Senior Software Engineer, NCCL

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Software Engineer, NCCL 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.
The posting mentions PyTorch and TensorFlow among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a senior role.
NVIDIA has 2,700+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

PyTorchTensorFlow

NVIDIA is leading the way in groundbreaking developments in Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing and Visualization. The GPU, our invention, serves as the visual cortex of modern computers and is at the heart of our products and services. Our work opens up new universes to explore, enables amazing creativity and discovery, and powers what were once science fiction inventions from artificial intelligence to autonomous cars. NVIDIA is looking for phenomenal people like you to help us accelerate the next wave of artificial intelligence.

We are looking for a highly motivated senior software engineer for an exciting role in our communication libraries and network software team. The position will be part of a fast-paced crew that develops and maintains software for complex heterogeneous computing systems that power disruptive products in High Performance Computing and Deep Learning.

What you will be doing:

Design, implement and maintain highly-optimized communication runtimes for Deep Learning frameworks (e.g. NCCL for TensorFlow/Pytorch) and HPC programming interfaces (e.g. UCX for MPI/OpenSHMEM) on GPU clusters.
Participating in and contributing to parallel programming interface specifications like MPI/OpenSHMEM.
Design, implement and maintain system software that enables interactions among GPUs and interactions between GPUs and other system components.
Creating proof-of-concepts to evaluate and motivate extensions in programming models, new designs in runtimes and new features in hardware.

What we need to see:

M.S./Ph.D. degree in CS/CE or equivalent experience.
5+ years of relevant experience.
Excellent C/C++ programming and debugging skills.
Strong experience with Linux.
Expert understanding of computer system architecture and operating systems.
Experience with parallel programming interfaces and communication runtimes.
Ability and flexibility to work and communicate effectively in a multi-national, multi-time-zone corporate environment.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

Deep understanding of technology and passionate about what you do.
Experience with CUDA programming and NVIDIA GPUs.
Knowledge of high-performance networks like InfiniBand, iWARP etc.
Experience with HPC applications.
Experience with Deep Learning Frameworks such PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.
Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, specifically a proven ability to effectively guide and influence within a dynamic matrix environment.

NVIDIA offers highly competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. We have some of the most forward-thinking and talented people in the world working for us and, due to unprecedented growth, our world-class engineering teams are growing fast. If you're a creative and autonomous engineer with real passion for technology, 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:
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 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 Software Engineer, NCCL at NVIDIA rates 88 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.

●●●● 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 Software Engineer, NCCL is an open job at NVIDIA.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The listed salary is $152k-$242k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Santa Clara.
The job was posted on September 17, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by NVIDIA. Apply on NVIDIA

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

PyTorchTensorFlow

Also common in software engineer jobs at this level

Python LLM Machine learning AWS AI agents Kubernetes

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 PyTorch hands-on?
Walk me through how you've used TensorFlow in your day-to-day work.
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: PyTorch and TensorFlow. 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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