RTL Power Optimization Engineer – New College Grad 2026

NVIDIA Corporation; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

NVIDIA Corporation in Santa Clara, CA is hiring for a power optimization role focused on pre-silicon RTL and AI-driven techniques for GPUs and networking chips. You will collaborate with Architects, RTL designers, software engineers, and ASIC teams to study and reduce energy consumption across workloads.

The position requires strong Python skills, ML-enabled EDA approaches, and experience with PowerArtist/PrimeTime PX.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Understanding RTL power optimization fundamentals: switching activity, clock/enable efficiency.
• Knowledge of backend flows: logic synthesis, place-and-route, and impact on post-layout power.
• Familiarity with RTL low-power techniques and trade-offs (clock gating, operand isolation, power gating).
• Exposure to industry power analysis tools (PowerArtist, PrimeTime PX) and interpreting reports.

Responsibilities

• Use internal and industry RTL power analysis tools to improve product power efficiency.
• Use AI to deliver RTL and Architecture Power optimization solutions.
• Develop and share best practices for pre-silicon power analysis.
• Perform comparative power analysis to spot trends and anomalies.
• Interact with architects and RTL designers to interpret power data and drive fixes.
• Select and run workloads for power analysis.
• Prototype a new architectural feature in Verilog and analyze power.

Skills

Python programming

Strong analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

MS in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PowerArtist

PrimeTime PX

Verilog

EDA tools

Job description

Today, NVIDIA is 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, encouraging environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how we can make a lasting impact on the world. Our team is privileged to work on Power Optimization of Data center, gaming and automotive GPU chips. We also work on power optimization of Networking chips. The gamut of GPUs and networking chips requires the team to provide architecture, micro-architecture, RTL Design, methodology and AI based power optimization solutions. You will collaborate with Architects, Performance Engineers, Software Engineers, ASIC Design Engineers, and Physical Design teams to study and implement power analysis and reduction techniques for NVIDIA's next generation GPUs and Networking products. Your contributions will help us gain early insight into energy consumption of graphics and artificial intelligence workloads, and will allow us to influence architectural, design, and power management improvements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Use internally developed tools and industry standard pre-silicon gate-level and RTL power analysis tools, to help improve product power efficiency.
• Use artificial intelligence to devliver RTL and/or Architecture Power optimization solutions.
• Develop and share best practices for performing pre-silicon power analysis.
• Perform comparative power analysis, to spot trends and anomalies, that warrant more scrutiny.
• Interact with architects and RTL designers to help them interpret their power data and identify power bugs; drive them to implement fixes.
• Select and run a wide variety of workloads for power analysis.
• Prototype a new architectural feature in Verilog and analyze power.

What We Need To See

• Pursuing or recently completed a MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields with coursework or experience in AI, Digital Design and VLSI concepts (or equivalent experience).
• Understanding of RTL power optimization fundamentals, including switching activity, clock/enable efficiency, and common low‑power design patterns at the RTL level.
• Knowledge of backend flows such as logic synthesis and place‑and‑route, and how RTL decisions impact post‑layout power and timing.
• Familiarity with RTL implementation of low‑power techniques (e.g., clock gating, operand isolation, power gating strategies, multi‑VT usage) and their trade‑offs.
• Exposure to industry power analysis tools such as PowerArtist, PrimeTime PX, or equivalent, including running power analysis and interpreting reports to guide design changes.
• Strong Python programming skills for building automation scripts, data pipelines, and AI/ML‑driven analysis flows for RTL power optimization.
• Coursework and/or hands‑on experience in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, with ability to apply ML techniques to EDA and silicon power problems.
• Previous experience debugging RTL or gate‑level power anomalies by tracing logic cones, examining activity/toggle data, and identifying root‑cause structures or scenarios.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to document methodologies, present power findings, and explain AI/ML‑based insights to both design and tools teams.

The base salary range is 116,000 USD - 189,750 USD for Level 2, and 136,000 USD - 218,500 USD for Level 3.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

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

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