From Small Village to Silicon Valley: Engineer Lands Rs 2.6 Crore Job at NVIDIA Without IIT Tag
An IIT degree is often seen as the ultimate gateway to a dream job at a global technology company. However, the journey of Karnataka engineer Pruthviraj P shows that dedication, skills, and continuous learning can be just as powerful.
Pruthviraj recently announced on LinkedIn that he has joined NVIDIA as a Software Development Engineer - Deep Learning at the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, California. His achievement has inspired thousands of students who believe success depends only on graduating from premier institutions.
Pruthviraj comes from Katamdevarakote village in Karnataka's Chitradurga district, where access to technology and advanced learning was limited. Raised in a middle-class family with his father working in a bank, he built his career through determination rather than privilege.
He did not graduate from an IIT or any elite engineering institute. He completed his bachelor's degree from PES University, Bengaluru, and focused on building practical skills in artificial intelligence and deep learning.
Sharing the milestone on LinkedIn, he wrote, "What started as a quiet dream in a small town has now become reality." He reflected on his journey, saying that growing up in a place where technology once seemed out of reach made the dream appear almost impossible. Despite setbacks and self-doubt, he remained committed to improving his skills.
Instead of depending on expensive coaching or college reputation, Pruthviraj reportedly spent years learning AI and deep learning through online courses, personal projects, and regular practice. His learning continued after graduation. He later moved to the United States to pursue a master's degree at a tier-3 university. During this period, he faced financial challenges and limited guidance while managing admissions, academics, and career planning.
Despite these difficulties, he continued sharpening his technical knowledge and eventually cleared NVIDIA's rigorous recruitment process. Today, he reportedly earns nearly $275,000 annually (approximately Rs 2.6 crore), working on advanced deep learning technologies at NVIDIA. He described joining NVIDIA as a dream come true, saying he feels privileged to work on cutting-edge AI technologies alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.
He also shared an encouraging message for students: keep improving skills, stay patient, and never give up, even when success seems far away.
