Senior Software Engineer, Rapid Prototyping Pixel Products

Google; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 174,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

Google's Pixel Rapid Prototyping team is seeking a software engineer to help create next-generation user experiences for Pixel devices. You will develop high-fidelity prototypes and push the boundaries of what is technically possible across Android frameworks, apps, and hardware.

You will collaborate with UX, Product, and Hardware teams to translate ambitious concepts into working software, emphasizing rapid iteration, speed, and exploration over production-ready code.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience with software development in the Java or Kotlin programming languages.
• 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of experience with large-scale application design and architecture.
• 3 years of experience with android application development.
• 3 years industry or academic experience with rapid prototyping techniques for new products.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and iterate on high-fidelity proof-of-concept android applications and system-level modifications to bring novel user experiences to life.
• Partner closely with Staff Engineering and cross-functional teams (e.g., UX, Product, Hardware) to translate abstract concepts, rough sketches, and technical strategies into tangible, working software.
• Experiment with bleeding-edge technologies—such as new on-device ML models, experimental sensor APIs, and unreleased hardware features to push the boundaries of what is technically possible on Pixel devices.
• Identify and creatively bypass technical roadblocks within the Android stack. Optimize for speed, ingenuity, and "art of the possible" demonstrations rather than long-term maintainability or production-grade architecture.
• Adapt quickly to changing requirements and pivot technical approaches based on daily learnings, UX research feedback, and continuous discovery.

Skills

Java/Kotlin

Android development

Software testing

Rapid prototyping

Large-scale system design

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Master's degree or PhD in CS or related field

Job description

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience with software development in the Java or Kotlin programming languages.
• 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of experience with large-scale application design and architecture.
• 3 years of experience with android application development.
• 3 years industry or academic experience with rapid prototyping techniques for new products.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience with software development in the Java or Kotlin programming languages.
• 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of experience with large-scale application design and architecture.
• 3 years of experience with android application development.
• 3 years industry or academic experience with rapid prototyping techniques for new products.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• 5 years of experience with data structures and algorithms.
• 1 year of experience in a technical leadership role.
• Experience with prototyping proof-of-concept ideas to completion.

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.

As a Software Engineer on the Pixel Rapid Prototyping team, you will be a core builder driving the creation of next-generation user experiences for Pixel products. Operating in a changing creative environment, you build high-fidelity prototypes that push the boundaries of what is technically possible, proving out new hardware and software experiences.

Working closely with technical leadership and cross-functional partners in UX, Product, and Hardware, you will translate ambitious, abstract concepts into tangible, working software. You will grow on unconstrained technical exploration—creatively hacking across the Android framework, applications, and emerging technologies to demonstrate the "art of the possible", prioritizing rapid iteration, speed, and discovery over immediate commercial viability or productionization requirements.

The Google Pixel team focuses on designing and delivering the world's most helpful mobile experience. The team works on shaping the future of Pixel devices and services through some of the most advanced designs, techniques, products, and experiences in consumer electronics. This includes bringing together the best of Google’s artificial intelligence, software, and hardware to build global smartphones and create transformative experiences for users across 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

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google.

• Design, build, and iterate on high-fidelity proof-of-concept android applications and system-level modifications to bring novel user experiences to life.
• Partner closely with Staff Engineering and cross-functional teams (e.g., UX, Product, Hardware) to translate abstract concepts, rough sketches, and technical strategies into tangible, working software.
• Experiment with bleeding-edge technologies—such as new on-device ML models, experimental sensor APIs, and unreleased hardware features to push the boundaries of what is technically possible on Pixel devices.
• Identify and creatively bypass technical roadblocks within the Android stack. Optimize for speed, ingenuity, and "art of the possible" demonstrations rather than long-term maintainability or production-grade architecture.
• Adapt quickly to changing requirements and pivot technical approaches based on daily learnings, UX research feedback, and continuous discovery.

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.