5G Cellular Systems Engineer, Staff/ Sr Staff
Qualcomm· Semiconductors· Sep 17, 2026 · 1mo ago
San Diego, California, United States of America
In office
Full-time
Staff
$180K–$242K est.
5+ years exp
Job description
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Engineering
General Summary:
Qualcomm Government Technologies (QGOV) is a unique division within Qualcomm that partners with the U.S. Government to bring the latest in new and innovative commercial technologies to the government space. QGOV is seeking an experienced 5G cellular systems engineer to architect solutions incorporating commercial Qualcomm System on Chip (SoC) processors into U.S. Government applications. The ideal candidate has strong cellular (5G) knowledge from theory to hands on experience, including protocol knowledge in the air interface (from L1 PHY to L2/L3 upper layers) across both network and UE perspectives; a strong communication theory background is highly desirable along with expertise in cellular modem signal processing (mod/ demod , channel estimation, error correction, synchronization, filtering, scheduling, MIMO/beamforming, waveform design, IQ sample processing). The role also requires experience/expertise in running simulations to determine link budget, performance and tradeoffs for novel solutions (using Matlab and other tools) along with embedded modem firmware/ software development skills . A successful applicant must have excellent interpersonal, teamwork and organizational skills, as well as proven skills generating system design documentation and comfortable navigating through 3GPP standards to understand the tradeoffs in modem architecture design vs implementation.
Skills and Experience:
• Strong knowledge of cellular (5G NR) PHY/MAC/RLC/PDCP and upper layers along with a strong understanding of RF principles including MIMO techniques
• Familiarity with 3GPP protocol standards, 5G /5G Advanced
• Strong in Communication Theory, algorithms as it pertains to 5G, signal processing
• Experience in understanding how cellular modems work, modem architecture and ability to proficiently write simulation code across various modem subsystems and layers
• Experience in embedded modem firmware/ software development
• Ability to effectively work with multi-functional engineering teams
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
Minimum Qualifications:
***Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible for a U.S. Government security clearance***
BSEE or BSCS with focus in Cellular/Wireless Communication Systems, 5+ years’ experience
Preferred Qualifications:
A current/active Top Secret (TS/SI) security clearance
MSEE or PhD with focus in Cellular/Wireless Communication Systems, 8+ years of experience
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
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).
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EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
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.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits :
$141,300.00 - $211,900.00
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. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
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