Staff Software Engineer, Embedded Systems/Firmware, Servers

Socket.dev; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 207,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a software engineer to lead the development of high-performance server platform software, including firmware, BIOS, kernel, and drivers. You will define technical direction and drive pre-silicon co-development with hardware teams.

You will mentor a distributed team and manage priorities to deliver high-impact, reliable systems across large-scale environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience testing, and launching software products.
• 5 years of experience working with embedded operating systems.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• Experience with C and C++.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end software architecture, design, and development of high-performance server platforms, establishing technical direction and defining the goal for high-impact projects.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, software, and system engineering teams to drive pre-silicon Firmware (FW)/Software (SW) co-development, optimize integration, and align cross-organizational roadmaps with overall business goals.
• Own the delivery of comprehensive software solutions—spanning FW, BIOS, Kernel, and drivers—ensuing rigorous testing, deployment, and long-term maintenance of large-scale systems.
• Influence, mentor, and coach a distributed team of engineers, fostering a collaborative culture of continuous innovation, technical excellence, and professional growth.
• Manage project priorities, deliverables, and timelines while facilitating absolute clarity across multiple teams to ensure seamless execution on high-impact objectives.

Skills

Software development

Testing and launching software

Embedded OS

Software design & architecture

C and C++

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Kernel drivers

Job description

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience testing, and launching software products.
• 5 years of experience working with embedded operating systems.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• Experience with C and C++.

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.
• 3 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.
  
• Experience with Kernel and Kernel Drivers.

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.

In this role, you will leverage your deep understanding of low-level software to lead product development within our Server portfolio. This team is responsible for the platform software (Firmware, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), Drivers) for all Google servers, including compute servers and ML headnodes. You will also contribute to initiatives like Far Memory and other innovative, currently need-to-know products shaping our future solutions.

The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.

We're the driving channel behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.

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

US: $207000 - $300000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end software architecture, design, and development of high-performance server platforms, establishing technical direction and defining the goal for high-impact projects.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, software, and system engineering teams to drive pre-silicon Firmware (FW)/Software (SW) co-development, optimize integration, and align cross-organizational roadmaps with overall business goals.
• Own the delivery of comprehensive software solutions—spanning FW, BIOS, Kernel, and drivers—ensuing rigorous testing, deployment, and long-term maintenance of large-scale systems.
• Influence, mentor, and coach a distributed team of engineers, fostering a collaborative culture of continuous innovation, technical excellence, and professional growth.
• Manage project priorities, deliverables, and timelines while facilitating absolute clarity across multiple teams to ensure seamless execution on high-impact objectives.