AI Insights
NVIDIA

Chip Power Estimation Engineer

NVIDIA · Santa Clara, California, US
full-timemid (4-8 yrs)Posted 22d ago
Hardware EngineeringIC2ICHybrid
StackPythonObject-Oriented ProgrammingVLSIPower EstimationLow Power DesignClock GatingPower GatingDVFSMulti-VTPTPXEPSLeakage Power AnalysisDynamic Power AnalysisSilicon CorrelationDAQOscilloscopeGPU ArchitectureSOC ArchitectureProcess Technology

Summary

NVIDIA is seeking a Power Estimation Engineer to develop architectural power models for GPUs and SOCs, correlate models with silicon data, and optimize power/performance across product lines including AI, gaming, and autonomous vehicles.

About the role

NVIDIA is seeking a passionate, creative, and highly motivated engineer to work on architectural power estimation for the world’s leading GPUs and SOCs. In this position, the responsibility includes development of advanced power models to estimate chip and board power under product driven use cases. You are expected to understand the high-level chip architecture, application use-cases, low power design techniques, process technology aspects which impact dynamic and leakage power, develop the estimation infrastructure, estimate power consumption under various scenarios. You will be working with architecture, design, synthesis, timing, circuit, and post silicon teams to accomplish your tasks.

This position offers the opportunity to have real impact in a dynamic, technology-focused company impacting product lines ranging from consumer graphics to self-driving cars and the growing field of artificial intelligence. We have crafted a team of outstanding people stretching around the globe, whose mission is to push the frontiers of what is possible today and define the platform for the future of computing. At NVIDIA, our employees are passionate about parallel and visual computing. We're united in our quest to transform the way graphics are used to solve some of the most complex problems in computer science. The GPU started out as an engine for simulating human imagination, conjuring up the amazing virtual worlds of video games and Hollywood films. Today, NVIDIA’s GPU simulates human intelligence, running deep learning algorithms and acting as the brain of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. NVIDIA is increasingly known as “the AI computing company.”

What you’ll be doing:

  • Architecture, development and correlation of power estimation models/tools for NVIDIA's chips

  • Help architect and develop power models for use-cases, Idle power and IO power.

  • Chip in to design the tools based on these models and their testing methodology/infrastructures

  • Correlate and Calibrate the power models using measured silicon data

  • Analyze and help decide the chip configuration and process technology options to optimize power/performance for NVIDIA's upcoming chips

  • Help study and contribute to Performance/Watt improvement ideas for NVIDIA's GPUs and SOCs

What we need to see:

  • B.Tech./M.Tech and 4+ years of experience related to Power / Performance estimation and optimization techniques

  • Strong fundamentals in power including transistor-level leakage/dynamic characteristics of VLSI circuits

  • Familiarity with low power design techniques such as multi VT, Clock gating, Power gating, and Dynamic Voltage-Frequency Scaling (DVFS)

  • Strong background in power estimation techniques, flows and algorithms

  • Good programming skills - Python preferred. Good skills with object-oriented programming and design.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Exposure to lab setup including power measurement equipment such as scope/DAQ with ability to analyze board level power issues is a plus

  • Exposure to power analysis EDA tools such as PTPX/EPS

  • Good communication skills & desire to work as a great teammate

With competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the most desirable employers in the world. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

#LI-Hybrid

What you'll do

1Architecture, development, and correlation of power estimation models and tools for NVIDIA chips
2Design and develop power models for use-cases, idle power, and IO power
3Design tools based on power models and develop testing methodologies and infrastructures
4Correlate and calibrate power models using measured silicon data
5Analyze and help decide chip configuration and process technology options for power/performance optimization
6Contribute to Performance/Watt improvement ideas for NVIDIA's GPUs and SOCs
7Collaborate with architecture, design, synthesis, timing, circuit, and post-silicon teams

Requirements

4+ years of experience in chip power/performance estimation and optimization for VLSI/semiconductor systems
Strong fundamentals in transistor-level leakage and dynamic power characteristics of VLSI circuits
Proficiency in low power design techniques including Clock Gating, Power Gating, Multi-VT, and DVFS
Solid background in power estimation techniques, flows, and algorithms with Python programming skills
Ability to correlate and calibrate power models using measured silicon data across chip configurations

Nice to have

PTPX
EPS
Power measurement equipment (scope/DAQ)
Board-level power analysis
Communication skills
Teamwork

Role overview

Role family
Hardware Engineering
Level
IC2 — other
Experience
4–8 years
Type
Individual Contributor
Remote policy
Hybrid
Visa sponsorship
Not offered

Tech stack analysis

LANGUAGES
Python
TOOLS
PTPXEPSDAQOscilloscopeEDA tools

Salary estimate

$150K – $220K
AI-estimated salary range
Confidence78%
Reasoning

NVIDIA is one of the highest-paying semiconductor companies in the US. For a mid-level (4+ years) hardware/chip engineer in Santa Clara, CA, total compensation typically ranges $150K–$220K base salary. NVIDIA's compensation is known to be top-quartile in the industry, and power/performance engineers with VLSI expertise at this seniority level command strong salaries in Silicon Valley. Estimate excludes RSUs and bonuses, which at NVIDIA can significantly increase total comp.

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Green flags

5 items
Broad exposure across multiple product lines: consumer GPUs, AI computing, and autonomous vehicles — strong career development opportunitygrowth

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Benefits breakdown

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Hiring insights

JD quality
7/10
Urgency
medium
Autonomy
high
Team size
medium (5-15)

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Red flags

PRO3 items
No specific salary range disclosed despite California pay transparency laws (SB 1162) generally requiring it for CA-based rolestransparency

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Interview insights

PRO

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Career path

PRO
Next roles
Senior Power Estimation EngineerPower Architecture EngineerStaff SoC Power Engineer

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About the company

NVIDIA is the world's leading designer of GPUs and AI computing platforms. Its chips power everything from gaming and data centers to autonomous vehicles and scientific research. With a market cap exceeding $2 trillion, NVIDIA's CUDA platform and AI accelerators have become the backbone of the global AI revolution.

HQSanta Clara, CA, USA
Build vs Maintainbuild
Cross-functionalYes