Staff Embedded Systems Lead, AR Glasses Firmware

Google Canada; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 216,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus target

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Google is hiring a Staff Software Developer, Embedded Systems/Firmware for its Augmented Reality team in Waterloo, Ontario. This senior role sits at the intersection of hardware and software, leading embedded developers and shaping multi-quarter technical roadmaps while contributing high‑impact code.

You will own the embedded software foundation for next‑generation Glasses hardware, bring up multiprocessor MCU/SoC platforms, and develop bootloaders, HALs, and drivers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in a relevant technical field.
• 8+ years of software development experience with strong embedded focus.
• 3+ years working with embedded operating systems.
• 3+ years in a technical leadership role.
• 2+ years in people management or team leadership.
• Proficiency in C or C++ for resource-constrained, performance-critical environments (preferred).
• Knowledge of Android platform development or MCU RTOS systems (preferred).
• Excellent problem-solving and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define multi-quarter technical roadmaps and partner with cross-functional leads across Hardware, Product, and UX to align software outcomes with broader XR organizational goals
• Lead the bring-up of multiprocessor MCU and SoC-based hardware reference platforms, owning end-to-end delivery measured through system stability milestones
• Develop and maintain bootloaders, hardware abstraction layers (HALs), and drivers for core components including chargers, fuel gauges, touchpads, and environmental sensors
• Manage a team of embedded developers, fostering a culture of psychological safety, technical excellence, and continuous growth
• Contribute individually by creating and reviewing designs, writing critical-path code, and executing data-driven platform optimizations
• Clarify technical direction to reduce ambiguity and actively influence the architecture of the Glasses platform
• Balance deep technical contributions with the career development and growth of your developers

Skills

embedded systems

team leadership

C or C++

Android platform development

MCU RTOS systems

problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Google is hiring a Staff Software Developer, Embedded Systems/Firmware for its Augmented Reality team in Waterloo, Ontario. This senior role sits at the intersection of hardware and software, leading embedded developers and shaping multi-quarter technical roadmaps while contributing high‑impact code.

You will own the embedded software foundation for next‑generation Glasses hardware, bring up multiprocessor MCU/SoC platforms, and develop bootloaders, HALs, and drivers.