Qualcomm CDMA Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Amazing technology - the products are state of the art, the environment is very fast paced and it can be a very exicting place to work. Its also very rewarding to see someone using a device you helped launch. Schedules are generally flexible, and the company provides swimming pools, full gym access to anyone who wants to use it, tennis courts, basketball courts, ping pong tables, free sodas, and if the admin in your area is cool, you can have munchies galore.

Cons – The atmosphere is very difficult and negative. There is no accountability, and it feels as if everyone is at war. In addition to the hositile environment, there are many mid-level managers that treat others like dogs. Nervous, negative yuckness is what it feels like as soon as you walk into the building (Q) , Whats worse is, your made to feel as if your contribution to the company means nothing; yyou are a dime a dozen. The mostly all male - mid-level managers have risen above, not because of talent or super abilities, because everyone who works there is in their own rite a "super star", and a "talented individual", it is because they are ruthless. Purely mean and terrible people.

Advice to Senior Management – Dear QCT leaders, there are so many great things the comapny does for the employees, but all of it means nothing when the atmosphere is so aweful. Here is my suggestion:
Leaders we need you to lead, we will follow your steps all the way if you take a path... any path. Accountability and forgiveness is inspiring.

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Working at Qualcomm (in particular in the San Diego headquarters) offers great learning from all sources everyday - colleagues, countless seminars, technology fairs, etc. Excellent work culture for the most part, good employees are respected and rewarded.

Cons – Qualcomm has grown to be a large company, in particular in the last 10 years. The work culture and growth potential have, naturally, evolved accordingly. This means:

(1) Although the company is innovating in multiple new technology areas, in most parts of the company, innovation is recognized and rewarded only in the more traditional (3G, 4G) technologies.

(2) Qualcomm has become a very top heavy company. Due to the incumbents who started in the company early, and never left, low outside opportunities in the San Diego area, and simply the company being a great place to work, the layer of SVPs and VPs is huge.

(3) There is a good chance that younger and very talented engineers will be (are) frustrated, as promotions are, to a great extent, a slave of "protocol", which is applied in equal measure to everyone - regardless of talent. ("Although you're outstanding, we cannot promote you in two years because on average it takes four, etc.").

Advice to Senior Management – Qualcomm's executive leadership should try to develop a systematic and disciplined view of future technology strategy. The company should invest in diversifying into innovation in areas non-traditional to its core competence - which it is, but it should do so in a way that the new projects can be successfully brought to market and monetized.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – You receive Great Pay
You get Great Experience
The campus is beautiful
There are many amenities for employees and the like

Cons – Some teams are dead end positions
Demographics are not very diverse
Work hours are typically very demanding
Hard to gain first few promotions

Advice to Senior Management – Spend personal time with the lower and mid-level employees.
It makes every employee feel appreciated;
This will lead to a more innovative environment.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Good salary, benefits, Cutting Edge project, good engineers

Cons – Low efficient working style, Poor management

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Leads in modem technology. Total solution provider

Cons – Mature Cash Cow. Change in work force. More and more talented people are leaving. In place are complacent VPs

Advice to Senior Management – Start to manage expenses as margins get squeezed

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Always learning from people around you; management makes (mostly) smart decisions; can get a lot done in a short period of time.

Cons – tough to stand out from the crowd; stock has been stuck at 50 for years; pay is below industry standard; CDMA Technologies is the "slave pit" of QC.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Good benefits and fair salary

Cons – Not a trustable environment between group.

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – 1. Promissing future
2. Relatively high salary

Cons – 1. Promotion is limited because many good human resources are saturated.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Many opportunities to work on latest technology.
Working hours are somewhat flexible.
Generally, it is a collaborative culture.
Many graduate classes offered on campus.
Competitive compensation when considering stock compensation .
San Diego is a nice area.

Cons – Cost of living in San Diego (California) is high.
Too many meetings, and several after hours meetings
Several layers of management.

Advice to Senior Management – Management should do whatever it takes to retain high performing, sharp employees.
Stick to what Qualcomm does best, drive the technology instead of just following the trend/customers. Take risks.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Qualcomm CDMA

Pros – Good support from management that allows engineers to follow up on items deemed important. Qualcomm also allows a flexible schedule as long as your work is completed on time.

Cons – A lot of the perks which used to be in place which made Qualcomm such a fun place to work have gone away.
Many engineers at Qualcomm work well beyond the standard 40 hour work week and that is what is expected of engineers in order to get ahead.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend