Director Research Computing Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology and amazing people. Today, we're harnessing the boundless possibilities of AI to build the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brain of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Accomplishing unprecedented goals calls for imagination, inventiveness, and exceptional talent from around the world. As a NVIDIAN, you'll be immersed in a diverse, encouraging environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Join our team and discover how you can build a lasting impact on the world. NVIDIA designs the silicon behind AI, accelerated computing, and graphics. Power and thermal architecture decisions sit behind every watt of performance and every degree of thermal headroom!

We are the Silicon Co-Design Group (SCG). We are hiring a Principal Architect to scout the research and industry landscape, identify emerging system-level co-design ideas in power and thermal, and drive them across teams into product differentiation across NVIDIA's roadmap. This role shapes system, platform, and datacenter feature/behavior, and partners with teams across Nvidia. SCG scope spans across architecture, design, software, operations, platforms, and productization.

Architect next-generation system, platform, and datacenter-level power and thermal co-design solutions. Scan internal research, academia, standards bodies, and silicon, memory, packaging, and platform partners for what is emerging. Build the product differentiation case for each candidate idea, performance, power, reliability, schedule, cost, and brainstorm what is worth pursuing. Lead end-to-end co-design from concept to product. Drive alignment across architecture, VLSI, software, platform, packaging, and operations teams to land selected technologies in production. Shape innovation across workload-aware power and thermal controls, closed-loop platform telemetry, datacenter-class power compliance, platform-scale energy buffering, advanced cooling intercepts, and emerging memory co-design. Maintain a living intercept pipeline. Track candidates, productization status, decision gates, and product axes. Brief SCG and broader NVIDIA leadership on what is next. Collaborate with system architects, platform and software engineers, manufacturing partners, and external researchers to bring next-generation products to market.

BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience. 15+ years in system-level power, thermal, or related architecture, with deep expertise in at least one of: system power management, system thermal architecture, platform energy architecture, workload-aware power and thermal controls, or memory co-design. External technical recognition, premier publications, patents, or industry standards contributions, and active contributions to standards bodies, consortia, or external technical communities. Track record of taking research-grade ideas through system co-design and into measurable product impact. Demonstrated multi-functional influence in aligning teams across the company without direct reporting authority. Excellent problem-solving, partnership, and social skills.

Curious about turning research into a production system co-design? Here is what makes a strong candidate. PhD or equivalent experience with sustained research contributions after entering industry. Machine learning or data-driven techniques applied to system power, thermal modeling, or design-space exploration. Background in system reliability and variability, managing aging based on usage patterns, RAS, lifecycle management, and the intersection with power and thermal. Hands-on familiarity with emerging memory technologies, including advanced HBM and stacked memory. Active contributions to standards bodies, consortia, or external technical communities.

As a member of the team, you will thrive on solving problems no one else can solve. Your decisions will not just shape a program, but also the technology’s trajectory. NVIDIA is widely considered one of the technology world’s most desirable employers, home to some of the most forward-thinking engineers in the industry. If you close the failures others can’t, build teams that outlast your programs, and make the next ramp better because of what you learned, we want to hear from you.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 232,000 USD - 368,000 USD. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until August 29, 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.

NVIDIA pioneered accelerated computing. Today, our AI infrastructure powers global intelligence, transforming every industry. Learn more about NVIDIA.