Principal System Software Engineer - CUDA Driver

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA in Santa Clara, CA is seeking senior engineers to advance the CUDA driver, a core platform component powering AI, HPC, and graphics workloads. You will design, implement, and evangelize new CUDA features, collaborating across NVIDIA to guide the future of CUDA.

The role calls for 15+ years of systems software experience, strong C skills, and deep OS interface knowledge, memory management, and HW/SW co-design. We offer equity, benefits, and a base salary range of 272,000–431,250 USD.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of systems software development experience.
• Strong C programming skills and ability to debug complex stacks.
• Experience with OS interfaces for threads, processes and virtual memory.
• Background with HW/SW co-design and performance modeling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with cross-team collaboration.
• Ability to lead and influence in a dynamic matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Use design abilities and coding expertise to deliver the best Compute platform.
• Evangelize, architect, and implement new CUDA features.
• Oversee and drive development across multiple teams.
• Collaborate with hardware architecture teams.
• Define improvements to 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

HW/SW co-design

Performance modeling

Debugging complex stacks

Thread/process control

Verbal/written communication

Leadership influence

C++ familiarity

Education

BS or MS in CS/EE or related

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:

• As a member of our team, you will use your design abilities, coding expertise, and creativity to deliver the best Compute platform in the world. You will craft elegant solutions to exciting problems and craft the future direction of CUDA as you collaborate with your peers across NVIDIA.
• 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.

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 October 18, 2026. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

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.

Learn more about NVIDIA.