Principal/Sr. Staff Engineer – Linux Kernel Upstream

Company Qualcomm India Private Limited

Job Area Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering

General Summary As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm Software Engineer, you will design, develop, create, modify, and validate embedded and cloud edge software, applications, and/or specialized utility programs that launch cutting-edge, world class products that meet and exceed customer needs. Qualcomm Software Engineers collaborate with systems, hardware, architecture, test engineers, and other teams to design system-level software solutions and obtain information on performance requirements and interfaces.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

OR

Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

OR

PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

• 4+ years of work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

We are seeking an experienced Linux Kernel Engineer who is hands-on , has strong open-source/community exposure , and can lead Qualcomm’s Linux Kernel strategy oriented toward open development. The ideal candidate has a strong track record of upstream contributions , can collaborate effectively with the Linux community , and can lead technical direction across teams. Maintainer (subsystem/driver) experience is a strong plus. Key Responsibilities

• Linux Kernel Engineering
• Strong understanding and exposure to a broad range of Linux kernel subsystems.
• Hands-on experience designing, developing, debugging, and optimizing Linux kernel features across key subsystems (e.g., ARM/SoC enablement, Baseport, MM, scheduler, power, networking, storage, security, virtualization).
• Drive complex system-level debugging and performance analysis using kernel tooling and post-mortem techniques (e.g., tracing, crash analysis, profilers). Conceptualize and work on features with the community to achieve these deliverables.
• Lead kernel bring-up and enablement on new platforms; collaborate across HW/FW/OS stacks to deliver stable, upstream-ready solutions.
• Upstreaming & Open Source Community Engagement
• Own and execute an upstream strategy: lead and contribute to high-quality patches, manage review cycles, and ensure acceptance into mainline (and/or stable/LTS streams as applicable).
• Engage actively with community processes (mailing lists, review etiquette, iteration cadence) and build credibility through consistent technical contributions.
• Track upstream discussions and roadmaps relevant to assigned areas and align internal requirements with community direction.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship
• Champion best practices for maintainability, CI hygiene, and upstream-friendly engineering.
• Set engineering direction, drive design reviews, improve code quality through rigorous reviews, and mentor engineers across levels.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives spanning kernel, firmware, validation, and product teams; unblock execution through clear technical decision-making.
• Maintainer / Subsystem Ownership (Preferred)
• Experience as a maintainer or sub-maintainer of a subsystem, or similar responsibilities held previously.

Required Qualifications

• Approximately 18 years of relevant experience in Linux kernel and embedded systems engineering with substantial hands-on ownership.
• Expert proficiency in C (kernel-grade), strong OS fundamentals, and deep understanding of kernel internals and concurrency.
• Demonstrated upstream contribution history (patches posted/accepted) and experience working with the Linux development process.
• Strong debugging skills across the kernel/user boundary; comfortable with kernel crash triage and performance bottleneck analysis.
• Proven ability to lead technically, influence architecture, conduct high-quality reviews, mentor engineers, and drive cross-team delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Maintainer or sub-maintainer of a Linux kernel subsystem/driver (or equivalent responsibility in a major OSS project).
• Experience with Arm/SoC enablement and platform interfaces (e.g., ACPI/DT, interrupt controllers, IOMMU/SMMU, power management).
• Experience setting up or influencing workflows needed to meet upstream-quality expectations.
• Ability to represent the organization in forums or working groups and collaborate effectively with external/community stakeholders.
• Commercialization experience in these technology areas.

Skills & Tooling

• Kernel development workflows: git, b4, patch series management, review tags, rebase/merge discipline.
• Debug/perf tooling: tracing, performance analysis, crash dump triage, kernel logs, and system-level diagnosis.
• Strong written communication for upstream engagement and community collaboration.
• Ability to handle complex problems and work with the community toward upstreaming.

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).

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