Staff Software Engineer, YouTube Ads Marketplace Optimization

Google Inc.; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 207,000 - 301,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Google Inc. is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for the YouTube Ads Marketplace Optimization team in Mountain View, CA. This role involves leading a team of engineers to build recommendation systems that align ads with user interests. Candidates should have extensive experience in software development, machine learning design, and technical leadership.

The position offers a salary ranging from $207,000 to $301,000 USD, plus a bonus target of 20% and equity. A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a preference for candidates holding advanced degrees.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience in testing and launching software products.
• Experience integrating generative AI tools into workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions.
• Provide technical leadership on high-impact projects.
• Lead the design and implementation of recommendation systems.

Skills

Software development

Recommendation systems

ML design and infrastructure

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering or related

Job description

Staff Software Engineer, YouTube Ads Marketplace Optimization

Mountain View, CA, USA

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience testing, launching software products, and 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• 5 years of experience building and deploying recommendation systems models (retrieval, prediction, ranking, embedding) in production and experience building architecture in different modeling domains.
• 5 years of experience with ML design and ML infrastructure (model deployment, model evaluation, data processing, debugging, fine tuning).
• Experience integrating generative AI tools or LLM interfaces into workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8 years of experience with data structures/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.

About the Job

Google’s software engineers develop next‑generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact. As a staff software engineer on the YouTube Ads Marketplace Optimization team, you will lead a team of ML/AI/SW engineers to grow the YouTube Ads business by building user‑interest models and recommendation systems that align ads with user interests. You will design, develop, and deploy large‑scale AI systems that model commercial interests using Google‑wide data sources approved for advertising purposes, support multi‑task learning across surfaces, and enable downstream tasks such as retrieval, user action prediction, and knowledge distillation.

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

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance large‑scale software solutions.
• Provide technical leadership on high‑impact projects. Manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Facilitate alignment and clarity across teams on goals, outcomes, and timelines. Influence and coach a distributed team of engineers.
• Lead the design and implementation of recommendation systems, optimize ML infrastructure, and guide the development of model architecture.

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 or 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.