Level

NVIDIA

Senior SoC Software Engineer

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior SoC Software Engineer in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $184k-$288k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Level.

AI in this role

We are looking for a Senior SoC Software Engineer to help shape the future of accelerated computing within CPU/Data Center. Imagine developing the foundational technology behind tomorrow’s AI factories, next-generation data centers, autonomous platforms—and even data centers in space. You will join a world-class team building and maintaining software for complex heterogeneous computing systems that power groundbreaking AI, HPC, and accelerated computing workloads. Your work will help bring sophisticated server products from early silicon through deployment while improving their performance, reliability, power efficiency, and serviceability.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, operating systems, and AI. You will collaborate with some of the best engineers in the world to solve challenging system-level problems and redefine what future data center products can achieve. If you are a creative software engineer who is passionate about low-level technology and wants to build products that expand the boundaries of computing, we want to hear from you. Join us at the forefront of this new frontier!


What you’ll be doing:

  • Design and develop SoC software, validation solutions, and test frameworks that efficiently validate and stress complex SoCs and systems throughout the complete software development lifecycle. Your work may span user space, the kernel, firmware, and SoC boot software.
  • Pioneer next-generation system validation and reliability software that accelerates the journey from virtual prototypes and first silicon to production-ready hardware, large-scale deployment, and rapid failure resolution across standard and custom platforms.
  • Spearhead initiatives that improve the efficiency, intelligence, robustness, and user experience of software used for design validation, thermal and power characterization, manufacturing screening, and customer platform bring-up.
  • Investigate and drive root-cause analysis of highly complex board- and system-level failures across hardware and software boundaries.
  • Collaborate across the company and with customers and partners to bring next-generation computing platforms to life—powering breakthroughs in AI factories, data centers, autonomous systems, and space-based computing.

What we need to see:

  • BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • 8+ years of relevant industry experience.
  • Strong C and C++ programming skills, including object-oriented design and development.
  • Experience with low-level systems software, device drivers, firmware, or hardware-facing programming.
  • A strong understanding of processor architecture fundamentals, preferably ARM.
  • Exceptional problem-solving and debugging skills, particularly for issues spanning multiple layers of the system.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and planning skills, with the ability to lead technically complex initiatives.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Deep knowledge of Linux kernel internals and a solid understanding of ARM-based platforms.
  • Experience developing systems, validation, or reliability software for data center, server, AI infrastructure, or other mission-critical platforms.
  • Experience planning and executing pre-silicon or post-silicon bring-up for complex SoCs and platforms.
  • A consistent record of quickly learning new technologies and applying them to deliver results within ambitious timelines.
  • Experience contributing to large-scale software projects and applying AI, automation, or data-driven techniques to accelerate validation, analyze failures, and improve system reliability throughout the software product lifecycle.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 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 October 11, 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 SoC Software Engineer at NVIDIA rates 5 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.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

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

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