Software Engineer - Hardware Diagnostics - New Grad

Nexthop Systems Inc; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

1:1 mentorship

High ownership on projects

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Nexthop Systems Inc in Santa Clara, CA is seeking software engineers to bridge software platform architecture and hardware in a fast-paced AI infrastructure startup.

You will design platform drivers across kernel and user space, drive architectural decisions, collaborate with hardware, software, and mechanical engineering, and push end-to-end system enablement from prototype bring-up to datacenter deployments.

The role emphasizes ownership, curiosity, and direct impact on the tech stack.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/SE/EE or related field.
• Proficiency in Python and C.
• Solid understanding of systems software including embedded and distributed systems.
• Familiarity with schematics and datasheets is a plus.
• Good communication and collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design and write platform driver code across kernel and user space to model, stress, and verify hardware performance.
• Drive architectural decisions for our platform software in a highly collaborative setting.
• Partner cross-functionally with hardware, software, and mechanical engineering teams to build custom test suites for complex designs.
• Engage in end-to-end system enablement, progressing from prototype bring-up to large-scale AI datacenter deployments.
• Take ownership, challenge existing paradigms, and contribute directly to the future of our tech stack.

Skills

Python

C

systems software

embedded systems

distributed systems

communication

ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Software Engineering / Electrical Engineering

Job description

Company Description

As a cutting-edge AI infrastructure startup, we are building high-performance systems that power next-generation, large-scale AI deployments. Our team brings together industry veterans and passionate innovators who thrive in a fast-paced environment, tackling complex technical challenges at the boundary of hardware and software.

Diagnostics Team Details

We are looking for inquisitive software engineers eager to bridge the gap between software platform architecture and physical hardware. Operating as a vital group within our software organization, our team rapidly iterates to validate hardware—from early prototype bring-up to full datacenter deployment—using an industry-leading software framework. Strong problem-solving skills, rapid adaptability, and enthusiasm for collaborative engineering are at the core of what we value.

Job Responsibilities

• Design and write platform driver code across kernel and user space to model, stress, and verify hardware performance.
• Drive architectural decisions for our platform software in a highly collaborative setting.
• Partner cross-functionally with hardware, software, and mechanical engineering teams to build custom test suites for complex designs.
• Engage in end-to-end system enablement, progressing from prototype bring-up to large-scale AI datacenter deployments.
• Help shape our startup culture—take ownership, challenge existing paradigms, and contribute directly to the future of our tech stack.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related field
• Proficiency in Python, C
• Solid understanding of systems software, including embedded systems and distributed systems
• Familiarity with schematics/component datasheets
• Familiarity with L2 networking protocols is a plus.
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team
• Confidence to both ask questions and take ownership of your projects

What We Offer

• Direct 1:1 mentorship from industry veterans passionate about accelerating your early-career technical growth.
• High ownership of high-impact projects tailored to your interests and expertise, with immediate visibility and impact across teams.
• A supportive, highly collaborative culture that encourages continuous learning, curiosity, and creative problem-solving.