Senior Staff Software Engineer, Cloud SDK

Google; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 262,000 - 364,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off: 20 days/year

Sick Time: 40 hours/year (Seattle 69)

Maternity Leave: 28-30 weeks

Holidays: 13 paid days

Job summary

Google's Seattle team is seeking a software engineer for the Cloud SDK group. You will shape the gcloud CLI and related client libraries, impacting 150+ partner teams and multiple languages. The role emphasizes architecture, API standards, and scalable SDK infrastructures.

We value leadership, cross-team collaboration, and experience delivering developer tools and SDKs. Expect in-person interviews and a strong benefits package in the US.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in Java, Go, Python, Node.js, Rust, C++, C#, Ruby or PHP.
• 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.
• 5 years of experience working on developer tools.
• 5 years of experience building Software Development Kits (SDKs).
• 5 years of experience with Cloud APIs.

Responsibilities

• Provide overarching technical direction across all Cloud SDK developer products, including client libraries and CLIs, while defining the core architectural foundation for SDKs to grow in the age of AI.
• Partner closely with Cloud Leadership to align the developer surface with next-generation GCP platform capabilities such as Agentic Identity and establish foundational API development standards across the organization.
• Drive collaboration with more than 150 partner teams across the Cloud organization to seamlessly integrate, scale, and support their API surfaces within the gcloud CLI and client libraries.
• Establish and enforce rigorous SDK and CLI design guidelines to guarantee a unified developer experience (DX) that maximizes product quality and user satisfaction.
• Engage with specialized Veneer client library teams e.g., Spanner, Google Cloud Storage (GCS) to engineer tailored SDK infrastructures that support distinct and complex domain-specific use cases.

Skills

Java

Go

Python

Node.js

Rust

C++

C#

Ruby

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or CS

Tools

gcloud CLI

Client libraries

Cloud APIs

Job description

In most instances, this position requires in-person interviews as part of the hiring process.

In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based employees. Benefits for this role include:

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance
• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year, accruing at a rate of 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years of employment
• Sick Time: 40 hours/year (increased to 69 hours/year for Seattle) including 5 discretionary sick days per instance
• Maternity Leave (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding): 28-30 weeks
• Baby Bonding Leave: 18 weeks
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Kirkland, WA, USA; New York, NY, USA; Seattle, WA, USA.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in Java, Go, Python, Node.js, Rust, C++, C#, Ruby or PHP.
• 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.
• 5 years of experience working on developer tools.
• 5 years of experience building Software Development Kits (SDKs).
• 5 years of experience with Cloud APIs.

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 a complex, matrixed organization involving cross-functional, or cross-business projects.
• Experience with Cloud Identity and AuthN/AuthZ.

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 part of the Cloud SDK team, you will build the gcloud Command-line Interface (CLI) and client libraries across 9 languages, serving as the programmatic front door to 150+ Google Cloud Platform (GCP) APIs for virtually every major customer. You will leverage code generation alongside specialized thick clients to deliver these tools at a massive scale. You will partner closely with API producers and OnePlatform infrastructure, continuously integrate new platform capabilities. Your core challenges involve supporting emerging business requirements and evolving the Software Development Kit (SDK) to empower developers in the age of AI. Come help us build the next-generation of the Cloud SDK. Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business and industry. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology, and tools that help developers build more sustainably. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. 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

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Provide overarching technical direction across all Cloud SDK developer products, including client libraries and CLIs, while defining the core architectural foundation for SDKs to grow in the age of AI.
• Partner closely with Cloud Leadership to align the developer surface with next-generation GCP platform capabilities such as Agentic Identity and establish foundational API development standards across the organization.
• Drive collaboration with more than 150 partner teams across the Cloud organization to seamlessly integrate, scale, and support their API surfaces within the gcloud CLI and client libraries.
• Establish and enforce rigorous SDK and CLI design guidelines to guarantee a unified developer experience (DX) that maximizes product quality and user satisfaction.
• Engage with specialized Veneer client library teams e.g., Spanner, Google Cloud Storage (GCS) to engineer tailored SDK infrastructures that support distinct and complex domain-specific use cases.

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 .