Senior Lead Engineer - Layer 1 Firmware Engineer – 5G NR gNodeB

Company:

Qualcomm India Private Limited

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Systems Engineering

General Summary:

We are hiring an experienced staff level - Layer‑1 (Physical Layer) Firmware Engineer to work on 5G NR gNodeB Firmware. This role focuses on PHY development on the DU side, building high‑performance, real‑time wireless software used in modern cellular networks.

You will work closely with PHY, RF, platform, and system teams to develop and optimize carrier‑grade NR PHY features.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and maintain Layer‑1 (PHY) firmware for 5G NR gNodeB
• Work on uplink and downlink PHY channels, including:
  • PUSCH, PDSCH, PUCCH, PDCCH, PRACH, SRS, SSB
• Implement and optimize signal processing algorithms such as:
  • Channel estimation and equalization
  • HARQ processing
  • MIMO and beamforming
• Work on FEC processing:
  • Turbo coding/decoding (LTE)
  • LDPC and Polar coding/decoding (5G NR)
• Optimize real‑time performance for latency and throughput
• Integrate PHY software with MAC, RF, and hardware platforms
• Debug complex PHY‑level and real‑time issues

What We’re Looking For

Required Skills

• 6+ years of strong experience in Layer‑1 / PHY firmware development
• Hands‑on experience with LTE and/or 5G NR
• Solid understanding of 3GPP PHY specifications
• Strong C/C++ programming skills
• Experience working on real‑time or embedded systems
• Good understanding of:
  • OFDM / SC‑FDMA
  • Numerologies and frame structures
  • HARQ and link adaptation

Nice to Have

• Experience with gNodeB / eNodeB PHY software
• Exposure to FAPI / nFAPI or similar PHY‑MAC interfaces
• Experience with massive MIMO or beamforming
• Knowledge of O‑RAN or split‑PHY architectures
• Background in DSP or wireless signal processing
• Experience with NB‑IoT, NTN, or advanced NR PHY features

Tools & Technologies

• Programming: C, C++
• Platforms: Embedded Linux, RTOS, DSP‑based systems
• Standards: 3GPP LTE & 5G NR
• Domains: PHY, real‑time systems, wireless signal processing

Why Join Us

• Work on cutting‑edge 5G NR technology
• Build performance‑critical PHY software used in real networks
• Collaborate with highly experienced wireless and systems engineers
• Opportunity to work on next‑generation RAN architectures

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.

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