AI Software Engineer, Lightspeed Studios

NVIDIA Corporation; Santa Clara, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 224,000 - 431,000; Full time

Job summary

NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios in Santa Clara is seeking a Senior AI Software Engineer to push the state-of-the-art in world models, diffusion and neural rendering for real-time gaming. You will ship scalable AI-powered features across next-gen titles, from prototype to production.

You will train and fine-tune models with PyTorch, optimize latency on RTX GPUs, integrate with Unreal/Unity, and mentor engineers while guiding research-to-ship decisions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software engineering experience with shipped AI/ML systems.
• Expert-level C++ and Python; PyTorch experience.
• Experience training and fine-tuning DL models; distributed training.
• Experience with CUDA/TensorRT/Triton for GPU inference.
• Ability to turn prototypes into shipped products; strong cross-team communication.

Responsibilities

• Build and ship software for AI/ML-powered game features from prototype to production.
• Train, fine-tune, and evaluate models; curate data for game content.
• Optimize latency and throughput for real-time inference on RTX GPUs and cloud.
• Profile and remove bottlenecks across stack; integrate models with Unreal/Unity engines.
• Lead technical decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate with research, rendering, and art teams.

Skills

C++

Python

Distributed training

Model optimization

Deep learning systems

Education

BS in CS/EE

MS or PhD in CS/EE

Tools

CUDA

TensorRT

Triton

PyTorch

Job description

AI Software Engineer, Lightspeed Studios page is loaded## AI Software Engineer, Lightspeed Studioslocations: US, CA, Remote: US, CA, Santa Claratime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: JR2026538At NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios we are passionate about pushing the limits of technology, and we're looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our team! We help shape the future of games by combining the best AI and graphics technology NVIDIA has to offer with the most advanced games and tools in the industry. In this role, you'll help take new, unannounced projects powered by state-of-the-art AI models from research to real-time, interactive gaming experiences. If you're passionate about bringing generative AI to games, we'd love to hear from you!Some existing projects we've been working on:* RTX Remix is an open-source modding platform for remastering classic games with full path tracing, DLSS 4.5, and generative AI tools that turn low-resolution textures into physically based materials. Newer features like RTX Remix Logic and Advanced Particle VFX let modders add dynamic, gameplay-driven effects:* Zorah is our neural rendering tech demo for the GeForce RTX 50 Series launch at CES 2025. It features massive, fully path-traced scenes in Unreal Engine 5, powered by RTX Neural Shaders, RTX Mega Geometry, and DLSS 4:* Project R2X is a vision-enabled AI avatar for RTX PCs that can see the screen, assist with apps, and summarize documents. It is rendered with RTX Neural Faces and animated by a diffusion-based Audio2Face-3D model:* NVIDIA AI for Gaming brings conversational, autonomous game characters to life with small on-device models for speech, intelligence, and animation. It powers AI teammates in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, AI citizens in inZOI, and an in-game advisor in Total War: PHARAOH:**What you'll be doing:*** Build and ship software for upcoming, not-yet-announced projects that bring world models and video diffusion models to real-time gaming, from prototype to release.* Train, fine-tune, and evaluate models, including data curation and adapting models to game-specific content and controls.* Optimize models and inference for latency, token throughput, and quality, using techniques such as distillation, quantization, and reduced-step sampling on RTX devices and in the cloud.* Profile and remove bottlenecks across the stack, from model architecture to GPU kernels.* Integrate models into Unreal Engine, Unity, and custom engines, so they run efficiently alongside rendering.* Lead technical decisions, mentor other engineers, and collaborate with NVIDIA Research, rendering, and art teams.**What we need to see:*** BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.* 12+ years of software engineering experience, including substantial hands-on work shipping AI, deep learning, or machine learning systems.* Expert-level C++ and Python.* Hands-on experience training and fine-tuning deep learning models with PyTorch or a similar framework, including distributed training.* Experience in one or more of these areas: video generation, world models, diffusion or flow-matching models, transformers, or neural rendering.* Experience optimizing GPU inference with CUDA, TensorRT, TensorRT-LLM, or Triton.* A track record of turning complex prototypes into shipped products, and clear communication across research, engineering, and art.**Ways to stand out from the crowd:*** Hands-on experience with interactive, action-conditioned, or real-time world models or video generation.* Experience developing custom CUDA or Triton kernels.* Experience with game engine development or real-time rendering pipelines.* Open-source contributions (such as Diffusers, FastVideo, vLLM, SGLang, or TensorRT-LLM), publications, or patents.If you're motivated to join the Lightspeed Studios Engineering team, please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your proven experience and why you'd be a phenomenal fit for NVIDIA Lightspeed. We look forward to reviewing your application and potentially welcoming you to our team.Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD for Level 5, and 272,000 USD - 431,250 USD for Level 6.You will also be eligible for equity and .Applications for this job will be accepted at least until October 2, 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.