Principal Architect, System Software

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Architect, System Software - Orbital Data Center. Location: Santa Clara, California, USA (Remote - US)

Own the end-to-end software architecture for Space-1 and future Orbital Data Center platforms.
Architect system software layers spanning applications, libraries, firmware, operating systems, drivers, telemetry, and AI infrastructure.
Define software interfaces, system partitioning, and architectural trade-offs across silicon, hardware, firmware, operating systems, and AI workloads.
Lead architecture decisions that ensure long-term reliability and resilience for orbital deployments.

Design software systems capable of operating autonomously in low-Earth orbit environments.
Develop strategies for fault tolerance, recovery, redundancy, and long-term operational stability.
Architect radiation-tolerant software behaviors including:
- ECC handling
- Memory scrubbing
- Latch-up mitigation
- Deterministic recovery
- Graceful degradation

Define fleet-wide manageability architecture for orbital data centers.
Design remote bring-up, in-orbit firmware updates, and recovery workflows.
Implement telemetry and monitoring solutions for orbital deployments ranging from small constellations to millions of nodes.
Drive implementation of management protocols including:
- Redfish
- MCTP
- PLDM

Partner with hardware architecture teams to align software and hardware strategies.
Collaborate with cloud and constellation operators to translate mission requirements into software architecture.
Work closely with platform, mechanical, firmware, and bring-up teams.
Drive quality, reliability, and performance of deployed orbital data center software.

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
15+ years of experience in system software architecture and platform development.
Experience spanning:
- Compute libraries
- BMC firmware
- BIOS
- Operating systems
- Device drivers
- Platform manageability
Experience building AI infrastructure and large-scale computing systems.
Strong understanding of:
- Server architecture
- Data center management
- Firmware and OS integration
- Accelerator software stacks
Knowledge of hardware management interfaces including:
- USB
- SMBus/I2C
- PCIe
Experience with Redfish, MCTP, and PLDM protocols.
Strong programming skills in:
- C/C++
- Python
Experience with Git, Perforce, Jira, or similar development tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred:

Experience developing software systems for:
- Space platforms
- Aerospace systems
- Defense systems
- Radiation-tolerant environments
Knowledge of:
- SEU/SEFI mitigation
- ECC strategies
- TID/SEE qualification
- Rad-hard design methodologies
Experience with autonomous and remote infrastructure management.
Hands-on experience with:
- x86 architectures
- ARM/Grace architectures
- NVIDIA CUDA ecosystem
- DCGM
- DOCA/OFED
- GPU drivers
- DGX OS
Familiarity with:
- NSA PHIPs security requirements
- Post-quantum networking
- VPX standards
- MIL-STD environmental standards
- NASA EEE-INST-002
Experience leading large engineering organizations involving 50+ engineers.
Ability to review hardware schematics and PCB layouts.

Base salary range: $272,000 - $431,250 per year.
Eligibility for NVIDIA equity programs.
Comprehensive employee benefits package.
Opportunity to work on next-generation orbital AI infrastructure and space computing systems.
Collaboration with world-class engineering and research teams.

Other Information:

Work Arrangement: Remote (United States).
Job Requisition ID: JR2019010.
NVIDIA uses AI tools as part of its recruitment process;
NVIDIA is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
This position supports the development of NVIDIA's Space-1 Orbital Data Center and future orbital computing platforms designed for AI workloads in space.

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