Principal System Software Engineer - CUDA Driver

NVIDIA Gruppe; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 272,000 - 431,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA is seeking senior engineers to advance the CUDA driver, a core component enabling accelerated computing on the GPU. You will architect and implement CUDA features, lead multi-team efforts, and collaborate with hardware groups to shape the CUDA APIs and programming model.

The role focuses on performance modeling, cross-OS development, and delivering robust, well-tested code within a demanding, fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 15+ years of relevant systems software development experience.
• Strong C programming skills.
• Experience designing, debugging, and maintaining complex software stacks.
• Background with operating system interfaces for threads, process control, and virtual memory.
• Experience with HW/SW co-design, perf. modeling using emulation/simulation, creating SW programming model exposures for HW features.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills with ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to influence in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Evangelize, architect, and implement new CUDA features.
• Oversee and drive development efforts across multiple teams.
• Collaborate with hardware architecture teams.
• Help define forward-looking improvements to the CUDA APIs and programming model.
• Design and maintain performance and precision modeling.
• Write effective, maintainable, and well-tested code.
• Develop code for multiple operating systems.

Skills

C programming

OS interfaces

System software

HW/SW co-design

Performance modeling

Collaboration

Verbal/written communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in CS/EE

Master of Science in CS/EE

Tools

Kernel mode development

Job description

We are hiring senior engineers to work on the CUDA driver, a core component of our platform for accelerating general purpose computation on the GPU. Our team delivers features and improvements to better realize the potential of NVIDIA hardware for a growing range of computational workloads, ranging from deep learning, scientific computation, and self-driving cars to video games and virtual reality!

CUDA defines a unified programming model across a range of system configurations and hardware capabilities. To accomplish this, the CUDA driver interacts with GPU hardware, kernel mode drivers, switches and the operating system.

What you'll be doing:

• You will evangelize, architect, and implement new CUDA features
• You'll oversee and drive development efforts across multiple teams
• Collaborate with members of hardware architecture teams
• Help define forward-looking improvements to the CUDA APIs and programming model
• Design and maintain performance and precision modeling
• Write effective, maintainable, and well-tested code
• Develop code for multiple operating systems

What we need to see:

• Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 15+ years of relevant systems software development experience
• Strong C programming skills
• Experience designing, debugging, and maintaining complex software stacks
• Background with operating system interfaces for threads, process control, and virtual memory
• Experience with HW/SW co-design, perf. modeling using emulation/simulation, creating SW programming model exposures for HW features
• Expert interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills with a capability to achieve objectives under tight deadlines
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, specifically a proven ability to effectively guide and influence within a dynamic matrix environment

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

• You have an understanding of system level architecture, such as interconnects, memory hierarchy, interrupts, and memory-mapped IO
• Designing and implementing drivers programming rich HW acceleration engines and software verification testplans.
• Knowledge of CPU, GPU architectures, memory coherence and consistency models
• Some background with kernel mode development
• Some familiarity with C++

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

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 272,000 USD - 431,250 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

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