Senior Research Scientist, Rendering

Nvidia Corporation; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 224,000 - 356,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Nvidia Corporation is seeking a Senior Research Scientist for Rendering/Path Tracing to innovate in real-time graphics. In this role, you will develop and implement advanced rendering algorithms, collaborating with teams to bring your ideas to life.

Your expertise should include a PhD or equivalent experience, along with over 10 years in rendering technology, and a strong coding skill set including C/C++. This position is located in Redmond, WA and offers competitive benefits and equity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a graduate student, industry or academic researcher, or rendering engineer.
• Strong publication record and leadership roles on shipped renderers in games or VFX.
• Track record of making code performant and efficient.
• Deep understanding of rendering theory, sampling, and graphics systems.

Responsibilities

• Brainstorming, inventing, publishing, and productizing novel methods for path-traced imagery.
• Implementing prototypes of research ideas.
• Transferring successful ideas to NVIDIA product teams.
• Collaborating with researchers and external academics.
• Defining team research topics, goals, and guiding other researchers.

Skills

Advanced rendering algorithms

C/C++ programming

GPU programming models

Parallel programming

Python

Education

PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field

Job description

Overview

We are now seeking a Senior Research Scientist for Rendering/Path Tracing. For decades NVIDIA has pioneered visual computing, supporting product design, movie production, PC games, scientific research, and more. As an NVIDIAN on the Real-Time Graphics research team, you’ll contribute to the future of rendering innovation, addressing problems customers never imagined solvable.

We are looking for a Senior Research Scientist passionate about defining the next generation of real-time path tracing, physically based sampling and lighting, denoising, and related systems challenges. You should have rendering theory knowledge and enjoy digging into code to bring ideas to life. We aim to combine theoretical advances, practical engineering, intuitive leaps, and AI techniques.

What you’ll be doing

• Brainstorming, inventing, publishing, and productizing novel methods to accelerate or improve the quality of path-traced imagery.
• Implementing prototypes of your research ideas.
• Transferring successful ideas to NVIDIA product teams.
• Collaborating with NVIDIA researchers, engineers, and external academics.
• Helping define team research topics, goals, and guiding other researchers and interns.

What we need to see

• Demonstrated experience developing advanced rendering algorithms. PhD (or equivalent experience) and strong publication record, leadership roles on shipped renderers in games or VFX, or widely respected and referenced public presentations sharing your insights.
• 10+ years of combined experience as a graduate student, industry or academic researcher, rendering engineer, or applied researcher.
• Track record of high-quality artifacts containing your work — shipped games, films, or publications/presentations on path tracing, sampling, lighting, denoising, etc.
• Track record of making code performant, efficient, and (ideally) real-time.
• Deep understanding of rendering theory, sampling, and graphics systems.
• Strong coding skills with knowledge of C/C++, GPU programming models, parallel programming, and Python.

Ways to stand out from the crowd

• Understanding of and interest in advancing sampling algorithms, e.g., ReSTIR.
• Track record of research ideation and/or tech transfer of productized research.
• Clear understanding of rendering challenges in games and/or film.
• Familiarity with how GPUs work and how that impacts performant code.

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the world’s most desirable employers, with talented people across the company. If you’re an experienced and creative researcher or engineer with a passion for real-time graphics, we want to hear from you!

Compensation and benefits

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Application and hiring details

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until June 13, 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.