Senior Staff Engineer, YouTube Shorts Ranking, Core Modeling

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

Job summary

Google is seeking a Senior Staff Engineer for YouTube Shorts Ranking, Core Modeling, to drive advanced ranking models and scalable ML infrastructure. You will influence cross-functional teams and own outcomes in a highly ambiguous environment.

The role emphasizes building production-grade recommender systems and leading project strategy, with opportunities to shape the direction of Shorts and related platforms at scale.

Qualifications

• Own outcomes and decision making in ambiguous problems.
• 5+ years building and deploying recommender systems (retrieval, prediction, ranking, embeddings) in production.
• 7+ years leading technical project strategy, ML design, and large-scale ML infra.
• 5+ years design/architecture experience and launching software products.

Responsibilities

• Bring ideas to optimize Shorts ranking and overall user experience.
• Build large-scale ML models, training infra, and quality evaluation.
• Collaborate with data scientists, PMs, engineers to improve product quality.

Skills

Software development

ML design

Model deployment

Data processing

Debugging

Fine tuning

Ranking models

Recommendation systems

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Master’s degree or PhD in CS/ML/EE or related field

Job description

Senior Staff Engineer, YouTube Shorts Ranking, Core Modeling

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corporate_fare YouTube place Mountain View, CA, USA

Advanced

Experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders;deep expertise in domain.

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• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 7 years of experience leading technical project strategy, ML design, and working with industry-scale ML infrastructure (e.g., model deployment, model evaluation, data processing, debugging, fine tuning).
• 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.
• 5 years of experience building and deploying recommendation systems models (retrieval, prediction, ranking, embedding) in production.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computer Engineering, or a related highly 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 a complex, matrixed organization involving cross-functional, or cross-business projects.

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.

YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of the video-sharing website YouTube, hosting content much like YouTube's primary service but with a focus on vertical videos at a maximum length of 60 seconds. For creators, it enables a space for content that is short, casual, and direct. Creators can try workshopping new material, share other videos on the platform, or provide a quick taste of their personality to prospective fans. For viewers, it provides high value in short intervals. Fans can easily access fresh, snackable content from their favorite creators, and discover new channels.

We are building an entirely new experience for both creating videos and consuming them, for allowing creators to connect better with their viewers communities, from within the YouTube app.

At YouTube, we believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share, and build community through our stories. We work together to give everyone the power to share their story, explore what they love, and connect with one another in the process. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and boundless creativity, we move at the speed of culture with a shared goal to show people the world. We explore new ideas, solve real problems, and have fun — and we do it all together.

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

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.

YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of the video-sharing website YouTube, hosting content much like YouTube's primary service but with a focus on vertical videos at a maximum length of 60 seconds. For creators, it enables a space for content that is short, casual, and direct. Creators can try workshopping new material, share other videos on the platform, or provide a quick taste of their personality to prospective fans. For viewers, it provides high value in short intervals. Fans can easily access fresh, snackable content from their favorite creators, and discover new channels.

We are building an entirely new experience for both creating videos and consuming them, for allowing creators to connect better with their viewers communities, from within the YouTube app.

At YouTube, we believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share, and build community through our stories. We work together to give everyone the power to share their story, explore what they love, and connect with one another in the process. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and boundless creativity, we move at the speed of culture with a shared goal to show people the world. We explore new ideas, solve real problems, and have fun — and we do it all together.

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

• Bring ideas to optimize shorts feed for better user experiences, new use cases, and overall product quality.
• Build large-scale machine learning models, training infrastructure and quality evaluation, design ML architecture.
• Work with data scientists, product managers, front-end engineers, user experience designers to improve product quality.

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.