Linux Platform Performance & Power Software Application Engineer

Company:

Qualcomm Communication Technologies Ltd.

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Applications Engineering

General Summary:

As a Qualcomm Software Application Engineer, you will provide technical expertise in system performance and power optimization across Linux-based ARM compute platforms. You will work closely with OEM/ODM customers and internal platform teams to analyze performance and power gaps, support system tuning, and help enable successful product commercialization.

This role focuses on performance characterization, power measurement, data analysis, and optimization support, especially during customer validation, pre-production profiling, and escalation scenarios.

Responsibilities:

Performance & Power Analysis

• Perform performance and power gap analysis across CPU, GPU, memory, storage, and system-level workloads on Linux platforms.
• Execute industry-standard benchmarks (e.g., Geekbench, Cinebench, MLPerf Inference, workload-specific tests) and analyze results to identify optimization opportunities.
• Compare AC/DC, performance modes, power profiles, and firmware/OS configurations to identify efficiency gaps.
• Support performance normalization and regression tracking across software and firmware revisions.

Power Measurement & Data Collection

• Conduct power measurements using power meters, on-board sensors, and OS-level telemetry.
• Collect, validate, and analyze power and thermal data under various usage scenarios (idle, productivity, multimedia, stress).
• Assist in power-saving feature evaluation and effectiveness validation.

System Optimization Support

• Work with internal teams to tune OS-level parameters such as scheduler behavior, CPU frequency scaling (DVFS), power policies, and thermal limits.
• Support optimization efforts across Linux kernel, drivers, and system configurations to improve performance-per-watt.
• Validate optimization results and ensure no functional or stability regressions.

Customer Enablement & Escalation Support

• Support OEM/ODM customers during platform validation, performance tuning, and power optimization phases.
• Assist in debugging customer-reported performance, power, or thermal issues and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Prepare clear technical reports and presentations for customers and internal stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with platform, BIOS/firmware, thermal, and silicon teams to understand system constraints and optimization trade-offs.
• Work with validation and test teams to ensure performance and power targets are met.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, Master’s degree is a plus.
• 1–4 years of experience in Linux-based systems, performance analysis, power optimization, or system-level software support.
• Familiarity with Linux OS concepts (scheduler, CPU frequency scaling, power management).
• Experience running benchmarks and analyzing performance and power data.
• Basic proficiency in C/C++ and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for analysis and automation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work directly with customers.
• Good English reading and writing skills for technical discussion.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with ARM-based SoC platforms.
• Familiarity with Linux performance tools (e.g., perf, ftrace, top, powertop).
• Understanding of thermal behavior and performance-power trade-offs.
• Experience supporting OEM/ODM customer projects.
• Exposure to Yocto / Linux BSP environments.
• Experience with data visualization or dashboarding for performance tracking.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of relevant software or system engineering experience
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of relevant experience.
• 1+ year of experience with programming or scripting languages (e.g., C, C++, Python).
• 1+ year of experience with system debugging or performance analysis techniques.

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    1+ year of experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

•    1+ year of experience with debugging techniques. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

•    Applies Software Application knowledge and technical expertise of software systems to assist with technical presentations in support of business development, customer training, product demonstrations, commercialization, customization, and maintenance of Qualcomm products.

•    Collaborates with team members to answer customer inquiries and support debug issues in customer design software systems.

•    Assists with completing tasks related to system architecture and feature-specific customizations tailored for customer requirements from proof of concept to final product commercial launches.

•    Assists in assessing potential application of company products, preparing product specifications, disseminating technical information, and/or troubleshooting issues regarding software tools and products.

•    Writes product technical documentation, application notes, and FAQs.

Level of Responsibility:

•    Works under supervision.
•    Decision-making affects direct area of work and/or work group.
•    Requires verbal and written communication skills to convey basic, routine factual information.

•    Tasks consist of a limited number of steps and can be referenced using directions or manuals.

Applicants: 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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