Director, Tegra Firmware

NVIDIA Corporation; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 320,000 - 489,000; Full time

Job summary

NVIDIA Corporation in Santa Clara, CA seeks a seasoned firmware leader to guide Tegra CPU/SoC firmware development from architecture through production. You will manage globally distributed teams, set strategy, and ensure robust boot, memory initialization, and security features.

You will partner with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated platform solutions for automotive, robotics, and edge compute, while meeting safety and reliability requirements across multiple silicon generations.

Qualifications

• 12+ overall years of experience in embedded firmware, system software, or low-level platform software.
• 7+ years of engineering leadership experience, including leading managers or distributed teams.
• Proven success delivering complex CPU or SoC firmware from architecture through production.
• Deep understanding of CPUs, multicore systems, caches, coherency, memory, interrupts, power management, and hardware-software interfaces.
• Strong knowledge of bare-metal or real-time firmware, bootloaders, embedded operating systems, Linux internals, and hardware bring-up.
• Experience with heterogeneous SoCs containing CPUs, GPUs, accelerators, security processors, or system-control microcontrollers.
• Experience with pre-silicon development, post-silicon debugging, failure analysis, and in-field diagnostic processes.
• Strong understanding of firmware quality, reliability, secure development, and product lifecycle management.
• Excellent technical judgment, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow globally distributed firmware teams and engineering managers.
• Own delivery from architecture and pre-silicon development through bring-up, production, and long-term support.
• Direct development of CPU boot, memory and coherency initialization, multicore startup, power-state transitions, confidential compute, and OS handoff.
• Partner with CPU, SoC, hardware, verification, OS, DRIVE OS, safety, security, and product teams on integrated platform delivery.
• Drive pre-silicon readiness, silicon bring-up, fault injection, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and development automation.
• Lead firmware execution for automotive and industrial programs aligned with ISO 26262, IEC 61508, ISO/SAE 21434, and applicable certification requirements.
• Oversee safety and security activities such as requirements traceability, FMEA, FTA, threat analysis, secure design reviews, verification evidence, and assessor engagement.
• Work with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, industrial customers, and ecosystem partners to resolve technical and delivery challenges.

Skills

Embedded firmware

System software

Leadership

Pre-silicon development

Post-silicon debugging

Security features

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

ARM Trusted Firmware

UEFI

Bootloaders

Secure monitors

RTOS platforms

System-control processors

Job description

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It’s a unique legacy of innovation that’s fueled by great technology—and amazing people. Today, we’re tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, supportive environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how you can make a lasting impact on the world. We are searching for a skilled technical and organizational leader to guide foundational firmware development for Tegra CPU and system-on-chip platforms. Tegra combines high-performance CPUs with NVIDIA GPUs and specialized accelerators to power autonomous vehicles, robotics, industrial automation, edge AI, and other demanding applications. We are building the foundational firmware that brings each new generation of Tegra silicon to life!

You will guide globally distributed teams responsible for CPU and SoC initialization, secure boot, system control, safety services, confidential computing, and production diagnostics. This position requires extensive embedded-systems expertise, strong architectural judgment, and a history of delivering production firmware across multiple silicon generations.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and grow globally distributed firmware teams and engineering managers.
• Own delivery from architecture and pre-silicon development through bring-up, production, and long-term support.
• Direct development of CPU boot, memory and coherency initialization, multicore startup, power-state transitions, confidential compute, and OS handoff.
• Partner with CPU, SoC, hardware, verification, OS, DRIVE OS, safety, security, and product teams on integrated platform delivery.
• Drive pre-silicon readiness, silicon bring-up, fault injection, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and development automation.
• Lead firmware execution for automotive and industrial programs aligned with ISO 26262, IEC 61508, ISO/SAE 21434, and applicable certification requirements.
• Oversee safety and security activities such as requirements traceability, FMEA, FTA, threat analysis, secure design reviews, verification evidence, and assessor engagement.
• Work with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, industrial customers, and ecosystem partners to resolve technical and delivery challenges.

What we need to see:

• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field—or equivalent experience.
• 12+ overall years of experience in embedded firmware, system software, or low-level platform software.
• 7+ years of engineering leadership experience, including leading managers or distributed teams.
• Proven success delivering complex CPU or SoC firmware from architecture through production.
• Deep understanding of CPUs, multicore systems, caches, coherency, memory, interrupts, power management, and hardware-software interfaces.
• Strong knowledge of bare-metal or real-time firmware, bootloaders, embedded operating systems, Linux internals, and hardware bring-up.
• Experience with heterogeneous SoCs containing CPUs, GPUs, accelerators, security processors, or system-control microcontrollers.
• Experience with pre-silicon development, post-silicon debugging, failure analysis, and in-field diagnostic processes.
• Strong understanding of firmware quality, reliability, secure development, and product lifecycle management.
• Excellent technical judgment, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

• Experience with NVIDIA Tegra or another complex automotive, robotics, industrial, or edge-computing SoC.
• Expertise in ARM Trusted Firmware, UEFI, bootloaders, secure monitors, RTOS platforms, or system-control processors.
• Knowledge of safety analysis, fault-tolerant architecture, safety cases, or Safety Element out of Context development.
• Experience with threat modeling, hardware roots of trust, secure and measured boot, attestation, key management, or secure update.
• A record of influencing CPU or SoC architecture across multiple silicon generations.

Widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers, NVIDIA offers highly competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. As you plan your future, see what we can offer to you and your family www.nvidiabenefits.com/

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 320,000 USD - 488,750 USD. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until September 5, 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.

NVIDIA pioneered accelerated computing. Today, our AI infrastructure powers global intelligence, transforming every industry. Learn more about NVIDIA.