AI Software Engineer – NPU/Hexagon DSP Kernel Optimization
Qualcomm · Bengaluru · 2–10 yrs experience · Posted 2026-04-20
Tech stack: C, C++
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About the role
Qualcomm India Private Limited
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Engineering
Responsibilities: - We are looking for an embedded software engineer to develop and optimize AI software for Qualcomm NPU and Hexagon DSP processors.
- The role focuses on high-performance neural network kernels, runtime efficiency, new operator enablement, and close collaboration with architecture teams on next-generation AI platforms.
- Develop and optimize AI software components for Qualcomm NPU and Hexagon DSP processors.
- Implement high-performance neural network kernels/operators with focus on latency, power, memory, and throughput.
- Profile runtime bottlenecks and apply hardware-aware software optimizations.
- Partner with architecture and hardware teams to improve future NPU and DSP capabilities.
- Support customer issue resolution, performance tuning, and platform bring-up.
- Required Skills and Experience
- 2 to 10 years of experience in embedded software development, preferably in AI, DSP, NPU, or performance-critical systems
- Strong C/C++ programming skills and solid understanding of processor architecture, operating systems, and multi-processor concepts.
- Understanding of deep learning architectures, neural network operators, runtime systems, graph execution, and operator implementation.
- Experience with kernel optimization, fixed-point computation, quantization, mathematical/numerical optimization.
- Knowledge of memory hierarchy, cache behavior, MMU/IOMMU, bandwidth optimization, and software-hardware co-optimization for AI accelerators.
- Exposure to SIMD, vector processing, assembly, profiling, benchmarking, debugging, or low-level optimization techniques.
Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant work experience; or
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field with 1+ year of relevant work experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
- PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant work experience; or
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field with 1+ year of relevant work experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
- PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
Responsibilities
- We are looking for an embedded software engineer to develop and optimize AI software for Qualcomm NPU and Hexagon DSP processors.
- The role focuses on high-performance neural network kernels, runtime efficiency, new operator enablement, and close collaboration with architecture teams on next-generation AI platforms.
- Develop and optimize AI software components for Qualcomm NPU and Hexagon DSP processors.
- Implement high-performance neural network kernels/operators with focus on latency, power, memory, and throughput.
- Profile runtime bottlenecks and apply hardware-aware software optimizations.
- Partner with architecture and hardware teams to improve future NPU and DSP capabilities.
- Support customer issue resolution, performance tuning, and platform bring-up.
- Required Skills and Experience
- 2 to 10 years of experience in embedded software development, preferably in AI, DSP, NPU, or performance-critical systems
- Strong C/C++ programming skills and solid understanding of processor architecture, operating systems, and multi-processor concepts.
- Understanding of deep learning architectures, neural network operators, runtime systems, graph execution, and operator implementation.
- Experience with kernel optimization, fixed-point computation, quantization, mathematical/numerical optimization.
- Knowledge of memory hierarchy, cache behavior, MMU/IOMMU, bandwidth optimization, and software-hardware co-optimization for AI accelerators.
- Exposure to SIMD, vector processing, assembly, profiling, benchmarking, debugging, or low-level optimization techniques.