AI Insights
NVIDIA

Senior Software Engineer, Profiling Services

NVIDIA · Santa Clara, California, US
full-timesenior (5-12 yrs)Posted 23d ago
Software EngineeringIC3ICOn-siteVisa SponsoredRelocation
StackCC++CUDAGPU architectureCUPTINsightPyTorchJAXXLAPerformance countersTracingConcurrencyMemory managementOperating systemsDriver developmentCUDA streamsCUDA graphsPerformance engineeringEvent correlationComputer architecture

Summary

Build an always-on, low-overhead GPU profiling service at NVIDIA that runs in production across cluster environments, delivering actionable performance insights for ML workloads via system-level C/C++ development spanning drivers, CUDA, and user-mode components.

About the role

Help build an Always-On, low-overhead GPU profiling service that runs in production, scales across cluster environments, and delivers actionable insights for ML workloads. You will be hands-on delivering our profiling solutions across system software, drivers, and CUDA to make profiling continuously available and reliable.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Develop low-overhead, high-reliability implementations in C/C++, with bounded CPU/memory budgets.

  • Lead end-to-end feature delivery spanning user-mode components, driver/platform layers, and performance counter/trace providers.

  • Establish profiling models that integrate with existing ML/AI workflows (e.g., PyTorch/XLA) to turn low-level signals into actionable insights.

What we need to see:

  • BS or MS degree or equivalent experience in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related degree.

  • 5+ years of system-level C/C++ development, including concurrency, memory management, and performance engineering.

  • Familiarity with system software design, operating systems fundamentals, computer architectures, performance analysis, and delivering production-quality software.

  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication; able to influence across organizations and build trust with external collaborators.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Extensive experience with profiling/tracing stacks for CPU/GPU (e.g., CUPTI, Nsight, performance counters, event correlation) and debugging highly concurrent systems.

  • Deep hands-on knowledge of CUDA and GPU architecture, including runtime/driver APIs, CUDA streams/graphs, and kernel behavior.

  • Track record building continuous, always-on, or multi-client profiling systems designed for predictable overhead at scale.

  • Hands-on experience tuning ML training/inference loops based on deep profiling analysis, with familiarity in ML ecosystems (e.g., PyTorch, JAX) and correlating application events with GPU metrics to translate data into actionable performance insights (e.g., bottleneck triage, compute vs. memory bound).

  • Experience with user-mode driver development and integration within platform security and permissions models.

What you'll do

1Develop low-overhead, high-reliability profiling implementations in C/C++ with bounded CPU and memory budgets
2Lead end-to-end feature delivery spanning user-mode components, driver/platform layers, and performance counter/trace providers
3Establish profiling models that integrate with ML/AI workflows (e.g., PyTorch/XLA) to convert low-level GPU signals into actionable insights
4Build and maintain always-on, multi-client profiling systems designed for predictable overhead at cluster scale
5Tune ML training and inference loops through deep profiling analysis, correlating application events with GPU metrics
6Collaborate across organizations to build trust with external teams and influence system software direction

Requirements

5+ years of system-level C/C++ development with expertise in concurrency, memory management, and performance engineering
Solid grounding in OS fundamentals, computer architecture, and production-quality system software design
Ability to lead end-to-end feature delivery across user-mode, driver/platform, and performance counter/trace layers
Experience integrating profiling or performance models with ML/AI frameworks such as PyTorch or XLA
Strong cross-organizational communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate externally

Nice to have

CUPTI
Nsight
GPU performance counters
CUDA runtime/driver APIs
CUDA streams
CUDA graphs
JAX
PyTorch
XLA
Always-on profiling system design
User-mode driver development
ML training/inference loop tuning
Bottleneck triage
Compute vs. memory bound analysis

Role overview

Role family
Software Engineering
Level
IC3 — platform
Experience
5–12 years
Type
Individual Contributor
Remote policy
On-site
Visa sponsorship
Available

Tech stack analysis

LANGUAGES
CC++Python (inferred via ML ecosystem)
FRAMEWORKS
PyTorchJAXXLA
INFRASTRUCTURE
CUDA runtimeGPU driver stackPerformance countersCUPTINsight SystemsCluster environments
TOOLS
CUPTINsightCUDA streamsCUDA graphsPerformance counter/trace providers

Salary estimate

$200K – $290K
AI-estimated salary range
Confidence78%
Reasoning

NVIDIA is a top-tier semiconductor company known for highly competitive compensation. For a Senior SWE with 5+ years in systems/CUDA at Santa Clara HQ, total cash (base + bonus) typically ranges $200K–$290K, with additional RSU grants that can push total comp significantly higher. Benchmarked against Levels.fyi data for NVIDIA Senior SWE roles in the Santa Clara Bay Area.

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Green flags

5 items
Role sits at the intersection of GPU systems, CUDA internals, and ML infrastructure — a rare, high-impact area with strong long-term career trajectorygrowth

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Benefits breakdown

HEALTH & WELLNESS
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance

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Hiring insights

JD quality
8/10
Urgency
medium
Autonomy
high
Team size
small (2-5)

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Red flags

PRO3 items
No salary range disclosed — candidates must negotiate blind, which can disadvantage those unfamiliar with NVIDIA comp bandscompensation

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Interview insights

PRO
Rounds
5
Duration
4 wks
Difficulty
very hard
Take-home
No

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Career path

PRO
Next roles
Staff Software Engineer, GPU SystemsPrincipal Engineer, Profiling & PerformanceEngineering Manager, Developer Tools

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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
Interview difficultyvery hard
Build vs Maintainbuild
Cross-functionalYes