Qualcomm is not the 'caring, giving, loving' place promoted by KPBS - watch out.
Pros
I think the best thing about Qualcomm is the fact that it is one of the few companies around that is still making money, a lot of money. This company has also done a phenomenal job of convincing the city of San Diego that it is a caring, benevolent, and giving place. Qualcomm has been able to do this because it is very very rich, so can easily afford to promote itself. The benefit to employees is that they are able to share some of this limelight, just by working for the company. Whenever I tell someone that I work for Qualcomm, their eyes seem to glaze over, and an idolizing expression spreads across their face as they respond with "oh really? Wow, that's cool"
Cons
The main downside to working at Qualcomm is that it is in a perpetual state of chaos. It is singularly the least organized company I have ever worked for. Qualcomm credits itself for being like a giant startup, able to nimbly adapt to customer roadmap changes, and this is good, but it makes for an environment that is extremely difficult to penetrate if you were not born at the company. Qualcomm is like a jungle, and your ability to wield a machete should be at the top of your tool kit. It is a cut throat, back stabbing place where everyone is trying to get credit for things they may or may not actually be responsible for achieving in order to get promoted to the next level. There is very little respect for employees as they are viewed as work horses that need to be and often are, publicly whipped in order to get the last ounce of productivity out of. Qualcomm simply does not care about your work-life balance in spite of the presence of the basketball courts and cafeteria, both designed to keep you on site as long as possible. One of the biggest surprises to me, is how atypical the program management role is when compared to the rest of the industry. Program management in Qualcomm is not a position of authority. This job is in the process of changing from a role of assistant to engineering, ie. setting meetings, taking notes, arranging food for lunch, but always remember that it is engineering that calls the shots in this company and that's the way it will probably always be. Senior (director & VP level) program management leadership is nothing short of weak and something of a joke to the other VPs, easily swatted aside, opinions not considered, and in their frustration, often turn around and pass the same treatment along to their reports. In closing, if you are thinking of joining us as a program manager, think again - don't bother, find somewhere else to work, that's what I'm in the process of doing.
