Senior Staff Software Engineer, Video Playback, YouTube

engineeringjobs.net, Inc.; Town of Montana (WI); On-site; USD 262,000 - 364,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer for Mobile Video Playback on YouTube. You will guide the team to advance the entire player stack from high-level APIs to hardware-accelerated features, supporting VOD, live, and DRM formats across devices.

You will collaborate with internal teams and partners to push media innovations, leveraging NPUs, GPUs, and codecs. The role emphasizes leadership, design, and scalable performance in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in software engineering.
• 3 years of experience in mobile engineering or mobile media experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead client media innovation to bring next-generation codecs and formats to users.
• Enable innovative video experiences by leveraging on-device GPU and NPU for advanced rendering effects while contributing to networking and crypto stacks.
• Evolve the mobile player architecture to deliver the best playback experience across all YouTube products and formats.
• Drive deep investigative work to unlock performance at scale.
• Foster partnerships with internal teams and industry partners to advance media tech.
• Embrace and experiment with emerging technologies such as GenAI.

Skills

Mobile engineering

Video playback

Software engineering

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Job description

Senior Staff Software Engineer, Video Playback, YouTube

Location: San Bruno, CA, USA

Experience Level: Advanced

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

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Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in software engineering.
• 3 years of experience in mobile engineering (e.g., iOS or Android) or mobile media experience (e.g., codecs or graphics).

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Preferred qualifications

• Experience as a tech lead, a formal mentor, or a go-to expert for a team.
• Experience working with video, music, or other media-related products.
• Experience in designing, building, and operating systems at large-scale.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to audiences.

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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.

The YouTube Playback Experience team is responsible for video playback on all screens and critical to enable this core user journey.

In the role of Senior Staff Software Engineer for Mobile Video Playback, you will guide the team in advancing the entire player stack, from high-level APIs to leveraging hardware features. Your leadership will ensure performant and engaging experiences for both established formats like VOD, live, and DRM and emerging areas such as generative AI, multi-modal feeds, and vertical video. Additionally, you will drive client media innovation by utilizing on-device hardware like NPUs, GPUs, and codecs to introduce next-generation media formats and capabilities.

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 Salary: $262,000 - $364,000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

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Responsibilities

• Lead client media innovation to bring next-generation codecs and formats (e.g., AV1/2, Spatial Audio) to users.
• Enable innovative video experiences by leveraging on-device GPU and NPU for advanced rendering effects while contributing to the advancement of networking and crypto stacks.
• Evolve the mobile player architecture and platform to deliver the best playback experience across all YouTube products (Main, Music, Kids, YTV) and video formats (VOD, shorts, live, encrypted content).
• Drive deep investigative work to unlock performance at scale.
• Foster strong partnerships and technical collaboration with internal teams (YouTube Apps, Infrastructure, AOM, Android, Pixel) and industry partners (OEMs, SOCs, network operators, technical standards bodies).
• Embrace and experiment with emerging technologies such as GenAI.

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Information collected and processed as part of your Google Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Google's Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy.

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.

If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form.

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, and 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.

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Locations

YouTube, San Bruno, CA, USA

Experience Level

Advanced