Software Program Manager

San Diego, CAPosted Jul 29, 2026

## Company:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:

Engineering Services Group, Engineering Services Group > Program Management

General Summary:

The Qualcomm Datacenter organization is developing next-generation server, AI, and networking platforms spanning silicon, firmware, embedded software, system software, platform software, and cloud infrastructure. Qualcomm's Datacenter products are designed to power large-scale AI and cloud deployments.

We are seeking an experienced Software Program Manager to lead Data Center SoC Software Development for next-generation server, AI, and networking products.

The role drives software planning, development, integration, validation, and release execution across architecture, silicon, firmware, embedded software, platform software, validation, and productization teams from concept through production.

The role requires driving end-to-end software readiness across architecture, silicon, firmware, platform software, validation, and productization organizations, ensuring alignment to silicon milestones, software release commitments, feature readiness, and overall product readiness objectives.

**Position requires to be onsite in San Diego, 5 days week

Key Skills & Experience Summary

The ideal candidate will possess:

  • Strong experience leading complex Data Center SoC software development programs involving hardware-software co-development.
  • Direct experience managing software execution for Data Center SoCs, CPUs, AI accelerators, networking silicon, server platforms, or equivalent semiconductor firmware and software development programs.
  • Deep understanding of semiconductor product development lifecycles, including architecture, pre-silicon enablement, silicon bring-up, platform integration, validation, software readiness, and productization.
  • Experience driving software readiness across firmware, embedded software, system software, platform software, validation, and productization organizations.
  • Strong understanding of Linux system software, virtualization, firmware, platform enablement, system integration, and server software ecosystems.
  • Proven ability to drive execution across large cross-functional engineering organizations and influence senior technical and executive stakeholders.
  • Experience managing complex dependencies, execution risks, milestone planning, feature readiness, and software release readiness for advanced semiconductor products.

Job Overview

Develops, defines, and executes Plans of Record for complex Data Center SoC software programs, including schedules, dependencies, deliverables, milestones, and risks.

Leads software development and software readiness across architecture, ASIC, firmware, embedded software, system software, platform software, validation, and productization organizations. Ensures alignment to silicon milestones, software release commitments, and product readiness objectives while providing visibility to senior leadership on execution status, risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans.

Represents the program and drives execution alignment across Architecture, Product Management, Silicon Engineering, Firmware, Platform Software, Validation, Productization, and ecosystem partners.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
  • 8+ years of Program Management, Engineering Management, Technical Leadership, or related experience in semiconductor product development.
  • 5+ years managing software, firmware, or platform execution for semiconductor or SoC programs.
  • Direct experience managing software execution for Data Center SoCs, CPUs, AI accelerators, networking silicon, server platforms, or equivalent semiconductor firmware and software development programs.
  • Experience with ARM-based processors, server CPUs, AI accelerators, networking silicon, DPUs, NPUs, SmartNICs, or related Datacenter technologies.
  • Strong understanding of Linux system software, virtualization, firmware, platform enablement, validation, and system integration.
  • Experience presenting software readiness, program status, risks, dependencies, and execution plans to Director-level and executive leadership.

Fundamental Duties and Responsibilities

  • Drive end-to-end execution of Data Center SoC software programs from architecture through production release.
  • Lead software development and software readiness activities aligned to silicon and product milestones.
  • Develop and manage integrated software Plans of Record, schedules, dependencies, execution milestones, and release plans.
  • Coordinate execution across architecture, ASIC, firmware, embedded software, system software, platform software, validation, and productization teams.
  • Track software readiness, feature maturity, critical dependencies, and milestone attainment.
  • Identify, escalate, and drive closure of cross-functional execution risks impacting product schedules.
  • Lead software readiness reviews, milestone reviews, and executive program reviews.
  • Drive software release planning, feature readiness, bring-up readiness, validation readiness, and production readiness.
  • Establish execution frameworks supporting requirements traceability, software planning, release governance, and development lifecycle management.
  • Provide executive visibility into software execution, key risks, dependencies, mitigation plans, and overall product readiness.
  • Drive alignment across internal engineering teams and external ecosystem partners.

