Senior Software Engineer, GPU Code Generation for Machine Learning Inference
NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Software Engineer, GPU Code Generation for Machine Learning Inference 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.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include vLLM, PyTorch and JAX.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 2,700+ other open roles at NVIDIA.
- The role was posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
NVIDIA is seeking talented engineers to join the TensorRT team and advance high-performance AI inference on NVIDIA GPUs. Our team develops software that accelerates state-of-the-art generative AI models for local and enterprise deployments. We solve challenging problems in GPU code generation, just-in-time compilation, and inference optimization to deliver high performance across diverse models and hardware configurations.
As a Senior Software Engineer, you will develop advanced GPU inference software for TensorRT. We’re looking for engineers with strong experience in GPU optimization and compiler development who can translate a deep understanding of GPU execution into efficient code generation and measurable improvements in generative AI inference.
What you’ll be doing:
- Design and implement efficient GPU code generation techniques in TensorRT that balance generated code performance, compilation overhead, and startup latency.
- Develop compiler optimizations, including operator fusion, dynamic scheduling, and specialization for model shapes, data types, and GPU architectures.
- Profile workloads and analyze generated GPU code to identify bottlenecks and guide compiler and runtime improvements.
- Develop robust, maintainable software in C++, and Python for tooling, testing, and performance analysis.
- Collaborate with GPU architects, kernel developers, compiler engineers, and deep learning experts to guide hardware and software design.
What we need to see:
- BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of relevant software development experience, including contributions to a substantial codebase or project.
- Strong proficiency in C++ and experience building performance-critical software.
- Understanding of GPU architecture and parallel programming concepts, including memory hierarchies, thread execution, synchronization, and resource utilization.
- A rigorous approach to performance analysis and debugging, with the ability to validate numerical correctness and explain performance tradeoffs.
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and collaborate across teams.
Ways to stand out from the crowd:
- Experience developing or optimizing GPU kernels using CUDA, Triton, CuTe DSL, CUTLASS, or other GPU programming languages.
- Experience with MLIR compiler infrastructure, familiarity with intermediate representations, lowering, optimization passes, and GPU code generation.
- Familiarity with NVIDIA Tensor Core architecture, mixed-precision computation, quantization, or low-level GPU performance analysis using tools such as NVIDIA Nsight.
- Experience developing inference frameworks such as PyTorch, JAX, ONNX Runtime, TensorRT, TensorRT-LLM, vLLM, and SGLang.
- A track record of measurable performance improvements in production software or contributions to GPU programming and compiler projects.
At NVIDIA, you’ll work with engineers across GPU architecture, compilers, and AI software to solve demanding performance problems. If you are curious and enjoy understanding how hardware executes code and building software that pushes its capabilities, join us in shaping the future of generative AI inference.
#LI-Hybrid
Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 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 October 25, 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, GPU Code Generation for Machine Learning Inference at NVIDIA rates 97 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.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● 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.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- This job starts at
- $152k
- Typical software engineer job
- $168k
This posting starts 10% below the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- What's a project where you used vLLM hands-on?
- Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
- What are the limits of JAX that you've run into, and how did you work around them?
- How would you decide a model or AI system is ready to ship?
- Tell me about a time a model underperformed in production. How did you find out, and what did you change?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: vLLM, PyTorch, and JAX. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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