Software Engineer, PhD, Early Career, Infrastructure, 2026 Start

Google; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance

401(k) with company match

20 days of paid vacation per year

Sick time and maternity leave

Thirteen paid holidays per year

Job summary

Google is looking for a PhD Software Engineer in Mountain View, CA, to develop next-generation technologies impacting billions. Candidates should have a PhD in Computer Science or related field, with strong coding skills in languages like C, C++, and Python. Responsibilities include leading projects, resolving technical issues, and contributing to documentation. Compensation includes a base salary of $147,000-$211,000 plus bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience coding in one of the following programming languages: C, C++, Python, Java or Golang.
• Experience in architecting or developing distributed systems, concurrency, multi-threading, or synchronization.

Responsibilities

• Participate in or lead design, analysis, and development of advanced systems.
• Write technical documents and contribute to documentation based on updates and feedback.
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues impacting software and services.
• Develop and review code ensuring best practices.

Skills

Coding in C, C++, Python, Java, or Golang

Architecting/developing distributed systems

Concurrency and multi-threading

Education

PhD in Computer Science or a related field

Job description

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

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 per year (increased to 69 hours per 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: Sunnyvale, CA, USA; Atlanta, GA, USA; Austin, TX, USA; Kirkland, WA, USA; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Madison, WI, USA; Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA; Raleigh, NC, USA; Durham, NC, USA; San Bruno, CA, USA; Seattle, WA, USA.

Minimum qualifications

• PhD degree in Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience coding in one of the following programming languages including but not limited to: C, C++, Python, Java or Golang.
• Experience in one or more of the following: architecting or developing distributed systems, concurrency, multi‑threading, or synchronization.

Preferred qualifications

• Research experience in algorithms, architecture, artificial intelligence, compilers, databases, data mining, distributed systems, machine learning, networking, or systems.
• Experience in designing and implementing a complex system, for production or experimental use.
• Experience with performance, reliability, systems data analysis, visualization tools, or debugging.
• Ability to start full‑time role in 2026.
• Excellent engineering skills.

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 PhD graduate, your research expertise is invaluable to us. Explore a variety of projects, collaborate with various teams, and contribute to products that are changing the world, across many product areas, including AI & Infrastructure, Cloud, and more!

Our Engineering teams include thousands of PhDs who bring their deep knowledge and research experience to enhance our systems and products. As a Google PhD Software Engineer, you will work on critical projects, with many opportunities to learn and follow your interests. We expect our engineers to be creative and versatile, leading and identifying new problems to push the field and Google technology forward.

Google is one of the world’s leading suppliers and consumers of ML and AI technology, with decades of experience in designing, deploying, and using ML software and custom ML hardware infrastructure at massive scale.

Compensation

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $147,000-$211,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Responsibilities

• Participate in or lead team projects to carry out design, analysis, and development of advanced systems across the stack, using your research expertise.
• Write documents that set new technical directions. Contribute to existing documentation or educational content, and adapt content based on product/program updates and user feedback.
• Study, diagnose and resolve complex technical issues by analyzing the sources of the issues and the impact on software, hardware, network, or service operations and quality.
• Develop code, review code developed by other developers, and provide feedback to ensure best practices (e.g., style guidelines, accuracy, testability, and efficiency).

EEO Statement

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