Hardware Penetration testing and Security Engineer (Multiple Levels) - Cork, Ireland

Company

QT Technologies Ireland Limited

Job Area

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering

General Summary

Qualcomm is a world leader in semiconductor innovation — the company behind the technology powering 5G, Snapdragon, and next-generation connected devices. Our GSOC Tech Security Lab in Cork is one of the most advanced hardware penetration testing labs in the industry, and we're growing.

About The Role

We're looking for a Hardware Security Engineer to join our hands-on penetration testing lab in Cork. You'll work directly on Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon chipsets — testing, breaking, and hardening cutting-edge silicon. This is a real offensive security role — not compliance, not paperwork. Expect to get deep into silicon-level attacks, cryptographic analysis, and hardware exploitation, with strong collaboration across Qualcomm's global security network.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform hardware & firmware penetration testing on Qualcomm SoCs and chipsets
• Execute Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) and Fault Injection (FI) experiments on real silicon
• Evaluate cryptographic implementations (AES, RSA, SHA, DES) for vulnerabilities
• Develop offensive tools, scripts, and methodologies for security evaluation
• Assess security threats and recommend effective countermeasures
• Collaborate with Qualcomm security labs across the globe
• Engage with government security certification frameworks (e.g., Common Criteria)
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Fault Injection (FI) or Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) — essential!
• Strong understanding of cryptographic algorithms and their hardware implementations
• Curiosity, hacker mindset, and a genuine passion for breaking things to make them safer
• Knowledge of statistical analysis and/or entropy analysis
• Strong knowledge of microprocessor architecture
• Familiarity with signal processing, data analytics, or machine learning
• Proficiency in scripting/programming languages (Python, C, MATLAB, etc.)
• Exposure to government security standards and certification processes
  
  
  

Where you will be working

Cork has a proud reputation as Ireland's second largest economic engine and is now one of the Top 20 location choices in Europe with 39,000 people being employed by over 170 overseas companies.

There's a growing diversity in the region with people from many nationalities relocating to Cork, relishing the opportunity to work and live in a location that offers an excellent quality of life.

A gateway to Europe, Cork airport provides access to almost 50 international destinations including transatlantic air routes.

Equal Opportunities

We are an Equal Opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any protected classification.

What's On Offer

Apart from working in an open, relaxed and collaborative space, you will enjoy:

• Salary, stock and performance related bonus
• Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Employee stock purchase scheme
• Matching pension scheme
• Education Assistance
• Relocation and immigration support (if needed)
• Life, Medical, Income and Travel Insurance
• Subsidised memberships for physical and mental well-being
• Bicycle purchase scheme
• Employee run clubs, including, running, football, chess, badminton + many more
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
  
  
  

OR

Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

OR

PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related 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 is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail [email protected] or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).

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.

To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

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