PhD Research Intern, Architecture – 2027

Location: US, CA, Santa Clara

The NVIDIA Architecture Research Group is seeking an intern to help define the future of GPU and data-center computing. Our research spans GPU microarchitecture, memory systems and memory models, large-scale data-center hardware, emerging accelerators, and the architecture implications of new workloads in AI, scientific computing, robotics, and other rapidly evolving domains. Are you excited about exploring foundational research questions, developing new architectural ideas, and helping translate those ideas into future NVIDIA systems?

In this position, you will apply your knowledge of computer architecture, parallel computing, compilers, runtime systems, and workloads to explore new hardware and hardware–software co-design opportunities. You will work with researchers and product architects to formulate research questions, develop and evaluate architecture concepts, and build the models, simulators, prototypes, and experimental infrastructure needed to test them. Projects may range from mechanisms within a GPU to memory consistency and programmability, rack- and data-center-scale architectures, and specialized hardware for emerging applications.

You should have a strong foundation in computer architecture and parallel systems, an ability to work across hardware and software boundaries, and experience with some combination of architecture modeling, simulation, workload analysis, compilers, runtime systems, or CPU/GPU programming. You should also be comfortable building robust research prototypes and communicating the insights produced by your work. NVIDIA pioneered programmable GPUs and CUDA and continues to shape the future of accelerated computing. This position offers an opportunity to conduct ambitious research and have a direct impact on future products.

What you’ll be doing

Investigate new architecture concepts for future GPUs, memory systems, accelerators, and data-center-scale computing platforms.

Study emerging workloads and identify the architectural bottlenecks and opportunities they create.

Explore hardware–software co-design across architecture, compilers, runtime systems, programming models, and applications.

Develop models, simulators, prototypes, and experimental tools to evaluate new architecture ideas.

Research new approaches to memory hierarchy, coherence, consistency, data movement, and system-level programmability.

Collaborate with NVIDIA researchers, GPU architects, software teams, and product groups to develop and evaluate promising concepts.

Clearly communicate research findings through presentations, technical reports, and potentially research publications.

Help transfer successful research ideas, methodologies, and tools into NVIDIA product teams.

What we need to see

Pursuing PhD Degree in relevant discipline(s) (CS, CE, EE, Physics, Math).

Relevant industrial and University experience. Relevant industries include hardware, software, and algorithm development in PC or workstation graphics, digital video or image processing, video game or console, cell phones or consumer electronics, rendering software, and computing.

Strong programming ability in C/C++, and scripting languages.

Experience as a CUDA programmer.

Background with building computer system simulators.

Experience building efficient low-level software tools such as runtime systems, binary translators, or compilers.

Strong background in computer architecture and parallel computer architectures.

Ways to stand out from the crowd

Prior research experience and/or research publications at ISCA/MICRO/ASPLOS/HPCA/MLSYS

Versatile in using generative AI coding tools

Versatile in using GPU profiling tools and running DL models on GPUs

NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking and hardworking people in the world working for us. Are you creative and independently driven? Do you love a challenge? Come join our Architecture Research Group and help us invent the future of Computing.

Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay based on the position, your location, year in school, degree, and experience. The hourly rate for our interns is 38 USD - 94 USD.

You will also be eligible for Intern benefits. ​

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until September 21, 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.