Senior Optical Sensor Engineer, Sensor Roadmapping/Display Team Liason

Google LLC; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Google Mountain View is seeking a Senior Optical Sensor Engineer to drive sensor roadmapping and display integration for Pixel, Nest, Fitbit, and XR hardware. You will shape ambient light and color-sensing systems, validating sensing performance across devices and environments.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration, influence technical directions, and develop next-generation optical sensing for premium display experiences. Equity and benefits are part of the package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience with optical sensor technology in VIS-NIR.
• 2 years of experience with consumer electronics mass production processes.
• Experience communicating cross functionally to influence technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with external optical sensor vendors to influence industry roadmaps.
• Partner to analyze upcoming display technologies and forecast technical challenges for under-display sensing.
• Collaborate on design, prototyping, and testing of next-generation optical sensing solutions.
• Align on sensor data quality requirements to meet premium UX and performance standards.
• Coordinate integration to ensure sensors fit product designs while meeting performance goals.

Skills

Optical sensor technology

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or related field

Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

Ansys Zemax OpticStudio

Job description

Senior Optical Sensor Engineer, Sensor Roadmapping/Display Team Liason

Share Senior Optical Sensor Engineer, Sensor Roadmapping/Display Team Liason

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• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a specialized field (e.g., Optics, Sensors, Audio/DSP, etc.), or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience working with optical sensor technology specifically in the Visible and Near-Infrared (VIS-NIR) spectrum.
• 2 years of experience with Consumer Electronics mass production processes (Final Assembly, Test, and Packout and Validation) and program lifecycle .
• Experience communicating cross functionally without authority, to influence technical direction (from low level engineer to leadership).

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field (e.g., Optics, Sensors, Audio/DSP).
• Optical sensor system integration experience in consumer electronics systems.
• Familiarity with field of Color Science, specifically White point Adaptation.
• Familiarity with Display panel architecture and current state-of-art.
• Ability to communicate in Chinese and English with stakeholders is preferred.
• Optical simulation capability using Ansys Zemax OpticStudio or similar.

About the job

Want to help shape and enhance how millions of people experience the world through their screens? Join us!

As a part of the team driving state-of-the-art optical sensing technology for Google’s premier consumer hardware, including Pixel, Nest, Fitbit, and XR, you will make technology seamlessly adapt to human environments. You will design and integrate ultra-precise ambient light and color-tone sensors into the Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit portfolios, enable intelligent display experiences like Autobrightness and Adaptive Tone.

In this role, you will engineer next-generation ambient light and color-tone sensing solutions that directly power premier display features like Autobrightness and Adaptive Tone. Your work will sit at the intersection of cutting-edge physics, hardware, and software, ensuring that every time a user looks at their screen whether in a dark bedroom or under direct sunlight, it looks absolutely flawless and feels completely natural.

In this role, you will define the visual and aesthetic standard for Google devices worldwide. You will solve complex optical sensing challenges, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and see your innovations scale immediately to millions of active users.

As a part of this team, you join as an innovative engineer to develop state-of-the-art optical sensing systems for the next-generation of Google consumer hardware.

If you are ready to push the boundaries of optical engineering and deliver exceptional display experiences to the global Google ecosystem, we want you on our team!

Help us build the future of intelligent sensing at Google. 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: $159000 - $230000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with external optical sensor vendors to influence industry roadmaps and co-develop next-generation sensor solutions for Pixel, Nest, Fitbit, and XR hardware programs.
• Partner to analyze upcoming display technologies and proactively forecast the technical challenges they present to under-display optical sensing.
• Collaborate on the design, prototyping, and testing of next-generation optical sensing solutions.
• Align on sensor data quality requirements to ensure displays consistently meet premium user experience (UX) and performance standards.
• Coordinate on physical/architectural integration to ensure optical sensors are seamlessly incorporated into product designs while meeting performance goals.

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.