Staff Software Engineer, Audio Platform, XR

Socket.dev; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 262,000 - 364,000; Full time

Job summary

Google's XR Audio team is building immersive audio for smart glasses and AR devices. You will own the long-term roadmap for XR audio systems, decomposing complex challenges into multi-team initiatives while ensuring top-tier audio quality across all glasses form factors.

The role requires deep experience in audio DSP, C/C++, and embedded/system-level software, with autonomy and the ability to influence executive decisions on critical product directions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in a technical field.
• 8 years of software development experience.
• 8 years in audio software systems, DSP, acoustics, or consumer electronics audio architecture.
• 4 years in audio software systems, DSP, acoustics, or consumer electronics audio architecture.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the long-term technical roadmap and strategy for XR audio systems.
• Take accountability for overall audio quality across XR glasses form factors.
• Collaborate with hardware teams to optimize microphone arrays and acoustic chambers.
• Evaluate and manage key component and IP vendors for advanced audio algorithms.
• Architect and integrate low-latency, power-efficient system software.

Skills

Audio DSP

C/C++ development

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, or related field

Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

RTOS/Android system-level software architecture

Job description

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 8 years of experience in audio software systems, digital signal processing (DSP), acoustics, or consumer electronics audio architecture.
• 4 years of experience in audio software systems, digital signal processing (DSP), acoustics, or consumer electronics audio architecture.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Experience with C/C++ development and system-level software architecture for embedded or real-time audio systems (RTOS/Android).
• Experience in physical acoustic design and system tuning for ultra-low-power wearables or smart glasses.
• Experience designing and delivering high-performance, low-power voice activation systems (such as always-on hotwords) or spatial audio rendering pipelines.
• Ability to operate with complete autonomy, leverage excellent engineering judgment to navigate extreme ambiguity, and successfully influence executive directors and VPs on critical product decisions.

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.

The XR Audio team is dedicated to creating immersive audio experiences that seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds across a portfolio of XR smart glasses spanning audio-only devices, monocular and binocular smart eyewear, and fully immersive, mixed-reality headset.

The team operates at the intersection of acoustics, hardware co-design, digital signal processing, and system software. We own the end-to-end audio pipeline, starting from raw acoustic design and physical hardware co-design up to platform-level audio frameworks and high-level conversational feature enablement. We partner closely with hardware engineering teams, algorithm designers, software architects, external silicon vendors, and key component suppliers to deliver industry-leading audio quality.

For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. 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: $262000 - $364000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities:

• Own and drive the long-term technical roadmap and strategy for XR audio systems. Decompose ambiguous, highly complex audio challenges into structured, multi-team projects.
• Take ultimate accountability for overall audio quality across all XR glasses form factors. Establish standardized quality metrics and audio tuning practices.
• Partner with physical hardware teams to evaluate and select micro-acoustic transducers and optimize microphone array placement/orientation and acoustic chambers under severe spatial constraints.
• Evaluate, select, and manage key component and IP vendors. Drive the integration of advanced audio algorithms utilizing both in-house research and external vendor technologies.
• Architect, design, and vet robust, low-latency, and power-efficient system software. Own the integration of critical platform features.