Staff Software Engineer, Pixel System Security

Google; United States; On-site; USD 207,000 - 301,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for Pixel System Security in Mountain View, CA. You will lead the design and implementation of next-generation verified boot and secure manufacturing lifecycle transitions, partnering with silicon teams to harden ROMs and manage cryptographic accelerators.

You will drive supply chain integrity through hardware bindings and production key ceremonies, while aligning security strategy with OS teams to keep Pixel devices among the most secure smartphones

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience in embedded systems and system security.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.

Responsibilities

• Lead system security efforts by architecting next-generation secure boot mechanisms and managing lifecycle state transitions.
• Partner with silicon design teams to drive SOC security reviews, ROM hardening, and secure provisioning.
• Enforce platform integrity by managing device authentication workflows and robust cryptographic binding.
• Drive production key creation ceremonies and align security strategy with OS engineering teams.

Skills

Software development

Embedded systems

System security

Software architecture

Technical leadership

Secure boot / roots of trust

Cryptography

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Master's degree or PhD in Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Staff Software Engineer, Pixel System Security

Location: Mountain View, CA, USA

Experience Level: Advanced

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

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience in embedded systems and system security.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8 years of software engineering experience in embedded systems, OS internals, or systems security architecture.
• 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role leading project teams and setting technical direction.
• Experience collaborating with silicon engineering teams, or building secure bootloaders, roots of trust, and key management systems.
• Familiarity with modern cryptography (Post-Quantum Cryptography/ML-DSA), attestation frameworks (DICE), or memory-safe languages (Rust).

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.

As Staff Software Engineer, Pixel System Security, you will play a critical role in ensuring Pixel remains the most secure smartphone on the market. You will architect platform security by leading the design and implementation of next-generation verified boot and secure manufacturing lifecycle transitions. You will partner closely with custom silicon engineering teams on early security architecture reviews, ROM/OTP hardening, and cryptographic accelerators. Additionally, you will ensure supply chain integrity by addressing hardware binding and factory attestation across all Pixel generations, while driving strategic delivery through the oversight of production key ceremonies and seamless collaboration with our operating system security teams.

The Google Pixel team focuses on designing and delivering the world's most helpful mobile experience. The team works on shaping the future of Pixel devices and services through some of the most advanced designs, techniques, products, and experiences in consumer electronics. This includes bringing together the best of Google's artificial intelligence, software, and hardware to build global smartphones and create transformative experiences for users across the world.

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

US: $207,000 - $301,000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

• Lead system security efforts by architecting next-generation secure boot mechanisms and managing advanced manufacturing lifecycle state transitions.
• Partner directly with custom silicon design teams to drive future system-on-chip security reviews, ROM hardening, and secure provisioning.
• Enforce platform integrity by managing complex device authentication workflows and ensuring robust cryptographic hardware binding against supply chain threats.
• Drive production delivery by guiding cryptographic key creation ceremonies and aligning the overarching platform security strategy with operating system engineering teams.

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, are 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.