with ML frameworks and accelerator standards (e.g., TensorFlow Lite, ONNX).
  • VLSI design and verification (Verilog/SystemVerilog/HLS).
  • C/C++/SystemC programming.
  • Hands-on experience with simulators and performance/power models.
  • Scripting & automation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep domain knowledge in ML for vision (image/video processing, neural network architectures for vision).
• Experience collaborating with global teams across multiple time zones and cultures.
• Experience working with synthesis and physical design teams for HW IP development and PPA improvement.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated technical and people leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Computer or Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.