Lead Roboticist Systems Integration and Test Engineer - Qualcomm Advanced Robotics Team

W e are building a new robotics lab and are looking for a technical lead to drive system integration and deployment of AI-powered robotic platforms.

This role focuses on owning the integration and validation of complete robot systems . You will lead efforts to take AI models, software components, and hardware platforms-and bring them together into reliable, end-to-end robotic applications .

You will set direction for how systems are brought up, tested, and validated, while also being hands-on in the lab working directly with robots.

This role sits at the intersection of robotics, AI, and systems engineering, with a strong focus on making full systems work in real-world conditions.

What You’ll Do

Technical Leadership & Ownership

• Lead system integration efforts across multiple robotic platforms

• Define integration, testing, and validation strategies for robotics systems

• Drive best practices for system bring-up, debugging, and reliability

• Own overall system behavior and performance in the lab

Sy stem Integration & Deployment

• Integrate perception, planning, control, and AI models into complete robot applications

• Deploy advanced AI models (perception, VLA, reasoning) onto robotic hardware

• Rapid prototyping to facilitate quick bring-up of systems, including 3D printing, interfacing with mechanical and electrical teams, calibration, cabling and electronics assembly.

• Debugging skills including power budgeting, ability to distinguish hardware from software issues, system identification, cabling/sensor/actuator debugging

• Translate Qualcomm technologies (Dragonwing, AI Engine, compute, Wi-Fi, 5G) into working systems

System Bring-Up & Robot Ownership

• Lead bring-up of new robot platforms (hardware + software)

• Oversee configuration, maintenance, and readiness of lab robots

• Ensure robots are stable, repeatable, and usable for development and demos

Testing & Validation

• Define and execute system-level testing strategies (functional, integration, reliability)

• Establish validation processes to ensure end-to-end functionality

• Setup, maintenance and operation of high-quality calibration for and high-performance measurement systems

• Drive identification and resolution of system-level failures

Debugging & Problem Solving

• Lead debugging of complex cross-disciplinary issues (software, hardware, AI, control)

• Guide teams in isolating and resolving integration bottlenecks

• Ensure issues are addressed at root cause, not just symptoms

Collaboration & Execution

• Work closely with AI, hardware, and platform teams to integrate new capabilities

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers working on system integration

• Drive alignment between research, development, and deployment

Demo & Lab Readiness

• Ensure robots are reliable and polished for internal and external demonstrations

• Oversee demo readiness, including repeatability and performance consistency

Why Qualcomm

• Lead the development of a new robotics lab and define how systems are built and tested

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience., Master’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience. OR PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

• Significant experience working with real robotic systems

• Strong background in system integration, bring-up, and end-to-end debugging

• Experience leading or owning complex technical systems or projects

• Proven ability to integrate multiple components into working applications

• Experience validating functionality of full robotic systems (not just components)

• Familiarity with robotics frameworks (e.g., ROS/ROS2 or similar)

• Strong hands-on engineering skills and comfort working in a robotics lab

• MS strongly preferred (hands-on, project-based experience)

• Experience in system integration & testing (SI&T), validation, or reliability engineering

• Experience leading small teams or technical initiatives

• Experience deploying AI models onto edge devices

• Background across multiple domains (software, hardware, AI, systems)

• Experience building demo platforms or reference systems

• Familiarity with networking, connectivity, or distributed robotics systems

• Experience with mobile robots, manipulators, or autonomous systems

4.04.0 out of 5 stars San Diego, CA $179,000 - $268,400 a year, 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.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits : $179,000.00 - $268,400.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.