Summary
- Nvidia posts Linux-focused jobs seeking Proton and Vulkan expertise.
- Roles center on diagnosing Vulkan/Proton performance and improving drivers.
- Positions pay ~ $200k, showing big GPU vendors backing Linux gaming’s growth.
It has been an exciting start to 2026 for gamers on Linux. We started off with GOG calling the OS the “next major frontier” for gaming, and we also saw the rise of the Open Gaming Collective where dev teams combined their efforts and knowledge to make playing your fave titles on Linux an easier time.
Just when we thought the gaming on Linux community had taken its foot off the pedal, we started seeing companies begin to adopt the FOSS tech. We caught wind of Intel advertising for people with knowledge of developing games for Linux, albeit it’s likely less the company bolstering its existing teams and more it’s trying to recover from the 2025 layoffs. Now, Nvidia is also posting job adverts to get people interested in developing for gaming on Linux.
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Nvidia is on the hunt for developers with Proton and Vulkan knowledge
Maybe you can fit the bill?
As spotted by Gaming On Linux, Nvidia has posted two jobs on its careers portal. The first one is titled “Senior System Software Engineer, Vulkan Performance,” and lists the following as the responsibilities for the job:
- Diagnosing GPU and CPU performance bottlenecks in Vulkan and Proton titles.
- Identifying changes to API usage to improve performance and communicating via appropriate channels with third-party developers.
- Implementing driver performance improvements and resolving driver defects.
- Collaborating with engineers on the team and across NVIDIA.
- Developing a driver that leads the industry in quality and performance.
The second one is more oriented toward FOSS, titled “Linux Graphics Senior Software Engineer.” This one specifically asks the candidate to “Develop and maintain SW technologies targeted at enabling and supporting NVIDIA’s GPU hardware: on the current and upcoming Linux based operating systems,” which sounds excellent for the future of gaming on Linux.
If you think you can fit the bill, Nvidia is offering a pretty penny for both jobs. People who are hired as a level 3 or level 4 will receive a ~$200,000 salary a year, plus you get to work on making gaming easier in the wonderful world of FOSS. Sounds like a great deal to me.