Six Figure Work

Senior System Software Engineer, Vulkan Performance

NVIDIA

Company websitenvidia.com (NVIDIA, opens in new tab)

Base salary $152,000  to $287,500

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Santa Clara, CA +1 more

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  • LocationSanta Clara, CA +1 more
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (1 h ago) · observed since
All places named
  • Santa Clara, CA
  • Seattle, WA

About this job

As a Vulkan Performance driver engineer, you will have a hand in everything from the game engine down to bare metal! You will be part of a team whose mission it is to achieve the best possible performance, power-efficiency, and latency for the latest games and creative applications. You'll work with some of the brightest minds in the field of computer graphics and high-performance processor design.

What you will be doing:

  • Diagnosing GPU and CPU performance bottlenecks in Vulkan and Proton titles.

  • Identifying changes to API usage to improve performance and communicating via appropriate channels with third-party developers.

  • Implementing driver performance improvements and resolving driver defects.

  • Collaborating with engineers on the team and across NVIDIA.

  • Developing a driver that leads the industry in quality and performance.

What we need to see:

  • Hold a B.S. or higher degree in Computer Science/Engineering or similar field or equivalent experience

  • 5+ years of experience (or equivalent) in graphics software, system programming, or related field.

  • An understanding of graphics fundamentals, experience with operating systems and a solid understanding of computer architecture is required

  • Comfortable with Vulkan, OpenGL or DirectX

  • Strong programming skills in C and C++, familiarity with assembly code

  • Experience in developing highly optimized code

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

  • Strong interest and background in 3D graphics

  • Working experience inside operating system kernels and device drivers

  • Ability to think creatively to debug and solve complex, hard to reproduce problems

  • A strong standout colleague; self-motivated with strong interpersonal skills

  • Ability and flexibility to work and communicate effectively in a multinational, multi-time zone corporate environment

With competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and talented people in the world working for us and, due to unprecedented growth, our elite engineering teams are rapidly growing. If you're a creative and autonomous engineer with a real passion for technology, we want to hear from you.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and other objective job-related factors. The expected base salary ranges for this position are:
152,000 USD – 241,500 USD for Level 3; and 184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 3, 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.

Source: NVIDIA on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($152,000) is above 28% of the 4,208 Software Engineering roles in California listed on this site; 84 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $176,550; the middle half runs from $149,365 to $204,000.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 5, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live NVIDIA roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live NVIDIA roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Senior System Software Engineer, Vulkan Performance (this listing)$152,000 - $287,500
Senior Networking Architect$152,000 - $287,500
Solutions Architect, AI and ML$152,000 - $287,500
Infrastructure Solutions Architect - OEM$152,000 - $287,500
Senior Software Engineer, CUTLASS Performance$152,000 - $287,500
Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Systems Engineer, EDA Infrastructure$152,000 - $287,500
Senior Graphics Driver Engineer$152,000 - $241,500

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All NVIDIA roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-10-30
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: US, CA, Santa Clara • US, WA, Seattle (Levels 3-4 combined)

152,000 USD – 241,500 USD for Level 3; and 184,000 USD – 287,500 USD for Level 4.

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.