Optical Network Engineer, Google Global Infrastructure

Google; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Google’s Network Engineering team is seeking a highly skilled professional to scale and operate the optical transport network. You will design, validate, and maintain optical systems, working with vendors and internal teams to ensure reliability and performance across a global infrastructure.

We value hands-on experience in optical networking, hardware maintenance, and automation. This role offers ownership of complex lab setups and real-time problem solving in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in CS/Engineering.
• 3 years of experience in optical engineering and operations, optical networking, and network infrastructure.
• Experience operating and maintaining optical networking equipment.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements and identify technologies for scaling the transport network efficiently.
• Engage with vendors and internal teams to operationalize stable, scalable platforms.
• Design and maintain optical testbed topologies to characterize transceivers, amplifiers, and line systems.
• Perform physical-layer validation and optical link-budget characterization to identify hardware performance limits.
• Automate test infrastructure and develop tools for network management and operations.

Skills

Optical engineering

Optical networking

Network infrastructure

Operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Tools

Optical lab test equipment

Automation tools

Job description

The application window will be open until at least August 19, 2026. This opportunity will remain online based on business needs which may be before or after the specified date.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Thornton, CO, USA; Sunnyvale, CA, USA.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3 years of experience in optical engineering and operations, optical networking, and network infrastructure.
• Experience operating and maintaining optical networking equipment.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with a network equipment manufacturer or operator in an engineering or design role.
• Experience using and automating optical lab test equipment and infrastructure.
• Experience with network operations, optical design, network architecture, and software engineering.

About the job

Google is proud to boast a network that provides service to millions of Internet users around the world. The Network Engineering team is responsible for operating that network reliably and at scale. As a member of the team, you have a direct impact on design and feature enhancements to keep our systems running smoothly. You also ensure that network operations are safe and efficient by monitoring network performance, coordinating planned maintenance, adjusting hardware components and responding to network connectivity issues. Google's complex network generates a constant stream of challenges which require you to continually be innovative with an evolving set of technologies. Keeping the network reliable ensures that our users stay connected with our suite of applications, products and services.

The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.

We're the driving force behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.

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

US: $126000 - $180000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Define requirements and identify technologies for scaling the transport network efficiently.
• Engage with external vendors and internal teams to operationalize stable, scalable platforms.
• Design and maintain optical testbed topologies to characterize transceivers, amplifiers, and line systems.
• Perform physical-layer validation and optical link-budget characterization to identify hardware performance limits.
• Automate test infrastructure and develop tools for network management and operations.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form .