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FAE / Applications Engineer IoT - Job Opportunity at Qualcomm France S.A.R.L.

Sophia Antipolis, France

Full-time

Senior

Posted: July 7, 2025

Hybrid

EUR 95,000 - 130,000 per year, considering this is a senior-level position requiring 14+ years of experience in a high-demand field, located in Sophia Antipolis (a major European tech hub), working for a Fortune 500 semiconductor leader. The role's combination of technical depth, customer-facing responsibilities, and extensive travel requirements typically commands premium compensation in the European market.

Benefits

Competitive salary package positioning above market standards to attract top-tier engineering talent

Comprehensive healthcare coverage ensuring complete medical security for employees and families

Performance-based bonus structure directly tied to individual and company achievements

RSU (Restricted Stock Units) providing direct equity participation in one of the world's leading semiconductor companies

ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan) offering discounted share acquisition opportunities for long-term wealth building

Key Responsibilities

Build and maintain strategic relationships with key distributors, industrial customers, and technology partners to drive Qualcomm's IoT market penetration and expand ecosystem adoption

Design and deliver comprehensive technical training programs on Qualcomm's cutting-edge SoC products, positioning the company as the preferred technology partner

Function as the primary technical pre-sales engineer, translating complex IoT solutions into business value propositions that accelerate customer decision-making processes

Provide end-to-end technical support throughout the complete product development lifecycle, ensuring successful time-to-market for customer innovations

Collaborate closely with business development teams during high-stakes customer negotiations, providing technical expertise that closes strategic deals

Analyze and architect system requirements and designs, influencing product roadmaps and ensuring Qualcomm solutions meet evolving market demands

Lead comprehensive platform training initiatives for customers and partners, creating technical competency that drives long-term loyalty and adoption

Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration across multiple global teams and locations, ensuring seamless execution of complex technical initiatives

Execute extensive travel programs for direct customer engagement, building personal relationships that translate into sustained business partnerships

Requirements

Education

Masters or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field

Experience

14+ years of industrial experience supporting embedded/industrial IOT customers based on Tier1 chipsets

Required Skills

Fluent Native regional written and oral communication Good English written and oral communication Strong communication and interpersonal skills, high motivation, the ability to learn quickly and must be a self-starter Familiar with embedded system and real-time OS - exposure to one or more of Linux, Yocto, Ubuntu, windows systems – bring-up, device tree, peripheral customizations Understanding of computer system architecture (core, cache, memory models, bus architecture, etc.) Experience in C/C++ programming, systems knowledge Experience with testing tools/scripts (python, shell script) development on Windows and Linux AI and ML software and frameworks experience Hardware systems design experience

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The IoT market is experiencing unprecedented growth with the convergence of 5G, AI, and edge computing technologies, creating massive demand for sophisticated semiconductor solutions that can handle complex processing at the network edge. This trend is driving companies to seek experienced field application engineers who can bridge the gap between cutting-edge chip capabilities and real-world industrial applications. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning integration into IoT devices is becoming a critical differentiator, with companies racing to embed AI capabilities directly into their products rather than relying on cloud-based processing. This shift requires deep technical expertise in both hardware and software optimization, making roles like this increasingly valuable. The automotive and industrial IoT sectors are experiencing rapid digital transformation, with traditional manufacturers seeking to integrate advanced connectivity and computing capabilities into their products. This creates substantial opportunities for semiconductor companies to expand beyond traditional mobile markets into high-value industrial applications. European regulations around data privacy and digital sovereignty are driving increased demand for local technical support and expertise, making regional field application engineers essential for successful market penetration and customer relationships.

Role Significance

Typically operates as part of a 8-12 person regional field applications engineering team, with dotted-line relationships to product marketing, sales, and R&D teams. The role requires extensive collaboration across multiple global locations, suggesting matrix organization involvement with 20-30 regular cross-functional partners.

This is a senior-level individual contributor role with significant strategic impact, requiring someone who can operate independently while influencing key customer decisions and internal product roadmaps. The 14+ years experience requirement and emphasis on roadmap-level discussions with customers indicates this person will be trusted with high-stakes technical and business conversations that directly impact revenue.

Key Projects

Leading technical evaluations and proof-of-concept development for major industrial customers implementing AI-powered IoT solutions Architecting reference designs and development platforms that enable rapid customer prototyping and reduce time-to-market for new products Conducting technical deep-dive sessions with C-level executives and engineering teams at Fortune 500 industrial companies Developing comprehensive training curricula and certification programs for distributor partners and customer engineering teams Collaborating on product roadmap definition by providing direct market feedback from customer engagements and competitive analysis

Success Factors

Deep technical credibility combined with exceptional communication skills enables building trust with both engineering teams and executive stakeholders, which is essential for influencing major design decisions and securing strategic wins in competitive evaluations. Ability to translate complex technical capabilities into clear business value propositions that resonate with different audience levels, from individual engineers to procurement teams to C-suite executives making strategic technology investments. Strong relationship-building skills that enable long-term partnership development, as success in this role depends heavily on repeat business and referrals from satisfied customers who become advocates for Qualcomm solutions. Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to stay current with rapidly evolving technologies including AI frameworks, edge computing architectures, and emerging IoT standards that directly impact customer requirements. Strategic thinking capability to identify market opportunities and influence internal product development priorities based on customer feedback and competitive landscape analysis.

