Staff Software Engineer, Pixel System Security

Google
Mountain View, California, United StatesFull-time$207,000–$300,000Posted Sep 4, 2026

About the role

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

Learn more about benefits at Google

[https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/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.

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.

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.
  • Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (preferred).
  • 8 years of software engineering experience in embedded systems, OS internals, or systems security architecture (preferred).
  • 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role leading project teams and setting technical direction (preferred).
  • Experience collaborating with silicon engineering teams, or building secure bootloaders, roots of trust, and key management systems (preferred).

Benefits

  • 20% bonus target
  • equity
  • comprehensive benefits package

Skills mentioned

Embedded SystemsEmbedded Software DevelopmentEmbedded LinuxFirmware DevelopmentCybersecurityApplication SecurityThreat ModelingSystem DesignSystems EngineeringRust

About Google

A problem isn't truly solved until it's solved for all. Googlers build products that help create opportunities for everyone, whether down the street or across the globe. Bring your insight, imagination and a healthy disregard for the impossible. Bring everything that makes you unique. Together, we can build for everyone. Check out our career opportunities at goo.gle/3DLEokh

Software Development10,001+ employeesMountain View, CA