Staff Software Development Engineer - Video Rendering
Adobe · Seattle ·
- Seniority
- Staff
- Category
- Software engineering
- Experience
- 10+ years
The Opportunity
The Digital Video & Audio (DVA) team in Adobe develops industry-leading software products including Premiere and After Effects, and we are on a mission to build the modern, AI-powered video rendering pipeline behind the next generation of these products. We are looking for a senior, hands-on engineer to own and evolve the cross-platform GPU rendering platform at the heart of that mission — leading major initiatives through to completion in close partnership with our technical leadership.
What You'll Do
Own, evolve, and optimize the core GPU rendering platform that underpins real-time video processing across Adobe's professional video products
Drive complex platform initiatives end to end — taking technical ownership and overseeing their progress until completion across multiple releases
Build and deepen a shared technology stack — common shaders, rendering frameworks, and multi-API GPU abstractions (CUDA, OpenCL, DirectX, Metal) — so teams build once and run everywhere, on Windows and Mac
Own rendering performance, stability, and device compatibility across platforms and hardware vendors, including the hardest GPU and driver issues
Partner with GPU hardware vendors and with internal graphics, product, and QE teams to resolve deep technical issues and shape the underlying technologies
Lead by example — drive architecture and code reviews, set engineering standards, and mentor others
Build and prototype the next generation of our rendering technology, in partnership with technical leadership, including modern shading languages and shader toolchains
What You Need to Succeed
Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
10+ years' experience in software engineering, with significant depth in GPU, graphics, or rendering systems
Strong proficiency in modern C++ in a large, complex, cross-platform codebase on Mac or Windows
Deep experience with at least one modern graphics/compute API (DirectX 12, Metal, Vulkan, CUDA, or OpenCL) and the ability to design abstractions across several
Strong knowledge of GPU architecture, shading languages (e.g., HLSL, Slang, SPIR-V), and rendering or real-time video processing
Solid understanding of the GPU rendering pipeline and core rendering, compositing, and color algorithms
Proven low-level debugging and performance optimization across the CPU/GPU boundary, using GPU profiling and debugging tools (e.g., Nsight, PIX)
Track record of leading and driving complex, cross-team technical initiatives to completion with limited guidance
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, working in a global environment
Ability to think creatively to solve complex problems
Preferred Qualifications
Real-time video processing in Non-Linear Editing (NLE) software
Modern shading languages and shader compilers/toolchains (Slang, DXC, SPIR-V / DXIL) and next-generation rendering abstractions
Direct experience working with GPU driver / hardware vendors
ML inference integration (e.g., TensorRT, ONNX Runtime) within a render pipeline
Experience building GPU benchmarking / performance frameworks
Web & mobile graphics experience (a plus — not required)
About Adobe
Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.
Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours.
Let’s Adobe together
At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.
Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.
Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email [email protected] or call +1 408-536-3015.
AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:
Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.
At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI — and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it’s restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.
Expected Pay Range:
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $173,500 -- $331,050 annually. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

In California, the pay range for this position is $228,600 - $331,050
In Washington, the pay range for this position is $218,200 - $316,000

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).
In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.
State-Specific Notices:
California:
Fair Chance Ordinances
Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and “fair chance” ordinances.
Colorado:
Application Window Notice
If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Legal Notice
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.