About the role#
NVIDIA Research is looking for PhD students to join our team for a summer internship. You will work at the intersection of AI hardware-software co-design, accelerator architecture, and VLSI design. We look for candidates with an interest in machine learning fundamentals, numerical methods for model optimization, and digital circuits for computer arithmetic.
What you'll do#
- Advance the design of accelerators for AI and other high-impact workloads.
- Research innovative ASIC and VLSI design techniques or new digital VLSI circuits.
- Apply machine learning and agentic AI to automated ASIC and VLSI design tool flows.
- Develop numerical methods for quantization, sparsity, or tensor decomposition.
- Collaborate with AI researchers and hardware teams on research prototype testchips.
- Document, publish, and present your original research.
What you'll need#
- Current pursuit of a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- A record of publications in leading ML, architecture, VLSI, or circuits conferences.
- Programming proficiency in Python, PyTorch, and hardware design languages like SystemVerilog or C++.
- Experience with modern EDA tool flows and hardware design.
- Strong communication skills with a history of presenting technical work.
- High self-motivation and a collaborative approach to research.
- Experience with High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools or tapeouts is a plus.
Location & details#
- Location: Santa Clara, California.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment: Full-time internship.
- Compensation: 38 USD to 94 USD per hour, depending on experience and education.
About NVIDIA
NVIDIA operates as a computer hardware manufacturer based in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 1993, the company focuses on accelerated computing and graphics technology. It produces hardware for markets including artificial intelligence, gaming, and data centers. The organization employs over 50,000 people and maintains a global presence.
How to get in at NVIDIA
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at NVIDIA because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can apply among the first before the pile grows. Getting your resume in front of a human early is often the difference between a screening call and a rejection. You can use Intern Insider to surface the recruiters behind NVIDIA roles to reach out directly. Asking a recruiter about the role or a referral materially improves your response rates compared to submitting into a general queue. It is a simple way to make your application stand out in a competitive process.


