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NVIDIA

Senior Software Engineer - CUDA Driver

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Software Engineer - CUDA Driver 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

  • Builds AI ●●●● is how Level rates this software engineer role: the job is building AI systems.
  • Level classes it as a senior role.
  • NVIDIA has 2,700+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

NVIDIA is seeking outstanding senior engineers to work on the CUDA driver, a key component of accelerated GPU computing. You will join a versatile software engineering team that delivers innovative software features to unlock the full potential and performance of NVIDIA hardware across diverse workloads like deep learning, scientific research, autonomous vehicles, gaming, and virtual reality. This multi-functional role requires collaboration with hardware architects, deep learning specialists, and both internal and external partners to advance the CUDA architecture. With the opportunity to collaborate with teams across the whole NVIDIA computing stack, you will help design software solutions across kernel mode components, compilers, and networking software.

Your system-level expertise and creativity in solving complex problems will help invent the future of CUDA and NVIDIA’s compute technologies! Does crafting solutions to influence the evolution of GPU-accelerated computing sound exciting? If so, we invite you to join us and help engineer the next wave of innovation at NVIDIA!

What you'll be doing:

  • Evangelize, architect, and implement new CUDA features

  • Coordinate and drive development efforts across multiple teams

  • Collaborate with members of hardware architecture teams

  • Define forward-looking improvements to the CUDA APIs and programming model

  • Build and maintain performance and precision modeling

  • Write effective, maintainable, and well-tested code

  • Develop code for multiple operating systems

What we need to see:

  • Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

  • 5+ years of relevant experience in developing systems software

  • Strong C programming skills

  • Experience designing, debugging, and maintaining complex software stacks

  • Experience with operating system interfaces for threads, process control, and virtual memory

  • Experience with HW/SW co-design, performance modeling using emulation/simulation, and developing SW programming model exposures for HW features

  • Understanding of system-level architecture, such as interconnects, memory hierarchy, interrupts, and memory-mapped IO

  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with a capability to achieve objectives under tight time constraints

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Experience with kernel scheduling, task runtimes, kernel-mode development, and Linux systems software.

  • Strong background in parallel computing, preferably writing CUDA programs or CUDA-based libraries.

  • Knowledge of memory coherence and consistency models in concurrent/parallel systems.

  • Experience maintaining and extending programming models or higher-level language support for Linux or similar environments.

  • Familiarity with distributed training/inference patterns (data/model/pipeline parallelism) and deep learning frameworks.

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:
152,000 USD – 241,500 USD for Level 3; and 184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 6, 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 Software Engineer - CUDA Driver at NVIDIA rates 89 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

  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. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

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Pay

This job starts at
$152k
Typical software engineer job
$168k

This posting starts 9% below the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs

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