Company: Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd.
Role: Associate Engineer – Software
Locations: Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Noida
Eligibility: BE/BTech/ME/MTech – CSE, IT, ECE, Communication Engineering
Application Mode: Online
Introduction
Every year, Qualcomm opens its doors to talented students who want to begin their engineering career by working on real-world technologies that shape the way the world connects. For more than three decades, Qualcomm has been known for redefining mobile technology, building innovative chipsets, and pushing boundaries in wireless communication. The company’s work is at the heart of smartphones, connected devices, automotive systems, and next-generation IoT solutions. Their 2026 Campus Hiring program for the Associate Engineer – Software position offers an exciting opportunity for fresh graduates who want to begin a career in the core engineering domain.
This recruitment drive is especially attractive for candidates who want to gain hands-on experience across embedded systems, operating systems, connectivity solutions, multimedia stacks, and wireless protocols. Qualcomm is one of the very few companies where freshers get the opportunity to work on technologies used by billions of people daily. With expert mentorship, structured learning, and real-time engineering challenges, this role provides an ideal foundation for a long-term career in software engineering.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a global technology leader known for its contributions to wireless communication and semiconductor research. The company’s products are used by smartphone manufacturers, automobile companies, IoT developers, cloud providers, and emerging technology innovators. Qualcomm has significantly contributed to the evolution of cellular standards—CDMA, LTE, 5G—and continues to invest heavily in the future of connectivity. Its R&D centers across India play a crucial role in building advanced chipsets, frameworks, connectivity stacks, multimedia engines, and software platforms.
For freshers, Qualcomm provides an environment that encourages learning, problem solving, experimentation, and innovation. New employees are mentored by experienced engineers, exposed to real-world issues, and trusted with responsibilities that impact production-level products. The company is strongly committed to diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunities, ensuring that every employee receives the support required to succeed.
Role Overview – Associate Engineer (Software)
The Associate Engineer Software role is designed for fresh engineering graduates who want to work on deep technical problems. The work involves designing, developing, optimizing, and validating software components used in Qualcomm chipsets. Unlike typical entry-level roles, this opportunity allows graduates to work directly on areas such as embedded systems, multimedia components, modem technologies, and operating system level development.
Candidates should be comfortable with C/C++, operating systems, data structures, and problem solving. The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to understand complex systems. Engineers work closely with teams handling modem firmware, multimedia engines, Android/Linux frameworks, and platform-level development.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop embedded software for Qualcomm chipset platforms used in smartphones, IoT devices, and automotive systems.
- Work on device drivers, kernel modules, and low-level operating system components.
- Contribute to multimedia processing including audio codecs, video codecs, and image processing pipelines.
- Support wireless modem features including 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and networking stack implementations.
- Participate in platform-level development across Linux, Android, and Windows environments.
- Help in creating software architecture, documentation, test frameworks, and integration flows.
- Debug system-level issues using logs, traces, debugging tools, and performance data.
- Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and core engineering teams for feature enablement.
Required Skills
- Strong understanding of C, C++, and object-oriented programming.
- Good knowledge of operating system fundamentals and data structures.
- Basic understanding of Linux kernel, drivers, or embedded systems is an advantage.
- Familiarity with networking protocols such as TCP, UDP, SIP, IP, and RTP.
- Understanding of multimedia technologies such as audio/video processing and imaging.
- Excellent analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to collaborate effectively and work in cross-functional teams.
- Good communication skills—both written and verbal.
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to Android or Linux development environment.
- Experience with embedded boards, microcontrollers, or lab tools.
- Understanding of wireless standards such as GSM, LTE, CDMA, NR, or Wi-Fi.
- Basic knowledge of scripting languages such as Python or Shell.
- Previous internship, project, or coursework related to OS or embedded systems.
What Freshers Will Learn
Freshers joining Qualcomm gain exposure that is extremely rare for entry-level roles. The company invests heavily in training and familiarizing new engineers with tools, systems, and workflows used across global teams. New hires typically learn about:
- Firmware development and optimization
- Modem stack and connectivity frameworks
- Multimedia frameworks and imaging algorithms
- Kernel-level debugging and driver integration
- Board bring-up and hardware-software interaction
- Android system design and platform architecture
- Engineering workflows, code reviews, and quality standards
Work Locations
This recruitment drive is open across multiple Qualcomm development centers in India. Selected students may be placed in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, or Noida depending on project requirements and team availability. All locations provide excellent learning environments and access to global engineering teams.
Hiring Process
- Online Application Submission
- Shortlisting based on academic performance and resume strength
- Online assessment focusing on C, C++, OS, and problem solving
- Technical interview rounds
- Managerial discussion
- HR and final offer
Why Join Qualcomm?
Qualcomm is among the most respected engineering employers in the world. Their research-driven culture, technical challenges, and commitment to innovation make it a dream company for many students. Working here gives fresh graduates the opportunity to build expertise that is valued by global tech companies and startups alike.
- Opportunity to work on products used worldwide
- Access to advanced labs and engineering tools
- Structured learning programs for freshers
- Mentorship from experienced engineers
- Global teamwork and diverse project exposure
- Competitive compensation and benefits
Salary Expectation
While Qualcomm does not publicly disclose fresher salary packages for every location, industry estimates suggest that compensation is typically competitive and includes fixed pay, performance bonus, and employee benefits. Freshers may also gain access to training programs, insurance, and internal career development opportunities.
Important Notes
Qualcomm follows strict workplace policies to ensure security, privacy, and accessibility. Applicants with disabilities may request hiring support through Qualcomm’s official assistance email. The company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies and encourages candidates to apply directly through the official careers portal.
Apply Link
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can apply for this role?
Students from BE, BTech, ME, and MTech programs in CSE, IT, ECE, or related fields can apply.
2. Is prior experience required?
No, this is a fresher-friendly opportunity under Qualcomm’s 2026 Campus Hiring program.
3. Does Qualcomm allow remote work?
The role is primarily office-based because it involves hardware, debugging tools, and lab access.
4. What is the expected joining timeline?
Shortlisted candidates will receive details directly from Qualcomm’s HR team after offer issuance.
5. How competitive is the hiring process?
The role is competitive due to high demand, but students with strong fundamentals in C/C++ and OS stand a good chance.
6. How should freshers prepare?
Focus on C/C++, OS fundamentals, data structures, Linux basics, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
7. Is this a permanent role?
Yes, the Associate Engineer position is typically offered as a full-time role.