Offensive Hardware Security Researcher

NVIDIA is hiring an Offensive Hardware Security Researcher in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $184k-$288k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this cybersecurity role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
The listed pay starts 16% above the typical cybersecurity posting on Level.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 2,600+ other open roles at NVIDIA.

AI in this role

We are now looking for an Offensive Hardware Security Researcher!

NVIDIA is seeking an outstanding Offensive Hardware Security Researcher to work on a wide variety of security research challenges. Do you excel at thinking like an attacker, identifying hardware weaknesses, creating tools and automation for hardware vulnerability research? Join our team to hack the future, fortify the silicon frontier, and shape the destiny of groundbreaking chip technology!

What you will be doing:

Research vulnerabilities on cutting-edge SoC and GPU designs
Develop and use cutting-edge security tools and techniques
Guide the continuous integration of latest mitigations into our security architecture
Research and exploit side-channel, fault, and advanced physical attacks
This role does require being in our Santa Clara office

What we need to see:

BS/BA degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
6+ years of work experience in a Security related field
Experience with ARM/RISCV assembly, Verilog and low-level C programming
Understanding of large SoC and ASIC architecture and design
Experience with security code reviews of complex firmware projects and defensive coding best practices (SDL, threat modeling)
Ability to work collaboratively and remotely with multiple experts to accomplish complex goals
Expertise in two of more of the following fields:
- Expertise in side-channel analysis and mitigation for cryptographic primitives
- TEE (TrustZone, SE), Confidential Computing, and/or microarchitectural attacks
- Proficiency with Symbolic Execution and/or fuzzing tools
- JTAG, debugging, binary instrumentation frameworks, ChipWhisperer
- Reverse-engineering (IDA Pro, Ghidra)
- Practical experience in utilizing machine learning techniques for performing side-channel attacks
Track record of advancing offensive security research field through vulnerability discoveries, research publications, and/or developing security tools

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

Understanding of pre-silicon hardware design and testing
Knowledge of key hardware security architecture components, and their implementation in complex SoC designs
Strong background in computer architecture, especially GPU or AI accelerator design

Our invention of the GPU in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined modern computer graphics, and revolutionized parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern AI — the next era of computing — with the GPU acting as the brain of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. Today, we are increasingly known as “the AI computing company”. With competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and hardworking people in the world working for us. If you're creative, autonomous and love a challenge, we want to hear from you!

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and other objective job-related factors. The expected base salary ranges for this position are:
184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4; and 224,000 USD – 356,500 USD for Level 5.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 3, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

How we rate this

Offensive Hardware Security Researcher at NVIDIA rates 21 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.