Market Demand

Very High - The intersection of IoT, AI, and industrial automation is creating exceptional demand for senior field application engineers who can navigate complex technical requirements while building strategic customer relationships. The specific combination of deep embedded systems knowledge and customer-facing skills makes this role particularly sought after in the current market.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Deep embedded systems expertise with Linux/Yocto experience is absolutely essential as these platforms form the foundation for most industrial IoT implementations, and customers expect comprehensive technical support for system bring-up and customization challenges. Strong communication skills in both English and regional European languages are critical for success, as the role requires building trust and conveying complex technical concepts to diverse audiences ranging from individual engineers to executive decision-makers. Extensive industrial IoT experience with Tier1 chipsets provides the credibility and practical knowledge necessary to guide customers through complex design decisions and competitive evaluations that directly impact major revenue opportunities. C/C++ programming and systems architecture knowledge enables hands-on technical problem-solving and reference design development that customers rely on for successful product launches and differentiation.

Beneficial Skills

AI and ML software framework experience is increasingly valuable as customers seek to implement intelligent capabilities at the edge, creating opportunities for differentiation and higher-value engagements that command premium pricing. Hardware systems design experience provides additional credibility and enables more comprehensive customer support, particularly for customers developing custom solutions that require both software and hardware optimization. Python scripting and test automation skills enhance productivity and enable development of customer tools and utilities that improve relationships and reduce support burden on internal engineering teams. Computer vision and cellular communication technology knowledge aligns with Qualcomm's strategic focus areas and enables participation in the most advanced customer projects that define future market opportunities.

Unique Aspects

This role offers the rare opportunity to work at the intersection of multiple transformative technology trends including AI, 5G, and IoT, providing exposure to breakthrough innovations that will define the next decade of technological advancement.

The position provides direct influence on product roadmaps and customer strategy for one of the world's most important technology companies, offering exceptional career development through high-visibility strategic initiatives.

Qualcomm's unique market position as both a technology innovator and strategic partner to major industrial companies creates opportunities for unusually broad business impact beyond traditional engineering roles.

The combination of technical depth requirements and customer-facing responsibilities makes this role ideal for senior engineers seeking to transition into business leadership while maintaining technical credibility and involvement.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years given the seniority of the current role and the rapid growth in IoT markets. The combination of technical expertise and customer relationship skills provides multiple advancement pathways depending on individual preferences for management, technical specialization, or business development focus.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Field Applications Engineering Manager leading a regional team of 5-8 FAEs with P&L responsibility for technical customer relationships Principal Solutions Architect focusing on strategic accounts and next-generation platform development with global scope Technical Marketing Manager driving product positioning and go-to-market strategies for emerging IoT market segments Customer Engineering Director overseeing multiple product lines and regional teams with executive customer engagement responsibilities Business Development Manager leveraging technical background to identify and negotiate strategic partnerships and joint ventures

Company Overview

Qualcomm France S.A.R.L.

Qualcomm stands as the global leader in wireless technology innovation, having successfully dominated the mobile chipset market for over two decades and now aggressively expanding into automotive, IoT, and edge computing segments. The company's unique position comes from its integrated approach combining industry-leading semiconductor design, essential wireless patents, and comprehensive software platforms that enable rapid customer product development.

Qualcomm maintains dominant market position in premium mobile processors while rapidly gaining share in automotive infotainment and industrial IoT applications. The company's strategic focus on AI-enabled edge computing and 5G infrastructure positions it at the center of multiple high-growth technology convergence trends, making it an exceptionally attractive employer for senior technical professionals.

The Sophia Antipolis location represents Qualcomm's major European R&D and customer engagement hub, providing access to both the broader European market and key North African customers. This positioning offers exceptional exposure to diverse customer requirements and regulatory environments while maintaining close collaboration with global engineering teams.

Qualcomm fosters a high-performance engineering culture that emphasizes innovation, customer obsession, and technical excellence. The company's commitment to emerging technologies and substantial R&D investment creates an environment where senior engineers can work on cutting-edge projects while having direct impact on product direction and customer success.

Apply Now

FAE / Applications Engineer IoT - Job Opportunity at Qualcomm France S.A.R.L.

Benefits

Key Responsibilities

Requirements

Education

Experience

Required Skills

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Role Significance

Key Projects

Success Factors

Market Demand

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Beneficial Skills

Unique Aspects

Career Growth

Potential Next Roles

Company Overview

Qualcomm France S.A.R.L.

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

Sauge AI Market Intelligence