Senior Staff Software Engineer, Technical Lead, YouTube Ads Surfaces and Experiences

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

Job summary

Google is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer, Technical Lead for YouTube Ads Surfaces and Experiences in Mountain View, CA. You will help shape long-term engineering strategy, own critical technical decisions, and mentor engineers while collaborating across YouTube teams to deliver high-impact advertising systems.

The role emphasizes scaling, AI-driven features, and cross‑functional leadership within a fast‑moving, global product environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in Java or C++.
• 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.

Responsibilities

• Drive long-term engineering strategy, incorporating organizational business priorities and technological shifts, such as new AI capabilities.
• Own key technical decisions based on your expertise, guiding the team through important design tradeoffs, short term/long term strategy, system health, and risk management.
• Identify system hotspots to improve the organization's technical health, ensuring the calculated investments are made to remove widely‑felt barriers to productivity/feature throughput.
• Invest in growing the next generation of technical leaders through direct coaching, scalable mentorship initiatives.
• Work cross‑functionally to ensure features are built consistently across different surfaces working closely with YouTube organic, quality, client infrastructure teams.

Skills

Java

C++

design and architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or PhD (preferred)

Job description

Senior Staff Software Engineer, Technical Lead, YouTube Ads Surfaces and Experiences

Share Senior Staff Software Engineer, Technical Lead, YouTube Ads Surfaces and Experiences

corporate_fare YouTube place Mountain View, CA, USA

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in Java or C++.
• 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 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.
With your technical expertise you will manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions.

Google Ads is at the forefront of AI innovation, applying cutting-edge machine learning and Generative AI models like Gemini to power a multi-billion dollar global business.

Our work directly impacts billions of users by protecting users from harm, improving ad quality, and optimizing campaigns for advertiser return-on-investment. We foster a culture of deep collaboration, partnering closely with teams like Google Research and DeepMind to solve complex challenges. Join us to work on state-of-the-art AI, take on problems at an unparalleled scale, and build the next generation of advertising technology.

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

Google Ads is at the forefront of AI innovation, applying cutting-edge machine learning and Generative AI models like Gemini to power a multi-billion dollar global business.

Our work directly impacts billions of users by protecting users from harm, improving ad quality, and optimizing campaigns for advertiser return-on-investment. We foster a culture of deep collaboration, partnering closely with teams like Google Research and DeepMind to solve complex challenges. Join us to work on state-of-the-art AI, take on problems at an unparalleled scale, and build the next generation of advertising technology.

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

• Drive long-term engineering strategy, incorporating organizational business priorities and technological shifts, such as new AI capabilities.
• Own key technical decisions based on your expertise, guiding the team through important design tradeoffs, short term/long term strategy, system health, and risk management.
• Identify system hotspots to improve the organization's technical health, ensuring the calculated investments are made to remove widely‑felt barriers to productivity/feature throughput.
• Invest in growing the next generation of technical leaders through direct coaching, scalable mentorship initiatives.
• Work cross‑functionally to ensure features are built consistently across different surfaces working closely with YouTube organic, quality, client infrastructure teams.

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.