Qualcomm Engineer Satisfied with Layoffs: Received 15 Months' Salary and Decided to Spend Time with Family

A young female engineer who spent nine years developing ultra-thin chips for smartphones is facing the threat of dismissal. At just 24 years old, she joined the major chip manufacturer Qualcomm, and her parents were proud of this achievement, sharing the news with all relatives.

She worked on 5G modems used in millions of smartphones and achieved significant success in the semiconductor industry, earning an annual income of 70 lakh rupees. However, this successful engineer may now be among thousands of employees whose jobs are at risk.

Qualcomm has begun workforce reductions in India, jeopardizing about 1000 jobs in the country. The company's CEO, Cristiano Amon, described this large-scale reorganization as a 'performance-oriented reduction.'

Against the backdrop of these news, a social media user on X shared the story of this female engineer, illustrating what 'layoff' means in the corporate world for someone who dedicated years to building the company. The viral post presented dry but painful data about the employee's personal risks.

The user wrote that she earns 70 lakh rupees per year, while her monthly mortgage payment is 83,000 rupees, and next year she was due to receive company stock that she had saved for her daughter's education.

Nine years at Qualcomm gave this woman not just a job, but an entire financial foundation—salary, housing payments, and plans for her daughter's future. These stocks, expected next year, were also a crucial part of her plans. And then, a sudden official letter arrived from the CEO.

The post also raises sharp questions regarding the timing of the layoffs against the company's profits. It is stated that Qualcomm generated a net profit of $13.6 billion this year. The post questions the reasons for this decision despite the enormous profit.

The main reasons cited for this move are growing pressure on the smartphone chip manufacturing business, Apple's attempts to develop its own modems, and the accelerated shift of investments into artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

This viral message contains a touching argument in defense of experienced employees affected by the reorganization. It is claimed that most of these engineers did not fail; they created the technology that made Qualcomm a giant. Now, the company moves forward, leaving behind old methods and those who created them.

There is also deep concern about the future for experienced chip engineers. Although India is in urgent need of semiconductor talent, finding a second job at the same salary will be extremely difficult for specialists with 15 years of experience and an income of around 1 crore rupees. According to the post, some will have to accept a significant pay cut, while others will have to explain the gap for months, which was not their fault.

According to media reports, Qualcomm may reduce about 7 percent of its global workforce, which totals approximately 52,000 employees, equivalent to laying off about 3,600 people. In the company's offices in India, located in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Chennai, there are about 20,000 employees. There is a fear that the impact of these layoffs will fall on both experienced engineers and newly hired staff.

Furthermore, there is strong pressure on the headset manufacturing business, and the company's revenue from headsets decreased by 25 percent in the last quarter. It should be noted that this publication on X does not have official confirmation, but similar reports constantly appear on social media.

An engineer who spent years preparing for the GATE exam, studying at IIT Hyderabad, and received a job offer from Qualcomm with an annual package exceeding 26 lakh rupees, recently lost his position due to layoffs. Qualcomm reportedly began a mass layoff process in India as part of a global workforce reduction.

According to user X Vikas Always, his friend was affected by these layoffs. This friend initially received an offer for a non-technical role after obtaining a bachelor's degree from Sutherland but decided instead to spend a year preparing for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).

After a year-long break, he successfully passed the exam, scoring around 1100 points. He then enrolled in the VLSI master's program at IIT Hyderabad. After two years of postgraduate study, he was offered a position at Qualcomm through campus recruitment. Vikas reported that his friend was offered a base annual salary of 18 lakh rupees and a total CTC exceeding 26 lakh rupees.

However, this career peak proved short-lived. Vikas noted that despite his friend's hard work in studies and securing the Qualcomm job through campus placement, he has now been fired. He commented on the deteriorating job market in the technology sector, stating that the situation resembles a state of 'never settling down.'

Qualcomm initiated a global workforce reduction process, and employees in India are presumably affected. It is said that about 1000 jobs in India might be impacted, although the final number has not been confirmed. The company currently employs around 20,000 people in cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Chennai. India Today Tech contacted the company, but it declined to comment.

These layoffs occurred following an internal message from CEO Cristiano Amon, who termed them a 'performance-oriented reduction.' Employee notifications were expected to begin in November after the annual personnel review. According to available information, the company may initiate another round of layoffs in January 2027.

It is important to note that this news is based on a social media post, and India Today has not independently verified the figures, background, or results provided. The article serves purely informational purposes, and readers are advised to exercise caution before making any decisions based on this information. The case demonstrates that even having an IIT Hyderabad degree, campus recruitment at Qualcomm, and a starting package exceeding 26 lakh rupees does not guarantee job stability amid the uncertain technological market for engineers in the semiconductor sector.

Previously, working from nine to five was considered a sign of a stable and secure life. Regular office attendance, adherence to set working hours, and receiving a salary at the end of the month were the accepted ways to build a career. However, the views of Generation Z youth on work are changing.

Today's youth strive not only for a high salary but also for work that allows them time for their personal lives. The main driving force behind these changes is the work-life balance. For Generation Z, work is no longer the sole purpose of existence; they want to value their hobbies, friends, family, travel, and personal growth alongside their careers. This is why many young people prefer vacancies that offer some flexibility regarding working hours and location.

According to the Deloitte study 'Gen Z and Millennials 2026', in India, work-life balance and financial freedom are crucial priorities for Generation Z. Furthermore, 99% of Indian Gen Z and 98% of millennials believe that having a purpose in work is necessary for job satisfaction.

Moreover, there is a growing demand for options such as remote work, hybrid models, and flexible working hours. Young people want the ability to manage their time and work more effectively instead of spending every day in the office.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that Generation Z is abandoning hard work or a career. The 2025 Deloitte report also noted that young people are focused on acquiring new skills and self-improvement to advance in their careers. For them, the concept of success is no longer solely defined by a high position or a long workday.

Perhaps not. For a significant number of people, stable employment and a fixed salary remain important. However, old working methods are transforming. Generation Z does not aim to quit their jobs but rather to integrate their life into the work process.