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Windows Driver Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Windows Driver Developer information

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$59.7K

$133.2K

$220.6K

How much do windows driver developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for windows driver developer in California is $133,202.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,600.00 and $157,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges faced by Windows Driver Developers in their day-to-day work?

Windows Driver Developers commonly encounter challenges such as debugging low-level kernel issues, ensuring compatibility across different hardware configurations, and maintaining system stability while integrating new drivers. They must often troubleshoot complex interactions between hardware, the Windows operating system, and other software components, which can require deep diagnostic skills and careful attention to system logs. Collaborating with hardware engineers, QA testers, and other software developers is usually a regular part of the job to ensure seamless functionality and address issues quickly. Despite these challenges, the role offers opportunities to work on technically interesting problems and contribute to high-impact system components.

What is a Windows Driver Developer job?

A Windows Driver Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining device drivers that enable hardware components to communicate with the Windows operating system. They work with low-level programming languages like C and C++, using frameworks such as the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Their role often involves debugging, optimizing performance, and ensuring compatibility with different Windows versions. These developers collaborate with hardware engineers and software teams to ensure seamless hardware functionality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Windows Driver Developer position, and why are they important?

A Windows Driver Developer should have strong proficiency in C/C++ programming, solid knowledge of Windows operating system internals, and experience with kernel-mode software development. Familiarity with tools like Visual Studio, Windows Driver Kit (WDK), and version control systems, as well as certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Developer Associate, are highly valued. Attention to detail, effective problem-solving, and the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly are crucial soft skills for the role. These skills enable developers to create robust, secure, and high-performance drivers that integrate seamlessly with complex hardware and software ecosystems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Windows Driver Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Windows Driver Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Windows Driver Developer jobs in California? For Windows Driver Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Windows Driver Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Windows Driver Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Windows Driver Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Windows Driver Developer job openings:
Windows Driver Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Windows Driver Developer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $133,202 per year, or $64 per hour.
Windows Driver Validation Engineer supporting Nvidia

Windows Driver Validation Engineer supporting Nvidia

Sustainable Talent

Santa Clara, CA

$50 - $80/hr

Other

PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Sustainable Talent is partnering with Nvidia a global leader who's been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for over 25 years. We are looking for a Windows Driver Validation Engineer to support our client's team onsite in Santa Clara, CA. 

This is a full-time (W-2) 6 month contract role. We offer competitive pay $50/hr - $80/hr based on factors like experience, education, location, etc. and provide full benefits, PTO, and amazing company culture!

In this role you will be responsible for test and analysis of issues across internal and OEM Windows platform configurations. The role ensures CI/CD quality, Windows driver compliance, OEM readiness (HLK/WHQL where applicable), and release readiness across system-level builds.

Key Responsibilities:

Device Setup & Configuration: Flash Windows OS builds onto boards and OEM devices; install and validate SoC, GPU, USB, display, and platform drivers; configure Windows debugging tools (e.g., WinDbg/KDNET); enable and collect crash dumps and system logs.

Perform Windows system-level and driver-level validation across functional, stress, power management (Modern Standby, S3/S4), and performance scenarios.

Investigate Windows system crashes (e.g., BSOD), analyze memory dumps and Windows event logs, and support root cause analysis in collaboration with driver and platform teams.

Develop and execute automated and manual test plans across internal and OEM Windows configurations, validating multiple driver and software build versions.

Conduct exploratory testing to identify subsystem-level issues (USB, display, PCIe, power management, etc.).

Triage internal and OEM defects; reproduce failures, collect logs and crash dumps, document findings, and track issue resolution through release readiness.

Work closely with BSP, driver, OEM QA, and automation teams to ensure CI/CD build stability, validation coverage, and certification readiness (HLK/WHQL where applicable).

Prepare detailed test execution reports and communicate validation results to internal and external stakeholders.

Skillset:

5-8 years of Windows system-level or driver-level testing experience (application-level QA experience alone is not sufficient).

Hands-on experience with Windows platform validation, driver installation, and driver debugging.

Proficiency using Windows debugging tools such as WinDbg or KDNET; experience analyzing crash dumps, memory dumps, and Windows event logs.

Strong understanding of Windows power management, including Modern Standby, ACPI, and S3/S4 sleep states.

Experience configuring UEFI/BIOS settings and flashing Windows OS builds onto hardware platforms.

Demonstrated experience in defect triage, log analysis, reproduction of issues, and root cause support.

Experience working with CI/CD pipelines supporting Windows builds and regression validation.

Familiarity with Windows Driver Kit (WDK), HLK/WHQL certification processes, or OEM device validation is strongly preferred.

Experience validating USB4, DisplayPort (DP) tunneling, PCIe, or platform drivers is a plus.

Sustainable Talent is a M/F+, disabled, and veteran equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.

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