Senior Embedded Software Engineer, Pixel Core USB

Socket.dev; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a software engineer to advance USB connectivity and charging for Pixels. The role spans Linux kernel drivers, HAL, and Android framework, with opportunities to influence silicon architecture and system-level design.

You will work across hardware and software teams to deliver robust USB solutions, contribute to upstream Linux, and ensure port health and reliability across products. Competitive compensation includes equity and bonus targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience required.
• 5 years of software development experience in one or more languages (e.g., C).
• 3 years working with embedded operating systems.
• 3 years testing, maintaining, or launching software products; 1 year design/architecture experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop linux kernel drivers to enable new USB and Type-C controllers for Pixel roadmap.
• Identify cross-Product Area USB features to improve product experience.
• Identify systemic USB issues and merge upstream Linux solutions for multiple generations.
• Investigate scalable USB architectures and influence SoC design for performance and health metrics.
• Abstract hardware interfaces to Android userspace (HAL) and Android framework.

Skills

Software development

C language

Embedded operating systems

Software testing

Software maintenance

Software architecture

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience

Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science

Job description

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience with software development in one or more programming languages (e.g., C).
• 3 years of experience working with embedded operating systems.
• 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of experience with software design and architecture.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related technical field.
• Experience contributing to opensource linux USB stack.
• Experience with Linux-based embedded systems development.
• Experience reading hardware spec sheets to infer hardware capabilities.
• Experience with DesignWare Controller (DWC) stack.

About the job:

Google's software engineers develop the next-generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact with information and one another. Our products need to handle information at massive scale, and extend well beyond web search. We're looking for engineers who bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking and data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design and mobile; the list goes on and is growing every day. As a software engineer, you will work on a specific project critical to Google’s needs with opportunities to switch teams and projects as you and our fast-paced business grow and evolve. We need our engineers to be versatile, display leadership qualities and be enthusiastic to take on new problems across the full-stack as we continue to push technology forward.

Our team’s mission is to build next generation of USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectivity and charging for Pixels and enable end users to use Google’s first-party and third-party chargers and accessories, USB-C connectivity with host PCs while ensuring USB-C port health and reliability. Our team owns the software stack needed to provide seamless experience while using Type-C USB ports in Pixel phones and tablets.This is a unique opportunity to experience full stack Android system software development.

In this role, you will direct code across different parts of Android stack right from Linux kernel, HAL, Android system server to fiddling with hardware in bootloader and directly influencing silicon architecture. You will be working and collaborating across areas and through every stage of development from schematic reviews to user experience.The Platforms and Devices team encompasses Google's various computing software platforms across environments (desktop, mobile, applications), as well as our first party devices and services that combine the best of Google AI, software, and hardware. Teams across this area research, design, and develop new technologies to make our user's interaction with computing faster and more seamless, building innovative experiences for our users around the world.Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $174000 - $252000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities:

• Develop linux kernel drivers from scratch to enable new USB controllers and Type-C controllers used in Pixel product roadmap.
• Identify and work cross Product Area to develop meaningful user facing USB features to improve product experience.
• Identify systemic issues for USB and merge solutions in Linux upstream that are easier to maintain over several generations on Tensor SoCs.
• Investigate on scalable USB software architectures and influence SoC architecture when needed. Optimize USB usecase for performance and other system health metrics.
• Abstract hardware interfaces to Android userspace, define and deliver the needed system software layers (Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), Android framework).