Senior Software CAD Engineer - Cork, IRL

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About the Role

The Global CAD team defines, develops, and supports RTL-to-GDSII design automation capabilities for advanced low-power and high-performance SoCs, enabling next-generation Qualcomm chipsets.

We are looking for a Senior Software CAD Engineer to join our team in Cork and develop software infrastructure for RTL quality, design automation, and project execution. The role focuses on building robust Python-based tools that help design teams run, debug, track, and report quality checks across complex SoC development environments.

The successful candidate will work closely with design, verification, CAD, and infrastructure teams to improve automation, reliability, visibility, and productivity across RTL development flows.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Python-based software tools for design automation and RTL quality checks.
• Build automation for configuring, launching, monitoring, debugging, and reporting design flow results.
• Support quality checks across RTL design areas such as clock-domain crossing, reset-domain crossing, low-power verification, synthesis readiness, lint, and design rule checking.
• Improve infrastructure for configuration management, run setup, result tracking, waiver handling, reporting, and dashboards.
• Debug issues across software infrastructure, generated scripts, configuration files, design inputs, and EDA tool execution.
• Collaborate with design, verification, CAD, and infrastructure teams to support project execution and design quality closure.
• Improve code quality, test coverage, documentation, error handling, and developer workflows.
• Develop unit and integration tests for automation scripts and flow infrastructure.
• Identify and drive improvements to existing methodology, QA processes, execution environments, and user support models.

Minimum Qualifications:

OR

Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 1+ year of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

OR

PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing reliable automation, infrastructure, or command-line tools used by engineering teams.
• Strong interest in learning semiconductor design automation and RTL quality methodologies.
• Experience with Python testing and quality tools such as pytest, mypy, black, isort, or similar.
• Experience with YAML/JSON configuration handling and validation.
• Knowledge of Perl, Tcl/tcsh, Makefiles, C++, Verilog, or SystemVerilog is a plus, but not required.
• Experience supporting tools integrated with dashboards, databases, reporting systems, or compute infrastructure is a plus.
• 3+ years of experience developing production-quality software in Python.
• Strong Linux skills and experience debugging complex software, infrastructure, or automation issues.
• Experience with Git-based software development.
• Good understanding of software engineering practices, including code review, testing, maintainability, and documentation.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in a geographically distributed engineering environment.

Key Skills

Python, software automation, CAD infrastructure, Linux, Git, pytest, YAML, JSON, debugging, design automation, RTL quality.

Where you will be working

Cork has a proud reputation as Ireland's second largest economic engine and is now one of the Top 20 location choices in Europe with 39,000 people being employed by over 170 overseas companies.

There's a growing diversity in the region with people from many nationalities relocating to Cork, relishing the opportunity to work and live in a location that offers an excellent quality of life.

A gateway to Europe, Cork airport provides access to almost 50 international destinations including transatlantic air routes.

About Us

Qualcomm Cork, a greenfield site based in the beautiful harbour city of Cork opened its doors in August 2013 and has been growing ever since across our QCT Engineering, OneIT and HR teams.

The Cork QCT engineering team is continuing to expand. Our engineers work on all aspects of leading-edge technology (4nm, 3nm, 2nm), including; Analog Mixed Signal, Security, Power Management, Sensors, Machine Learning, Modelling, Validation, Design Automation, Automotive and Physical Design. We are the R&D engine that benefits the world in three ways: Enabling Customers, Transforming Industries and Enriching Lives.

Giving Back

Employees in Cork have a strong sense of community. We are encouraged through the philanthropic endeavours of the Qualcomm Foundation to support causes that matter to us.

What's on Offer

Apart from working in an open, relaxed and collaborative space, you will enjoy:

• Salary, stock and performance related bonus
• Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Employee stock purchase scheme
• Matching pension scheme
• Education Assistance
• Relocation and immigration support
• Life, Medical, Income and Travel Insurance
• Subsidised gym membership
• Bicycle purchase scheme
• Employee run clubs, including, running, football, chess, badminton + many more

*References to a particular number of years experience are for indicative purposes only. Applications from candidates with equivalent experience will be considered, provided that the candidate can demonstrate an ability to fulfill the principal duties of the role and possesses the required competencies.

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 [email protected] 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).

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.

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.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.