Introduction
Qualcomm, a leader in 5G, mobile communications, and IoT technology, is a dream company for many engineers. As an ECE graduate, I aspired to work at Qualcomm due to its innovative contributions to telecommunications. In this article, I’ll share my interview experience to help fellow candidates prepare effectively.
- Role: Associate Engineer
- Rounds: 4 (Online Assessment + 3 Technical Interviews)
- Verdict: Selected
1. Online Assessment (90 minutes)
The online assessment was structured into three sections:
1.1 Aptitude (30 minutes)
- The questions in this section were of medium difficulty.
1.2 Computer Fundamentals (30 minutes)
- Topics covered included:
- Operating Systems
- DBMS
- Computer Networks
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- The difficulty level was also medium.
1.3 Core Questions and Programming Logic (30 minutes)
- Focused on:
- C Programming
- Pointers
- Digital Electronics
- Communication subjects
- Questions included:
- Guessing the output of given code
- Identifying errors in code
- Core fundamentals from Digital Electronics and Communications
Scoring:
- 1 mark for each correct answer.
- 0.25 negative marks for each incorrect answer.
2. Technical Interview 1 (50 minutes)
Introduction
The interviewer introduced himself, sharing his experience at Qualcomm and providing an overview of the company’s work and the role for which I was being interviewed.
Key Topics Discussed:
- RF (Radio Frequency) and its frequency range.
- Evolution of mobile communications from 1G to 5G.
- In-depth discussion on 5G technology, focusing on various releases by 3GPP.
- The process of call establishment between users.
- Modulation schemes and spectrum usage across generations.
- Concepts of MIMO, Massive MIMO, beamforming, and millimeter-wave communication.
3. Technical Interview 2
Introduction
Similar to the first round, the interviewer began with a brief discussion about my background.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Program execution flow in C, including macros and preprocessors.
- Operating Systems concepts.
- Discussion about my projects.
- Data Structures and Algorithms:
- Detecting a loop in a linked list: (Detect loop or cycle in a linked list)
- Bit manipulation: Setting the nth bit of a number. (Set the K-th bit of a given number)
- Puzzle: The 100 doors problem, where 100 soldiers toggle doors based on their number. This question tested my logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Here you can find the link : puzzle-16-100-doors
4. Technical Interview 3
Introduction
This round was conducted by a senior manager with over 15 years of experience.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Data Structures: Focused on backtracking, particularly the N-Queens problem. I was tasked with placing queens on a chessboard so that no two queens could attack each other. I explained my approach to solving this problem. (N Queens)
- HR Questions: The discussion included HR-related questions and was more conversational in nature.
Verdict
I am pleased to share that I was selected for the Associate Engineer role at Qualcomm. This experience not only enhanced my technical knowledge but also provided insights into the recruitment process at a leading tech company.