I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Qualcomm (Boxborough, MA) in Feb 2013
Interview
After the interview, we have a weekly meeting to review all candidates, then our recommendations are passed back to hiring managers. Then they have to make their calls. I would say 2 weeks at the most.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
No doubt it is difficult to land a position at QC. We would get hundreds of resumes a day, so you really have to stand out. Specifically tailor your resume' to the job description you're going for, if you can.
HR will hit you with a feeler phone interview, then one of our senior staff will follow up. Depending on the person you get, this could be easy or very difficult. Know the basics of sw engineering and systems. Know the types of memory SW uses & OS fundamentals. Be prepared to answer a programming question on the phone. If you get past that, they'll fly you in and you'll interview one-on-one w/ about 6 people who will grill you (I was one of them). Answer questions to the best of your ability, but don't get too cocky. If you get stuck, ask them what they think of your idea. Have a positive attitude, be friendly, and relax.
My interview experience: The two online interview rounds focused entirely on my resume, spanning from fundamental concepts to advanced technical topics. Both sessions were comprehensive assessments of my background and expertise.
Phone screen - hiring manager was asking about my immigration status, and tone changed immediately. Almost felt unprofessional and discriminatory, I will remember it for a long time to come.