Quality Systems Engineer, Sr Staff

Job Title: Senior Quality Systems LeaderAs a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm Quality Engineer, you will plan, implement, and manage compliance of design, development/manufacturing, production processes, and/or quality requirements with safety, quality, and regulatory standards for worldwide distribution. Qualcomm Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet and exceed customer expectations.This position is based in San Diego, CA only and requires onsite presence.Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Applied Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 6+ years of Quality Engineering or related work experience.

OR Master's Degree in Applied Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 5+ years of Quality Engineering or related work experience. OR PhD in Applied Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field and 4+ years of Quality Engineering or related work experience.This role is a senior Quality Systems leader responsible for ensuring scalable, standards-driven quality governance across complex electronic products/platforms. The position partners closely with engineering, program management, operations, and executive leadership to embed quality into the product lifecycle, enable expansion into new market segments (Automotive, Datacenter, IoT), and evolve the Quality Management System (QMS) to support long-term business growth.The role requires strong manufacturing electronics fundamentals, broad quality systems expertise, and the ability to influence a highly matrixed organization.Principal Duties and ResponsibilitiesLead the planning and execution of internal assessments to evaluate compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory requirements across design, development, manufacturing, and production processes, aligned with ISO-based and industry-specific standards.Independently conduct internal assessments and act as a trusted quality advisor to hardware, system, and program teams; provide actionable feedback, identify systemic gaps, and drive effective corrective and preventive actions.Serve as the primary Quality Systems lead for engagement with external ISO registrars and certification bodies, owning audit readiness, execution, and follow-up.

Lead external audits, drive effective resolution of findings, and maintain strong, credible relationships to ensure sustained certification and continuous improvement.Champion "design-in quality" by influencing early lifecycle decisions, supplier engagement, and manufacturing readiness.Analyze quality data, assessment outcomes, and customer signals to identify enterprise level risks and trends; translate insights into improvements to standards, governance, and controls.Ensuring quality is seamlessly integrated across functions including design, development, process engineering, manufacturing, and production.Serve as a Quality Systems thought partner for new market and platform diversification initiatives, assessing readiness, risk, and standards alignment for emerging product categories.Build and maintain strong relationships with senior engineering and business leaders to drive alignment on quality objectives, risk posture, and continuous improvement priorities.Lead cross functional efforts to resolve complex quality issues spanning processes, products, suppliers, and customer feedback.Develop, deliver, and oversee quality training, process documentation, and templates to support internal QMS effectiveness and external certifications.Drive knowledge transfer, mentoring, and capability building within the Quality Systems team to ensure continuity, scalability, and long-term organizational resilience.Lead oversight and reporting for ESD compliance and Lab Compliance Audits across Qualcomm labs.Level of ResponsibilityOperate independently with minimal supervision.Provides technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to other quality team members.Exercises significant judgment and decision making that impacts multiple organizations.Communicates complex concepts effectively to technical and nontechnical stakeholders, often requiring influence and negotiation.Serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on quality risk, standards strategy, and organizational readiness.Works in an environment where objectives are broadly defined and planning, prioritization, and problem solving are essential.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field (electronics background required).Hands-on knowledge of ISO 9001 quality standard to successfully plan, lead, and execute internal and external audits, driving meaningful findings resolution and sustained compliance. Lead Auditor Certification.10+ years of experience in quality systems, product engineering, manufacturing, or reliability roles supporting complex electronic products.10+ years of experience planning, leading, or participating in internal and/or external quality assessments.Strong understanding of product development lifecycles, validation, and release processes.Demonstrated experience applying quality and safety standards across multiple product domains.Proven ability to lead structured problem solving and root cause analysis for systemic issues.Demonstrated success influencing cross functional teams and senior leaders in large, matrixed organizations.Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.Preferred Qualifications:Familiarity with IATF16949, ISO 26262, ESD S20.20, Functional Safety, Automotive SPICE.3+ years of experience with data modeling in statistical software such as MS Excel, Minitab, etc.Black Belt/Six Sigma certification.ASQ (e.g., CQE or CRE) certification or equivalent.Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits: $140,400.00 - $210,600.00