Project Manager (PJM) – Open Source Software & Upstream Enablement - Remote

Company:

Qualcomm France S.A.R.L.

Job Area:

Operations Group, Operations Group > Project Manager

General Summary:

The Open Source Technology Team (OSTT) drives Qualcomm's open source enablement strategy across multiple technology domains including Linux Kernel, Zephyr, Open Boot Firmware, Linux Distributions, Testing Infrastructure, Kernel Testing & CI, LAVA, and related upstream ecosystems. OSTT operates with an upstream-first mindset, collaborating internally with engineering, product, program management, and executive leadership while engaging externally with open source communities and industry partners. OSTT is responsible for enabling sustainable adoption of open source technologies, accelerating upstream contributions, improving product readiness, and delivering scalable testing and validation capabilities.

The team manages complex portfolios spanning multiple Qualcomm SoCs, software programs, and long-term strategic initiatives. Program execution is highly data-driven, with Jira serving as the primary system of record for planning, execution tracking, risk management, status reporting, and executive visibility.

Position Summary

OSTT is seeking a highly motivated Project Manager (PJM) to lead the planning, execution, governance, and reporting of strategic open source initiatives. The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of engineering, open source communities, product organizations, and senior leadership.

This role requires a strong combination of technical curiosity, program management discipline, stakeholder management, and the ability to drive execution across geographically distributed teams. The PJM will ensure alignment between strategic objectives and day-to-day execution while providing clear visibility into progress, risks, dependencies, and business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio and Program Leadership

• Manage a portfolio of open source initiatives across domains such as:

- Linux Kernel Upstreaming

- Open Boot

- Zephyr RTOS

- Linux Distributions (Yocto, Debian, Fedora)

- Testing & Validation Infrastructure

- LAVA and KernelCI enablement

• Define and maintain program roadmaps aligned with OSTT strategic objectives.

• Facilitate prioritization of initiatives, backlog management, and quarterly planning cycles.

• Coordinate execution across multiple SoCs, product teams, and technology groups.

Project Execution and Governance

• Drive end-to-end project execution from planning through delivery.

• Establish and maintain project plans, milestones, dependencies, and success criteria.

• Monitor program health through meaningful KPIs and actionable metrics.

• Identify execution risks, bottlenecks, and resource constraints, driving timely mitigation plans.

• Ensure accountability and follow-through on commitments across stakeholders

Jira and Backlog Management

• Own governance of Jira-based planning and execution processes.

• Maintain high-quality project data enabling accurate reporting and decision-making.

• Drive backlog structuring, refinement, prioritization, and execution tracking.

• Establish traceability between engineering work, deliverables, and strategic objectives.

• Ensure consistent project hygiene and reporting discipline across the organization.

Executive Reporting

• Prepare regular executive-level status updates and business reviews.

• Develop concise summaries of program progress, accomplishments, risks, and required decisions.

• Translate technical topics into business-relevant insights.

• Deliver dashboards, reports, metrics, and presentations for senior management audiences.

• Facilitate leadership reviews and steering committee discussions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with engineering leaders, technical leads, architects, and program managers.

• Coordinate activities across geographically distributed teams.

• Facilitate alignment between business priorities and engineering execution.

• Lead structured discussions focused on progress, stalls, dependencies, and mitigation actions.

• Build trusted relationships across internal organizations and external partners.

Open Source Ecosystem Engagement

• Support programs interacting with upstream open source communities.

• Understand upstream development lifecycles, release planning, and community processes.

• Help teams navigate submission timelines, review cycles, and community expectations.

• Facilitate collaboration between Qualcomm engineering teams and open source stakeholders.

Process Improvement

• Continuously improve project management practices, tooling, reporting, and governance.

• Introduce scalable methodologies for managing large engineering portfolios.

• Promote automation, AI-assisted workflows, and operational efficiencies.
• Drive adoption of best practices across OSTT programs.

Required Skills

Program Management

• Strong project and program management experience in complex engineering environments.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent programs with competing priorities.

• Expertise in planning, scheduling, risk management, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication.

Technical Acumen

• Ability to work effectively with highly technical engineering teams.

• Familiarity with software development lifecycles and modern development workflows.

• Understanding of open source software development models.

• Exposure to Linux-based platforms, embedded software, or systems engineering is highly desirable.

Communication

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, directors, executives, and external partners.

• Strong presentation and executive reporting capabilities.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Influential leader without direct authority.

• Strong facilitation and conflict-resolution skills.

• Capable of driving consensus across diverse organizations and cultures.

• Agile servant leader.

Tools

Experience with:

• Jira

• Confluence

• Microsoft 365

• PowerPoint

• Excel / Reporting systems

• GitHub and collaborative development platforms

• AI-assisted productivity tools (Copilot, Claude, etc.) is a plus

Preferred Experience

• 8+ years of project or program management experience.

• Experience in semiconductor, embedded software, Linux, Android, automotive, IoT, or open source ecosystems.

• Exposure to Linux kernel development, upstream contribution workflows, or open source governance.

• Experience leading geographically distributed teams.

• Experience supporting executive reviews and organizational planning.

Success Profile

The ideal OSTT Project Manager is:

• Comfortable operating in highly technical environments without necessarily being an engineer.

• Passionate about open source and large-scale collaboration.

• Data-driven and execution-focused.

• Able to transform ambiguity into structured plans.

• Skilled at aligning stakeholders across organizational boundaries. 

• Trusted by both engineers and executives. 

• Relentless about execution, transparency, and continuous improvement. 

In short, the OSTT PJM is the operational glue that connects strategy, engineering execution, open source engagement, and executive visibility, ensuring Qualcomm's open source initiatives are delivered predictably, transparently, and at scale. 

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of project management or related work experience.
OR
Associate's degree and 7+ years of project management or related work experience.
OR
High School Diploma or equivalent and 9+ years of project management or related work experience.

*Completed advanced degrees in a relevant field may be substituted for up to two years (Master’s = one year, Doctorate = two years) of work experience.

*References to a particular number of years experience are for indicative purposes only. Applications from candidates with equivalent experience will be considered, provided that the candidate can demonstrate an ability to fulfill the principal duties of the role and possesses the required competencies.

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.

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