Research Scientist, AI Accelerator Design and Vlsi - New College Grad 2026

NVIDIA NVIDIA · Semiconductors · Santa Clara, CA

Research Scientist role focused on AI Accelerator Design and VLSI, involving AI HW/SW Co-Design, quantization, and applying generative AI to hardware design. Requires a PhD and experience in VLSI, computer architecture, or numerical algorithms for AI. Collaborates on research prototypes and publishes findings.

What you'd actually do

  1. AI Accelerator Hardware: Contribute to novel research advancing the state-of-the-art in AI accelerator design.
  2. VLSI: Research creative and innovative ASIC and VLSI design techniques and/or novel digital VLSI circuits. Apply machine learning, generative AI, and innovative tools and methodologies to automated ASIC and VLSI design tool flows.
  3. AI HW/SW Co-Design: Research and develop creative and innovative numerical methods for quantization, sparsity, or tensor decomposition grounded in computer arithmetic fundamentals and digital VLSI circuits.
  4. Collaborate on the development of research prototype testchips.
  5. Collaborate with AI researchers and hardware team members in research and product teams.

Skills

Required

  • PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field
  • VLSI Implementation Skills
  • Hardware design experience
  • Proficiency with modern EDA tool flows
  • Proficiency in at least two of Python, PyTorch, C++, SystemVerilog, or CUDA
  • Publications in top circuit, architecture, and/or AI/ML venues
  • PhD research experience in VLSI, computer architecture, or numerical algorithms for AI model HW/SW co-design
  • Excellent self-motivation
  • High degree of creativity
  • Passion for research
  • Collaboration skills
  • Ability to work effectively within a research team
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Proven experience communicating technical work

Nice to have

  • Quantization
  • Sparsity
  • Tensor decomposition
  • Computer arithmetic fundamentals
  • Digital VLSI circuits
  • Generative AI to hardware design
  • AI hardware micro-architecture

What the JD emphasized

  • PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
  • Publications in top circuit, architecture, and/or AI/ML venues
  • PhD research experience in either VLSI (e.g., digital VLSI circuits and chip design methodologies), computer architecture, and/or numerical algorithms for AI model HW/SW co-design.

Other signals

  • AI Hardware Accelerator Architecture
  • VLSI Design
  • AI HW/SW Co-Design
  • Quantization
  • Generative AI for Hardware Design