Hardware Validation Engineer, Data Center Engineering Labs

Google Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

Google Sunnyvale, CA, USA is seeking a Hardware Validation Engineer for Data Center Engineering Labs to bridge facilities operations and R&D systems engineering. You will land up and maintain early-stage hardware, working in an agile lab to turn concepts into ready-to-manufacture hardware.

You are a data center facilities or operations technician expanding into NPI, automated monitoring, thermal networking rework, and project management within a fast-paced lab environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.
• At least 2 years in data center operations or 1 year with an advanced degree.
• Experience in systems validation and testing.
• Experience with Linux, networking cabling, and hardware troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end physical deployment, rack-level integration, power-up, and network turn-up of prototype systems.
• Perform physical reworks on development equipment, including upgrading thermal interfaces and custom cabling.
• Coordinate timelines and logistics for NPIs, aligning with design and landing requirements.
• Develop scripting automation and build dashboards to monitor lab infrastructure health.
• Troubleshoot hardware, OS, and network issues while upholding safety standards.

Skills

Linux

Networking

Hardware troubleshooting

Automation scripting

Dashboard monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Python

Bash

Job description

Hardware Validation Engineer, Data Center Engineering Labs

Google Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Mid

Experience driving progress, solving problems, and mentoring more junior team members; deeper expertise and applied knowledge within relevant area.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2 years of experience working in a data center operations or facilities technical environment (or 1 year of experience with an advanced degree).
• Experience in systems validation and testing.
• Experience with Linux operating systems, networking/cabling infrastructure (fiber/copper), and physical hardware troubleshooting.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) processes, including landing, powering up, and configuring early-stage/prototype hardware.
• Experience performing physical, component-level thermal rework (thermal paste/pads, heatsinks, liquid cooling loops) and customized networking rework.
• Experience managing small-to-medium deployment or deployment infrastructure projects, including timeline coordination and stakeholder communication.
• Experience as a Data Center Facilities Technician with knowledge of power distribution, cooling, and rack-level thermal performance.
• Ability to write and maintain basic automation scripts (e.g., Python, Bash) and build system/lab monitoring dashboards.

About the job

As a Hardware Validation Engineer for our Data Center Engineering Labs, you will bridge the gap between traditional data center facilities operations and Research and Development systems engineering. Based in our hardware engineering labs, you won't just maintain existing operations—you will play a direct role in landing, turning up, and maintaining early-stage hardware systems.

You are a Data Center Facilities or Operations Technician looking to expand your skill set into New Product Introduction (NPI), automated monitoring, thermal/networking rework, and engineering project management in an agile lab environment.

Our Platforms Infrastructure Engineering team designs and builds the hardware and software technologies that power all of Google's services. Our computational challenges are complex and unique, enabled by cutting-edge custom hardware designed and made in-house. As a hardware engineer, you will design and build the systems that are the heart of the world's largest and most powerful computing infrastructure. You will see those systems from concept all the way through to high-volume manufacturing. Your work has the potential to shape the machinery that goes into our cutting-edge data centers, affecting millions of Google users.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end physical deployment, rack-level integration, power-up, and network turn-up of prototype systems and early-stage hardware in the engineering lab.
• Perform physical reworks on development equipment, including upgrading thermal interface materials (heatsinks, thermal pads) and implementing custom network cabling topologies.
• Coordinate timelines and logistics for New Product Introductions (NPI), collaborating with design engineers to ensure landing requirements and schedules are met.
• Develop scripting automation (e.g., Python, Bash) and design custom dashboard monitoring tools to track lab infrastructure health and system metrics.
• Troubleshoot hardware, OS, and network connectivity issues, keeping Research and Development environments operational while enforcing electrical, physical, and environmental safety standards.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $132000 - $189000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

To all recruitment agencies: Google does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Google employees, or any other organization location. Google is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.