- A software engineer at Nvidia in India reveals how he got the job and details his compensation.
- The engineer offers advice on how others can land a job at the $2.2 trillion chip company.
- He advises candidates to focus on building their data structures and algorithm knowledge.
This essay as told is based on a transcribed conversation with a senior software engineer at Nvidia in India who spoke anonymously because he is not authorized to speak to the press. Business Insider verified his employment and income. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I joined Nvidia as a newly graduated junior software engineer about three years ago.
I had other offers from Amazon, LinkedIn and a startup. I ended up choosing Nvidia because it offered higher total compensation in terms of base salary and stock options.
Initially, I received about 1.6 million rupees as an annual base salary (about $19,000) and about 2.5 million rupees in stock vesting over four years. Then you receive about 25% of the Rs 2.5 million per year in additional stock awards, based on individual and team performance.
I have been promoted to a higher level since joining and my base salary now stands at over 2 million rupees, which is considered a good amount in India. I also thought I would have greater advancement opportunities at Nvidia than at Amazon, and working here seemed more exciting than at Amazon or LinkedIn.
I knew I would have a good amount of work to do and that it would have a lot of impact and that’s what I was looking for. I’m happy with my decision because I was able to do it.
The application process was quite simple. First, there was a coding interview. I’ve been asked about data structures and algorithms. Then I had a call with an Nvidia recruiter, after which I had two technical interviews.
I used the online portal to apply and received a recommendation for the position because my university has several alumni working at Nvidia.
Nvidia has eight hierarchical levels for software engineers. The title ranges from Individual Contributor (IC) one to eight. As a junior engineer, you join as IC1.
As a new graduate, you want to get your hands on good offers in the positions you would like to work in. It is therefore better to apply for several positions in different companies.
The technical interviews were quite tough
The best advice I would give to any tech worker looking to land a similar role at a large tech company is to focus on building your data structures and algorithm knowledge. I also recommend telling your “story” well, so practice speaking confidently about your experience and its relevance to the position you are applying for.
Show the interviewers that you have the right experience and give examples of your previous work and how it might fit with the team’s goals. For example, rather than just saying I built “X,” tell them why it was built correctly. You need to understand the business use case for each of your projects.
To help you prepare for interviews, cold email people at a company you’re applying for so you can understand the team’s culture and what you’re getting into. This will help you make an informed decision if you receive multiple offers from different companies.
Use the STAR method to prepare
This method involves talking about a challenge that you have already overcome in another work environment, in order to discuss the situation, the task, the action and the result.
Interviewers want to get a sense of who you are as a person, so it’s worth feeling comfortable talking about yourself. I once failed an interview with another company for this very reason. I was not well prepared at that time.
Nvidia has a great culture and there is room for failure. They graciously allow you to fail as long as you strive to improve, work hard, and learn from your mistakes.
I would probably choose Nvidia again, especially for the stock price. My total compensation is much higher than I ever imagined.
Are you an Nvidia employee and have a tip? Contact this reporter from a personal device at jmann@businessinsider.com
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