Staff Hardware Engineer, Electrical, XR Hardware

Google Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 188,000 - 274,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a Staff Hardware Electrical Engineer for XR hardware to define and drive the electrical architecture of cutting-edge AR/VR devices from concept through mass production in San Jose. You will lead cross-functional alignment across Silicon, Mechanical, Display/Optics, Firmware, and System Integration teams, and mentor engineers to establish engineering standards.

The role focuses on lightweight wearable devices with high-performance silicon, eye/head tracking, display optics

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience in electrical hardware development or consumer electronics environment.
• 3 years of experience in technical leadership, managing architecture decisions, and leading hardware design projects.

Responsibilities

• Define system-level electrical architecture, block diagrams, and schematics for XR devices.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across Silicon, Mechanical, Display/Optics, Firmware, and System Integration.
• Mentor junior/mid-level engineers and establish robust hardware design review processes.
• Design and optimize power distribution networks and high-speed interfaces to meet SI/PI limits.
• Coordinate hardware bring-up, lab characterization, and failure analysis across prototype stages.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Technical leadership

Architecture decisions

Hardware design guidance

Education

Bachelor's in EE/CE/Physics

Tools

HDI PCB design

RF/coexistence

Job description

Staff Hardware Engineer, Electrical, XR Hardware

Share Staff Hardware Engineer, Electrical, XR Hardware

corporate_fare Google place San Jose, CA, USA

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience working in an electrical hardware development or consumer electronics environment.
• 3 years of experience in technical leadership, managing architecture decisions, and leading hardware design projects.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience integrating spatial sensing pipelines (time-of-flight, global shutter cameras, eye-tracking) and display modules.
• Expertise in rigid-flex and HDI PCB layout, impedance control, EMC or EMI mitigation, and RF coexistence.
• Deep understanding of thermal management, battery life optimization, and ultra-miniaturized form-factor design.
• Demonstrated capability to align cross-functional priorities across Silicon architects, Mechanical/Optical engineers, and Firmware developers.
• Proven track record delivering high-volume, compact consumer electronics, smart wearables, AI glasses, or AR/VR headsets to mass production.

About the job

The XR Hardware Engineering organization builds hardware platforms enabling spatial computing, augmented reality (AR) glasses, and virtual/mixed reality headsets. We solve complex multi-physics and electro-mechanical issues to deliver lightweight, wearable consumer devices that seamlessly integrate spatial audio, display optics, eye/head tracking, high-performance silicon, and wireless connectivity.

As a Staff Hardware Electrical Engineer, you will define and drive the electrical architecture for cutting-edge XR hardware products from early concepts through mass production. You will lead cross-functional technical alignment across Silicon, Product Design (Mechanical), Display/Optics, Firmware, and System Integration teams
You will operate with technical autonomy, resolving ambiguity, architect subsystem interconnects, setting engineering standards, and mentoring junior and mid-level engineers.

For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by
breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. Google's XR
team is at the forefront of the next major leap – the convergence of AI and
XR. This is more than just new devices – it's about reimagining how we
interact with the world around us. We're building a future where
lightweight XR devices like smart glasses and headsets pair with helpful AI
to augment human intelligence, offering personalized, conversational, and
contextually aware experiences.

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

About the job

The XR Hardware Engineering organization builds hardware platforms enabling spatial computing, augmented reality (AR) glasses, and virtual/mixed reality headsets. We solve complex multi-physics and electro-mechanical issues to deliver lightweight, wearable consumer devices that seamlessly integrate spatial audio, display optics, eye/head tracking, high-performance silicon, and wireless connectivity.

As a Staff Hardware Electrical Engineer, you will define and drive the electrical architecture for cutting-edge XR hardware products from early concepts through mass production. You will lead cross-functional technical alignment across Silicon, Product Design (Mechanical), Display/Optics, Firmware, and System Integration teams
You will operate with technical autonomy, resolving ambiguity, architect subsystem interconnects, setting engineering standards, and mentoring junior and mid-level engineers.

For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by
breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. Google's XR
team is at the forefront of the next major leap – the convergence of AI and
XR. This is more than just new devices – it's about reimagining how we
interact with the world around us. We're building a future where
lightweight XR devices like smart glasses and headsets pair with helpful AI
to augment human intelligence, offering personalized, conversational, and
contextually aware experiences.

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

US: $188000 - $274000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Define system-level electrical architecture, block diagrams, component selection, schematics, and HDI/rigid-flex PCB stackups for compact, battery-powered XR devices.
• Design and optimize power distribution networks (PMICs, DC-DC converters, battery management) and high-speed interfaces (MIPI CSI/DSI, PCIe, USB-C, LPDDR) to meet strict power, thermal, and signal/power integrity (SI/PI) limits.
• Integrate custom and commercial silicon, display optics drivers (micro-OLED/MicroLED), camera/sensor suites (IMUs, eye-tracking, environment perception), and wireless coexistence (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UWB).
• Lead board bring-up, lab characterization, failure analysis, and hardware debugging across prototype builds (EVT, DVT, PVT) using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and RF test equipment.
• Guide junior engineers, author comprehensive design specifications and test plans, and establish robust hardware design review processes across the organization.

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.

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