Speech and Audio Systems Engineer

Company:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Multimedia Systems

General Summary:

Qualcomm's Audio R&D/Systems team is seeking qualified professionals to join its audio division in San Diego, NA. The selected candidate will be responsible for maintaining and developing advanced AI models for speech enhancement, acoustic echo cancellation, neural beamforming, directional voice pickup, identity-based enhancement, distance-based speech isolation, and noise suppression. These technologies will support voice user interaction in humanoid robotics, automotive systems, and other consumer devices.

We are looking for individuals with demonstrated technical excellence in state-of-the-art AI methodologies for tracking and speech enhancement. Creativity and initiative to apply technical expertise toward innovative technologies within the domains of robotics and automotive audio infotainment are highly valued. The team designs algorithms for a broad spectrum of products, including handsets (smartphones), headsets, IoT devices (such as smart speakers and sound bars), automotive applications, and robotics—encompassing nearly all aspects of audio technology.

The successful candidate will also contribute to the development of new algorithms that build on deep learning-based approaches for speech enhancement, acoustic echo cancellation, and noise suppression, addressing use cases such as hands-free voice calls, zonal voice

communications, voice control, keyword spotting, audio context/scene detection, source separation, and fully supervised speaker diarization.

Expertise in deep learning techniques—including extensive knowledge of CNNs, RNNs, autoencoders, and related audio or voice technologies—is required. Additional strengths in areas such as advanced signal processing, multi-rate signal processing, adaptive beamforming, and distributed microphone array processing for tracking and speech enhancement are considered a plus. We welcome candidates who demonstrate both technical depth and creativity in applying their skills to emerging technologies in robotics and automotive audio environments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.

Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will be responsible for:

• Advancing AI techniques for voice interaction in robotics and automotive.
• Conducting cutting-edge research in speech enhancement with linear and distributed microphone arrays.
• Using multi-microphone AI to detect talker count and directionality.
• Applying multi-rate and adaptive signal processing expertise.
• Prototyping and demonstrating research concepts.
• Filing patents and publishing papers on innovative research relevant to our products.

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong collaborator
• Skilled communicator and organizer
• Experienced with Adobe Audition for audio analysis
• Works independently and proactively on research ideas
• Published in IEEE and other scholarly venues
• Proficient in PyTorch for AI model development, training, and data augmentation
• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science with relevant voice AI background

Level of Responsibility:

• Working under some supervision.
• Providing some supervision/guidance to others.

• Works in the lab, can use hazardous chemicals (e.g., glue, machinery).
• Making decisions that are moderate in impact; errors may have relatively minor financial impact or effect on projects, operations, or customer relationships; errors may require involvement beyond immediate work group to correct.
• Using verbal and written communication skills to convey information that may be somewhat complex to others who may have limited knowledge of the subject in question. May require basic negotiation and influence, cooperation, tact, and diplomacy, etc.
• Working within prescribed budget and resources.
• Having a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to provide input on key decisions).
• Completing most tasks with multiple steps which can be performed in various orders; some planning and prioritization must occur to complete the tasks effectively; mistakes may result in some rework.
• Exercising substantial creativity to innovate new processes, procedures, or work products within guidelines or to achieve established objectives.
• Using deductive and inductive problem solving; multiple approaches may be taken/necessary to solve the problem; often information is missing or incomplete; intermediate data analysis/interpretation skills may be required.
• May be solicited during strategic planning period.

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EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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:

$129,500.00 - $194,300.00

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.

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