Computer Vision Engineer
Qualcomm · San Diego, CA
- On site
- Full-time
- $185,000 / year
- San Diego, CA
Job highlights
- Develop computer vision and video algorithms for advanced devices.
- Optimize performance on mobile and embedded platforms.
- Collaborate on system architecture and hardware/software requirements.
- Work with AI models and deep learning architectures.
- Lead technical direction from research to production.
About the role
Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Staff-level Computer Vision Engineer to join their Computer Vision Systems team. This role focuses on building advanced Snapdragon-powered devices, including mobile phones, autonomous vehicles, IoT, robotics, and AR/VR platforms. You will work on computer vision and video algorithm development, mapping algorithms to accelerator architectures, and efficient on-device implementation.
About the Role
This position is ideal for a multidisciplinary engineer with deep expertise in computer vision and image/video processing algorithms, combined with strong hardware/software co-optimization experience. You will thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge computer vision algorithms, AI models, and efficient hardware/software implementation for real-world problems. You will own technical direction, influence system-level architecture, and drive solutions from research to production deployment. This role offers significant opportunities for growth, leadership, and shaping the future of video and computer vision at Qualcomm.
Principal Duties And Responsibilities
- Research, design, and implement critical video processing and computer vision algorithms, including video encoder, decoder, processing, quality enhancement, and real-time computer vision pipelines.
- Lead system- and algorithm-level architecture definition, standard studies, and feature decomposition to drive hardware and software requirements and specifications.
- Profile and optimize algorithm and model performance across memory, compute, power, and bandwidth constraints on mobile and embedded platforms.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (hardware, software, systems, and product) and with customers to commercialize technologies and deliver best-in-class visual analytics experiences.
- Write clear and concise technical documentation, design specifications, and feature descriptions.
- Contribute effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment with globally distributed, cross-functional teams.
- Provide technical mentorship and guidance to engineers across experience levels and influence technical decisions beyond the immediate team.
Qualifications
- Strong background in computer vision and video processing algorithms.
- Solid understanding of SoC architecture, including compute accelerators, memory hierarchies, and hardware/software interfaces.
- Hands-on experience with modern deep learning architectures.
- Strong coding skills in Python and C/C++ for production-quality development, optimization, and on-device deployment, with experience using ML/CV frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX, and OpenCV.
- Familiarity with hardware modeling, FPGA prototyping, or RTL design is a plus.
- Strong ability to work across algorithm, software, and hardware boundaries.
- Experience with real-time computer vision systems or embedded AI deployment.
- Experience using performance profiling tools and hardware simulators.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 4+ years of experience in software engineering, hardware engineering, systems engineering, or related roles; OR Master’s degree and 3+ years of experience; OR PhD and 2+ years of experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- 4+ years of experience developing and implementing computer vision and video algorithms within system-level products.
- 4+ years of experience with system design, system integration, and hardware/software optimization.
- 4+ years of experience with programming (e.g., C, C++, Python), computer architecture, or embedded systems.
- 3+ years of experience working in a large, matrixed organization.
- 1+ year of experience interacting with senior leadership.
- 1+ year of experience in a technical leadership role.
- Publication, patent, or external technical contribution experience is a plus.
Key skills/competency
- Computer Vision
- Video Processing
- Algorithm Development
- Deep Learning
- Hardware/Software Co-optimization
- Python
- C/C++
- SoC Architecture
- Embedded AI
- System Design
Skills & topics
- Computer Vision
- Video Processing
- Algorithm Development
- Deep Learning
- AI/ML
- Embedded Systems
- Python
- C++
- SoC Architecture
- Image Processing
- Qualcomm
- Engineering
- Staff Engineer
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with computer vision, video processing, deep learning, Python, and C/C++ to match Qualcomm's requirements. Quantify achievements.
- Showcase hardware/software co-optimization: Emphasize projects where you optimized algorithms for specific architectures and performance constraints.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with ML/CV frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV), SoC architecture, and algorithm profiling.
- Demonstrate leadership potential: Highlight any experience mentoring engineers or influencing technical decisions, as this is a staff-level role.
- Research Qualcomm's innovation: Understand their work in Snapdragon-powered devices, autonomous vehicles, and AR/VR to align your answers with their mission.
Technical preparation
Master computer vision and video processing fundamentals.,Practice coding in Python and C/C++ extensively.,Build projects using ML/CV frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow).,Study SoC architecture and embedded system constraints.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex technical problem you solved.,How do you mentor junior engineers on a project?,Explain a time you influenced architectural decisions.,How do you handle cross-functional collaboration challenges?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key technical skills for a Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm?
- For the Computer Vision Engineer role at Qualcomm, key technical skills include a strong background in computer vision and video processing algorithms, deep learning architectures, and performance optimization on embedded platforms. Proficiency in Python and C/C++, experience with ML/CV frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow, and an understanding of SoC architecture are crucial. Familiarity with hardware modeling or RTL design is a plus.
- What is the expected experience level for this Qualcomm Computer Vision Engineer position?
- This is a Staff-level Computer Vision Engineer position at Qualcomm. Minimum qualifications require a Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, a Master's degree with 3+ years, or a PhD with 2+ years in engineering or computer science fields. Preferred qualifications suggest 4+ years of experience in developing and implementing computer vision/video algorithms and system-level optimization.
- What type of devices and platforms will this Computer Vision Engineer work on at Qualcomm?
- The Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm will work on a variety of advanced Snapdragon-powered devices. This includes next-generation mobile phones, autonomous vehicles, IoT devices, robotics platforms, and immersive AR/VR systems. The role focuses on efficient on-device implementation of computer vision and video algorithms.
- How does Qualcomm approach hardware/software co-optimization for computer vision?
- Qualcomm emphasizes hardware/software co-optimization for computer vision by mapping algorithms to specialized compute accelerators and neural processing architectures. Engineers will profile and optimize algorithm performance across memory, compute, power, and bandwidth constraints on mobile and embedded platforms, working closely with hardware and software teams.
- What opportunities for technical leadership exist for a Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm?
- As a Staff-level Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm, you will own technical direction across projects, influence system-level architecture, and drive solutions from research to production. You will also provide technical mentorship and guidance to other team members, significantly influencing key product and architecture decisions.
- What are the core responsibilities of a Computer Vision Engineer at Qualcomm?
- The core responsibilities include researching, designing, and implementing computer vision and video processing algorithms, leading system and algorithm architecture definition, profiling and optimizing performance on embedded platforms, and collaborating with cross-functional teams and customers to commercialize technologies.