NVIDIA reviews

One of the worst companies I've ever worked for (people, culture and frugality are among the worst attributes of this company): 1) Ultra frugal company: a) Pays much less than other companies (RSUs smallest I've seen) b) Refresh RSUs are practically zero (not even worth mentioning) c) ESPP is useless (I was actually losing money on it while I was there) d) Incredibly difficult to get equipment purchases approved 2) Dishonest/unscrupulous recruiters/managers a) Recruiter actually negotiated lower level for me with HM than was discussed with me and didn't tell me about it! Unreal... same title had 3 levels so I had no idea until a few months after joining. So the RSU refreshers were much lower than discussed with recruiter. b) Waited several years for my manager to let me do the work we agreed to upon joining before moving on. 3) Only long term employees get promoted (or those with same race/ethnicity as VP). a) I experienced complete reverse discrimination while there (VP only promoted those of same race/ethnicity). Those of this race/ethnicity treated me like garbage and the VP (and other similar race/ethnicity managers under him) protected them and retaliated and beat-up on me for complaining. 4) From what I saw, all new employees get treated like garbage by the long-timers at this company. Ironic since they have been there a long time and are making significantly more than you due to stock run-up. a) A big part of the problem is that this company has no peer review system in place for annual or real-time feedback, so when folks behave in an outrageous manner, there is nothing you can do but try to ignore it. Totally broken review system. 5) People only respect you if you've been with the company a minimum of 5y.... time spent with the company is like a badge of honor. Ideas and industry experience gained outside Nvidia are disregarded/ignored (Nvidia is *not* interested in how things are done elsewhere in industry.... it's their way or the highway type of mentality). In my case, I had ~20y industry experience (specialization) in a particular area, and they wouldn't even invite me to meetings (I practically had to beg to contribute). No one at Nvidia had anywhere near the level of experience or knowledge I had in this area.... folks that were hacks were listened to like they were experts. It was amazing. I was used to being the subject matter expert for a company with 200,000 employees, but at Nvidia...with <10000 employees, they refused to allow me to be a subject matter expert (my director actually rejected my request to contribute). 6) People working here displayed a complete lack of integrity/honesty (although this happens at some other companies too). 7) The labs at NVIDIA are a disaster. Most look like a bomb went off, and you have to fight to get even a tiny amount of lab space. Definitely the most disorganized, underfunded and poorly run labs I've seen in industry.

Expect to work holidays, weekends, evening and early mornings. Worst work/life balance in silicon valley. Products are poorly researched and cheaply made before being turned over to a woefully underfunded and understaffed marketing team micromanaged by the CEO (who has no marketing experience). CEO is out of touch, mean spirited and insecure. His ego is enormous and he has personally ruined the launch of the companies products for the last 3 years because he insists on debuting them himself but his ability to communicate is impaired. Talented management and individual contributors alike tends to realize issues with CEO are insurmountable and happily leave for better work conditions at other silicon valley tech companies. High turnover - talent jumps ship as fast as it can find new employment making NVIDIA permanently understaffed. NVIDIA is a good stepping stone to join other companies with more progressive values, grown up management and innovative products.