We are now seeking a Senior Research Scientist for Rendering/Path Tracing! For decades NVIDIA has pioneered visual computing, doing innovation for and supporting product design, movie production, PC games, scientific research, and more. Today, NVIDIA leads in practical and efficient real-time path tracing and integrating it into real applications. As an NVIDIAN on the Real-Time Graphics research team, you’ll serve as the “high-beams” of NVIDIA’s rendering innovation, responsible for discovering, defining, and driving the future of the field—inspiring customers by addressing problems they never imagined to be solvable.
We are looking for a Senior Research Scientist passionate to define the next generation of real-time path tracing, physically based sampling and lighting, denoising, and solving related systems challenges. Specifically, we seek both knowledge of rendering theory and someone who relishes digging into code to bring their ideas to life. In today’s world, we cannot afford to leave any tools on the table—we need your help combining theoretical statistical advances, practical engineering, intuitive leaps, and AI techniques.
What you’ll be doing:
- Brainstorming, inventing, publishing, and productizing novel methods to accelerate or improve the quality of path traced imagery.
- Implementing prototypes of your research ideas.
- Transferring successful ideas to NVIDIA product teams.
- Collaborating with fantastic NVIDIA researchers, engineers, and external academics.
- Helping define team research topics, goals, and guiding other researchers and interns.
What we need to see:
- Demonstrated experience developing advanced rendering algorithms. PhD (or equivalent experience) and strong publication record, leadership roles on shipped renderers in games or VFX, or widely respected and referenced public presentations sharing your insights.
- 10+ years of combined experience as a graduate student, industry or academic researcher, rendering engineer, or applied researcher.
- Track record of high-quality artifacts containing your work---shipped games, films, or publications/presentations on path tracing, sampling, lighting, denoising, etc.
- Track record of making code performant, efficient, and (ideally) real-time.
- Deep understanding of rendering theory, sampling, and graphics systems.
- Strong coding skills with knowledge of C/C++, GPU programming models, parallel programming, and Python.
Ways to stand out from the crowd:
- Understanding of and interest in advancing sampling algorithms, e.g., ReSTIR.
- Track record of research ideation and/or tech transfer of productized research.
- Clear understanding of rendering challenges in games and/or film.
- Familiarity with how GPUs work and how that impacts performant code.
NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the world’s most desirable employers, with amazingly talented people across the company. If you're an experienced and creative researcher or engineer with a passion for real-time graphics, 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 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD.
You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until June 13, 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.