Senior System Software Engineer - GPU SW

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

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this software engineer role: aI is not part of the work.
The listed pay starts 10% above the typical software engineer posting on Level.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 2,700+ other open roles at NVIDIA.

AI in this role

NVIDIA is seeking a Senior System SW Engineer with expertise in systems software, GPU drivers, embedded software, and platform security. You will provide technical leadership for security and architecture initiatives across production GPU kernel drivers, embedded software, and next-generation NVIDIA platforms.

You will strengthen the security, reliability, and performance of NVIDIA products across datacenter, gaming, and other compute markets. Working with hardware, software, and security teams, you will build secure, high-performance solutions from architecture through production.

What you’ll be doing:

Architect, design, implement, and verify security and systems features for GPU kernel drivers, embedded software, and next-generation GPU architectures.
Drive secure-design practices across code, development processes, and product architecture; lead adoption across partner engineering organizations.
Conduct software and hardware security reviews, identify vulnerabilities and architectural risks, and guide mitigation strategies.
Debug and resolve complex issues across drivers, operating-system kernels, embedded environments, hardware interfaces, and virtualization layers.
Balance security, reliability, and performance requirements for datacenter-scale and performance-sensitive inference & training workloads.
Define and execute long-term security roadmaps in collaboration with global software, hardware, and product teams.

What we need to see:

BS/MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field—or equivalent experience
8+ years in systems software, embedded development, or security engineering.
Experience securing low-level software, including operating-system kernels, device drivers, embedded systems, or platform software.
Strong C programming, low-level driver development, and system-level debugging skills.
Experience with Linux, Windows, Android, ChromeOS, or comparable operating-system kernels.
Solid understanding of computer architecture, including processors, caches, buses, memory controllers, DMA, interrupts, and memory protection.
Demonstrated technical leadership, ownership, and ability to drive complex cross-functional projects.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex security and systems topics to varied audiences.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

Experience with offensive and defensive security, including threat modeling, vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and exploit mitigations.
Familiarity with Confidential Computing technology
Familiarity with virtualization and isolation technologies, including hypervisors, IOMMUs, and virtual machines.
Experience with GPU-driver architecture, embedded firmware/software, RTOS environments, RISC-V, or resource-constrained systems.
Proven ability to apply security principles across tightly integrated hardware and software systems.

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most experienced and dedicated people in the world working for us. If you're creative and autonomous, we want to hear from you!

With competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, we are widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most experienced and hardworking people in the world working for us. Due to outstanding growth, our skilled engineering teams are rapidly growing. If you're a creative and autonomous engineer with a 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 range for this position is 184,000 USD – 287,500 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 System Software Engineer - GPU SW at NVIDIA rates 20 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.

●●●● 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.