Qualcomm has started implementing a global workforce reduction, affecting approximately 1,000 jobs in India. The tech giant, with around 20,000 employees across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Chennai, has not yet confirmed the exact number of impacted employees. This decision follows an internal communication from CEO Cristiano Amon, who described it as a "performance-focused reduction." Notifications for these layoffs were expected to start in November after annual employee reviews. Qualcomm has remained silent on the matter when contacted by India Today Tech and is reportedly planning another round of job cuts in January 2027.
In a social media post, Vikas Alwys shared the story of one affected engineer who had studied hard to secure a campus placement at Qualcomm after completing his MTech at IIT Hyderabad. This engineering graduate had previously turned down a non-technical job offer during his BTech and spent a year preparing for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Despite his coveted placement with a base salary of Rs 18 lakh per annum and a total cost to company (CTC) of over Rs 26 lakh, he has now been laid off.
This episode serves as a reminder for engineers entering the semiconductor industry that even a prestigious degree, coveted campus placement, and strong starting salary do not guarantee long-term job security in an uncertain technology market. (Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)