Principal Systems Software Engineer

NVIDIA; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 272,000 - 431,250; Full time

Job summary

NVIDIA is seeking a Sr. Principal Systems Software Engineer for the Apache Spark Acceleration group in Champaign, Illinois.

This role focuses on GPU-accelerated data processing to scale multi-node deployments and reduce cloud costs, with base salary ranging from 272,000 to 431,250 USD. You will develop Java, Scala and CUDA/C++ libraries to accelerate DataFrames, enable iceberg/delta lake interoperability, and collaborate with OSS communities while addressing large-scale distributed processing

Qualifications

• BS, MS or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or closely related field (or equivalent experience).
• 15+ years of work experience in software development.
• Outstanding technical skills in designing and implementing high-quality distributed systems.
• Excellent programming skills in C++, Java, and/or Scala.
• Ability to work with teams across organizational boundaries and geographies.
• Familiarity with the open source data platform ecosystem (Apache Spark, Velox, Presto, Apache Arrow, Apache DataFusion, etc.).
• Highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills.
• Database query optimization is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop Java, Scala and CUDA/C++ libraries to accelerate DataFrames and I/O on Parquet, ORC and JSON.
• Enable interoperability with table formats like Apache Iceberg and Delta Lake, and Unity Catalog metastores.
• Contribute to OSS libraries such as NVIDIA cuDF, CCCL and UCX through discussions and code.

Skills

Java

C++

Scala

Distributed systems

SQL/Query optimization

Education

BS/MS/PhD in CS or related field

Tools

cuDF

CCCL

UCX

Job description

NVIDIA is seeking a Sr. Principal Systems Software Engineer for the Apache Spark Acceleration group. GPU accelerated data processing has moved from proof of concept to production deployments. Enterprises now recognize the need for accelerated computing to handle large data processing needs. Multi-node GPU deployments will reduce cloud computing costs and lower latency batch ETL workloads.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop Java, Scala and CUDA/C++ libraries to accelerate DataFrames and I/O operations on common file formats such as Parquet, ORC and JSON
• Enable interoperability with table formats such as Apache Iceberg and Delta Lake, and metastores such as Unity Catalog
• Work with open source communities to enhance libraries like NVIDIA cuDF, CCCL and UCX through technical discussion and code contributions
• Collaborate with distributed systems teams to craft solutions to distributed processing problems challenges at large scale
• Provide recommendations and feedback to teams regarding decisions surrounding topics such as infrastructure, continuous integration and testing strategy
• Build, test and optimize CUDA/C++ libraries across different platforms

What We Need To See

• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or closely related field (or equivalent experience)
• 15+ years of work experience in software development
• Outstanding technical skills in designing and implementing high-quality distributed systems
• Excellent programming skills in C++, Java, and/or Scala
• Ability to work with teams across organizational boundaries and geographies
• Familiarity with the open source data platform ecosystem (Apache Spark, Velox, Presto, Apache Arrow, Apache DataFusion, etc.). Meaningful contributions to the OSS community a plus.
• Highly motivated with strong interpersonal skills
• Database query optimization is a strong plus

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 July 19, 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.

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