Level of Responsibility

  • Works independently with minimal supervision.
  • Drives execution across multiple engineering organizations and disciplines.
  • Influences technical and business decisions affecting software readiness and product milestones.
  • Communicates complex technical and program information to senior leadership and engineering stakeholders.
  • Resolves ambiguous and highly complex cross-functional execution challenges.
  • Operates with broad responsibility across software, firmware, platform, validation, and silicon development organizations.
  • Exercises leadership across cross-functional teams to ensure predictable execution and milestone delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
  • 4+ years of Program Management or related work experience.
  • 8+ years of semiconductor, SoC, firmware, embedded software, system software, platform software, or related development experience.
  • Direct experience managing semiconductor or SoC software development programs is required. Demonstrated leadership of software development, software readiness, firmware, &/ platform execution for complex semiconductor products involving hardware-software co-development.
  • Experience driving execution across architecture, silicon, firmware, validation, and software organizations through product release.

This role is specifically targeted at leaders with demonstrated experience driving semiconductor software development, software readiness, firmware development, platform software, silicon bring-up, validation, and productization for complex SoC products

Preferred Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates for this role typically have direct semiconductor software development and SoC program execution experience and will meet Minimum qualifications stated above. Backgrounds primarily focused on the following areas are generally NOT aligned with the core requirements of this position:

  • Dedicated Program/Project Management, PMO, Scrum Master, operations management, or PMP-focused roles lacking direct ownership and execution of semiconductor, SoC, firmware, platform software, or software development programs.
  • Enterprise Software, SaaS, Web Applications, Business Applications, and Enterprise IT Systems.
  • IT Infrastructure, Cloud Operations, Production Operations, Deployment Engineering, and Software Upgrade or Migration Programs.
  • Sustaining/deployment Engineering/Operations or Non-Semiconductor Software Development environments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field. • 4+ years of Program Management or related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.

• PMP Certification.

• 7+ years of Program Management or related work experience.

• 3+ years of work experience in a role requiring interaction with senior leadership (e.g., Director level and above).

• 2+ years of experience working in a large matrixed organization.

• 2+ years of experience with program management tools such as dashboards, Gantt charts, etc.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Collaborates with key stakeholders and program sponsors to develop goals, set the prioritization of deliverables, and discuss necessary priorities and stakeholder needs. • Manages and takes responsibility for multiple small programs/technology with moderate complexity or a single complex program/technology by applying up-to-date program management knowledge to meet deadlines. • Develops and manages the execution of the program Plan of Record (e.g., on time, on budget, within scope) for multiple small programs or a single medium sized or complex programs/technologies which includes schedule and resource forecasting, stakeholder identification, method and frequency of communication, scope, and prioritization. • Tracks and manages all key metrics pertaining to a program and identifies when metrics deviate significantly from Plan of Record; escalates issues in a timely manner and proposes corrective actions. • Manages and prioritizes the work of the program team by establishing schedules, task assignments, and tracking tasks of team members. • Identifies program issues/risks and creates a risk mitigation plan for multiple small programs or a single medium sized or complex program. Maintains and updates the risk tracker. • Helps to promote program vision and objectives within own team, and ensures program objectives are met or exceeded. • Supports the adoption of processes by applying best practices and identifying and recommending process improvement opportunities within respective programs.

Level of Responsibility: • Working independently with little supervision. • Making decisions that are moderate in impact; errors may have financial impact or effect on projects, operations, or customer relationships; errors may require involvement beyond immediate work group to correct. • Using verbal and written communication skills to convey complex and/or detailed information to multiple individuals/audiences with differing knowledge levels. May require strong negotiation and influence, communication to large groups or high-level constituents. • Having a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to provide input on key decisions). • Completing tasks that do not have defined steps; simultaneous use of multiple mental abilities is generally required to determine the best approach; mistakes may result in significant rework. • Exercising substantial creativity to innovate new processes, procedures, or work products within guidelines or to achieve established objectives. • Using deductive and inductive problem solving; multiple approaches may be taken/necessary to solve the problem; often information is missing or conflicting; advanced data analysis and interpretation skills are required. • Occasionally participates in strategic planning within own area affecting immediate operations.

The responsibilities of this role do not include: • Financial accountability (e.g., does not involve budgeting responsibility).

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).

To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

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:

$154,400.00 - $231,600.00

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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