Senior Engineering Lead, Foundational Modeling

Google Inc.; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 262,000 - 364,000; Full time

Job summary

Google Mountain View, CA is seeking a Senior Engineering Lead for Foundational Modeling to drive the Ads Gemini foundation model and related ML frameworks. You will lead cross‑functional efforts spanning Retrieval, Targeting, Relevance, UX, and post‑training of Gemini models using SFT/RL to improve Google Ads quality.

You will design, implement, and deploy scalable ML infrastructure, set milestones, and manage the team to ensure timely product experiments and launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience is required.
• 8 years of experience programming in Python or C++ is required.
• 7 years of experience leading technical project strategy, ML design, and optimizing ML infrastructure.
• 5 years of experience with one or more ML areas (speech/audio, RL, ML infrastructure, or related).
• 5 years of experience with design/architecture and testing/launching software products.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of an Ads-specific Gemini foundation model with post-training on multiple tasks using RL and SFT.
• Architect and build a scalable framework for task scaling, evals, experimentation, and velocity.
• Drive milestones for model training, benchmarks, product experiments, and launches.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners across Retrieval, Targeting, Relevance, and UX.
• Maintain code quality, latency, privacy, and safety standards at scale.

Skills

Python

C++

Technical leadership

ML deployment

Model training

Software architecture

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience

Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

None

Job description

Senior Engineering Lead, Foundational Modeling

Share Senior Engineering Lead, Foundational Modeling

Google Mountain View, CA, USA

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in Python or C++.
• 7 years of experience leading technical project strategy, ML design, and optimizing ML infrastructure (e.g., model deployment, model evaluation, data processing, debugging, fine tuning).
• 5 years of experience with one or more of the following: Speech/audio (e.g., technology duplicating and responding to the human voice), reinforcement learning (e.g., sequential decision making), ML infrastructure, or specialization in another ML field.
• 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8 years of experience with data structures and algorithms.
• 5 years of experience in a technical leadership role leading project teams and setting technical direction.
• 3 years of experience working in an organization involving cross‑functional, or cross‑business projects.
• Demonstrated experience in software engineering at L7+ level, building complex distributed systems, ML pipelines, or user‑facing product frameworks.
• Deep familiarity with Search/Ads infrastructure, auction mechanics, or generative AI models.

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.

With your technical expertise you will manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions.

We build and deploy AI to show high quality ads that power the free internet for everyone. We adapt and post‑train Gemini models to improve the quality of Google Ads in modern GenAI experiences. This includes automated prompt optimization and post‑training of Gemini models using SFT and RL.

Our goal is to deliver the optimal balance between monetization and user satisfaction across Search, Assistant, and Gemini surfaces by strategically selecting and presenting relevant ads.

In this role, you will lead design and implementation of an Ads‑specific post‑trained Gemini foundational model, and work closely with researchers and partner teams to achieve quality, performance and velocity goals.

Google Ads is helping power the open internet with the best technology that connects and creates value for people, publishers, advertisers, and Google. We’re made up of multiple teams, building Google’s Advertising products including search, display, shopping, travel and video advertising, as well as analytics. Our teams create trusted experiences between people and businesses with useful ads. We help grow businesses of all sizes from small businesses, to large brands, to YouTube creators, with effective advertiser tools that deliver measurable results. We also enable Google to engage with customers at scale.

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

US: $262000 - $364000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Lead development of an Ads specific Gemini foundation model by post‑training on multiple Ads tasks using RL and SFT (e.g., user and ad intent classification, cross‑surface commercial understanding, etc).
• Architect and build a standardized framework to enable scaling of many tasks, standardized evals, experimentation, and overall velocity.
• Drive key deliverables and iterations toward major milestones (e.g., model training, benchmarks, product experimentation, launches).
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners across Retrieval, Targeting, Relevance (and other aspects of the Ads Prediction Stack), as well as UX.
• Drive high code and engineering hygiene, at Google‑scale latency, privacy, and safety standards.

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.

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.