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Driver Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple Inc.

GPU Performance Modeling Driver Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$147.40 - $220.90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

GPU Performance Modeling Driver Engineer Cupertino, California, United States Hardware We are seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and dedicated engineer to join the Platform Architecture GPU ...

Apple

Core Audio System Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

... developer-facing APIs used by both application and driver developers across the ecosystem. We are looking for a self-starter who communicates with clarity and precision, pays close attention to ...

Apple

Core Audio System Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Collaborate with driver, audio stack, and application teams to define and implement new audio features. Own and evolve developer-facing APIs, ensuring they are robust, performant, and intuitive.

Etched

Software Engineer - Performance Profiling

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

We are seeking a highly skilled engineer to design and develop a sophisticated performance analysis ... Implement tracing for host-side API calls (runtime libraries, driver interactions) and system-level ...

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Showing results 21-40

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Driver Developer information

What is the difference between Driver Developer vs Driver Engineer?

AspectDriver DeveloperDriver Engineer
Required CredentialsTypically requires a degree in computer science or software engineering, with knowledge of programming languages like C/C++Similar credentials, often with additional specialization in hardware or embedded systems
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, primarily in tech or automotive industriesHardware labs, embedded systems environments, often collaborating with hardware engineers
Industry UsageAutomotive, consumer electronics, roboticsAutomotive, aerospace, embedded systems
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Driver Developers focus on writing and maintaining software drivers that enable hardware components to communicate with operating systems. Driver Engineers often have a broader role, involving both software development and hardware integration, with a focus on designing and testing drivers for complex systems. While their skills overlap, Driver Developers are more software-centric, whereas Driver Engineers may work more closely with hardware teams.

What are some common challenges faced by driver developers when integrating new hardware with existing operating systems?

Driver Developers often encounter challenges related to hardware compatibility and ensuring stable communication between new devices and established operating systems. Troubleshooting unpredictable behavior and addressing low-level bugs can require extensive debugging and collaboration with hardware vendors. Additionally, Driver Developers must stay updated with operating system changes and security best practices to maintain performance and reliability. Working closely with QA engineers and other software teams is essential to ensure seamless integration and minimal user disruption.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a driver developer?

To thrive as a Driver Developer, you need strong programming skills in C/C++, a solid grasp of operating system internals, and experience with hardware-software integration, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with kernel development tools, debugging utilities (such as WinDbg or GDB), and source control systems is typically required, along with knowledge of specific platforms like Windows or Linux. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring reliable, efficient, and secure communication between hardware and software, directly impacting system stability and performance.

What is a driver developer?

Driver Developers are software engineers who specialize in creating and maintaining device drivers, which are programs that allow the operating system and software applications to communicate with hardware devices. Their work ensures that hardware components like graphics cards, printers, and network adapters function correctly with different operating systems. Driver Developers need a strong understanding of low-level programming, hardware interfaces, and operating system internals. They often use languages like C or C++ and work closely with hardware manufacturers to optimize device performance and compatibility.

What are popular job titles related to Driver Developer jobs in California?

For Driver Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Driver Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Driver Developer jobs in California are:

Driver Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Driver Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Principal Graphics Developer Tools Engineer

Nvidia Corporation

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Nvidia rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 244 rated software companies

Job description

The Graphics Developer Tools team is seeking an exceptional technical leader to help shape the future of graphics development. This role spans multiple areas of NVIDIA's graphics software ecosystem, driving innovation across developer tools, graphics technologies, and next-generation development workflows. You will create and lead new strategic initiatives, partnering closely with NVIDIA Research, GPU Architecture, Driver, SDK, and Developer Technology teams to evaluate emerging technologies, prototype new ideas, and deliver solutions that improve how developers build, debug, profile, and optimize graphics applications. This is a hands-on technical leadership role emphasizing vision, execution, influence, and collaboration. Success in this role comes from technical excellence and the ability to align teams around ambitious ideas.
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Define and implement the technical vision and strategy for next-generation developer tools, workflows, and technologies that improve developer productivity.
  • Design and prototype new tools that can evolve into production-ready software.
  • Collaborate with GPU architects, driver engineers, SDK teams, and graphics developers to understand future needs and influence product direction.
  • Drive technical initiatives across multiple organizations through collaboration and technical leadership.
  • Mentor engineers and help establish engineering excellence within the larger Developer Tools organization.
  • Engage with external developers, game studios, engine teams, and strategic partners to understand real-world workflows and pain points.
  • Represent NVIDIA at industry events, technical conferences, and developer engagements.
  • Influence the evolution of graphics development as AI increasingly transforms how software is built, optimized, and maintained.

What We Need To See:
  • BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 15+ years of experience developing graphics software, developer tools, game engines, GPU technologies, or related systems.
  • Deep understanding of modern graphics APIs including DirectX, Vulkan, or Metal.
  • Strong C++ software engineering skills and experience building large-scale software systems.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership driving complex projects across multiple teams.
  • Experience designing software architectures and influencing technical direction beyond a single codebase.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering, research, product, and external developer communities.
  • Proven ability to thrive in ambiguous environments and transform ideas into shipped products.

Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd:
  • Expertise in GPU architecture, memory systems, performance analysis, or graphics debugging.
  • Experience with ray tracing technologies, neural rendering, or advanced rendering techniques using Vulkan or D3D12.
  • Experience developing profilers, debuggers, validation tools, or SDKs.
  • Experience applying machine learning or generative AI techniques to software development workflows.
  • Contributions to game engines, graphics middleware, graphics SDKs, or open-source graphics projects.

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world's most desirable employers with some of the most forward-thinking and hardworking people in the world working here. If you're highly technical and enthusiastic about 3D Graphics, we want to hear from you! For two decades, we have pioneered visual computing, the art and science of computer graphics. With our invention of the GPU - the engine of modern visual computing - the field has expanded to encompass video games, movie production, product design, medical diagnosis and scientific research. Today, we stand at the beginning of the next era, the AI computing era, ignited by a new computing model, GPU deep learning.
Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 272,000 USD - 431,250 USD.
You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until June 20, 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.

What Nvidia employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

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 tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993

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