Senior Graphics Driver Engineer

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Graphics Driver Engineer in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $152k-$242k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

Uses AI ●●○○ is how Level rates this role: an ordinary role that requires AI tools.
Level classes it as a senior role.
NVIDIA has 2,600+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

NVIDIA is seeking an engineer who enjoys developing software and uncovering why complex professional applications behave the way they do. You will develop and optimize graphics software, analyze real-world application workloads, design experiments to isolate bottlenecks, debug quality and performance regressions, and collaborate with driver teams to turn your findings into measurable improvements.

You will work with leading professional applications used for design, engineering, digital content creation, and visualization. You will also contribute to the development and analysis of industry-standard workstation benchmarks. This role offers opportunities to solve challenging technical problems while learning about advanced graphics, GPU computing, AI-assisted engineering, and emerging workstation technologies.

What you’ll be doing

Develop, debug, and validate graphics software and optimizations that improve professional application performance on NVIDIA GPUs.
Analyze professional workstation applications and identify opportunities to improve performance and user experience.
Design experiments and develop analysis techniques to isolate complex application-performance bottlenecks.
Profile application and graphics API workloads using traces, performance counters, and other analysis techniques.
Create tools, scripts, and automated workflows, including AI-assisted techniques, for performance analysis, regression detection, and validation.
Collaborate with application developers and NVIDIA driver, architecture, and hardware teams to evaluate and deliver performance improvements.
Develop representative workstation benchmarks that capture meaningful real-world application behavior.

What we need to see

BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field—or equivalent experience.
Strong C/C++ programming skills.
5+ years experience with software performance analysis, profiling, optimization, or debugging.
Understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, and how applications interact with graphics APIs and GPU hardware.
Familiarity with source-control systems such as Perforce or Git.
Experience with software development methodologies such as design reviews and code reviews.
Ability to develop and debug software in a Windows OS environment.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
Experience using AI-assisted development tools and enthusiasm for learning new technologies.

Ways to stand out from the crowd

Knowledge of graphics APIs such as OpenGL, Direct3D, or Vulkan.
Experience developing low-level systems, graphics, driver, or performance-analysis software.
Experience with application benchmarks or automated performance testing.
Knowledge of statistical techniques for analyzing variance, repeatability, and performance results.
Scripting experience with Python, Perl, or similar languages.

Are you an analytical and highly motivated engineer who enjoys developing graphics software, understanding complex application workloads, and finding effective ways to make them run faster? If you are passionate about workstation performance and solving challenging engineering problems, you may be a great fit for NVIDIA.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and other objective job-related factors. The expected base salary range for this position is 152,000 USD – 241,500 USD.

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

Senior Graphics Driver Engineer at NVIDIA rates 48 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Uses AI (AI Level 2 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Uses AI. An ordinary role that requires AI tools.

●●●● 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.

Key facts

Senior Graphics Driver Engineer is an open job at NVIDIA.
Level rates this role AI Level 2 of 4: Uses AI.
The listed salary is $152k-$242k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on September 16, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by NVIDIA. Apply on NVIDIA

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