PES University to Clarkson to NVIDIA: the career path behind a Rs 2.6 crore Silicon Valley job

Pruthviraj Prakash’s path to NVIDIA’s Deep Learning division began with a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PES University, which he completed between 2016 and 2020. He then joined Bengaluru-based technology company Enquero as an engineer, working there for three years between August 2020 and July 2023.

Seeking to strengthen his background further, Prakash enrolled in a Master of Science in Computer Science programme at Clarkson University in the United States in August 2023. He graduated in May 2025, and within months secured a position at NVIDIA, joining the company’s Deep Learning division in August 2025.

Now working at NVIDIA’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, as a Software Development Engineer, Prakash reportedly earns an annual salary of around Rs 2.6 crore. He shared the full journey, from a small village near Chitradurga, Karnataka, to Silicon Valley, in a LinkedIn post.

‘What started as a quiet dream in a small town has now become reality,’ he wrote, describing how access to technology ‘once felt out of reach’ growing up in his hometown.

‘Joining NVIDIA feels surreal, not just for the opportunity to work on cutting edge deep learning and AI, but to be part of something bigger, alongside some of the brightest minds in tech,’ Prakash said.

He ended the post with advice for students and young professionals: ‘To those still chasing their dreams, please don’t stop. Keep learning, stay patient, and move forward one step at a time. What feels impossible today might just become your story tomorrow. Yes, I made it to NVIDIA, and so can you.’