Senior Software Engineer, Core Virtualization Security

Google

Seattle, Washington, United StatesFull-time$174,000–$252,000Posted Oct 12, 2026

About the role

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5 years of experience with software development in one or more programming

languages, and with data structures and algorithms.

  • 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products,

and 1 year of experience with software design and architecture.

  • Experience in Linux kernel programming, device bring-up, BSP.
  • Experience with Kernel-Based Virtual Machine, Kernel Programming, Virtual

Machines, Virtual Machine Monitor, Operating Systems, Security Analysis,

Threat Modeling.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related technical field.
  • 1 year of experience in a technical leadership role.
  • Experience with systems engineering, familiarity with operating system

principles and architecture.

  • Experience in system architectural security measures: threat modeling, risk

mitigation, memory safety, privilege reduction, etc.

  • Understanding of virtual machines/hypervisors.
  • Strong programming skills (C/C++, Python, 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.

With your technical expertise you will manage project priorities, deadlines, and

deliverables. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance

software solutions.

The Core Virtualization Security Team is evolving node security architecture,

with a focus on our Virtual Machine Manager:

  • End-to-end virtual machine monitor (VMM) hardening, from low level

Kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) interfaces to lifecycle management.

  • Partnering with product teams to securely add new platform support, including

the latest Intel, AMD and Arm chips.

  • Taking advantage of new software techniques and hardware capabilities to

enhance security.

  • Rapid adoption of Rust across the codebase.
  • Developing novel solutions for architecture hardening as the overall virt

stack evolves.

Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its

business and industry. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage

Google’s cutting-edge technology, and tools that help developers build more

sustainably. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google

Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical

business problems.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills,

experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $174000 - $252000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google

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

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design and develop new architectural hardening and defensive measures that

improve the security of the VMM and the virtualization node overall.

  • Provide technical leadership, participate in planning, and own outcomes for

large initiatives.

  • Work with various other teams, PMs, TPMs etc. in Google Compute Engine (GCE)

and Cloud to collaborate on large-scale security initiatives.

  • Triage and fix production issues, while also creating ways to reduce ongoing

toil and improve quality over time.

  • Evolve the security of the core virtual machine monitor (VMM) layer and the

virtualization node overall through low-level systems engineering and

architectural improvements.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop architectural hardening and defensive measures for the VMM and virtualization nodes.
  • Provide technical leadership, participate in planning, and own outcomes for large initiatives.
  • Collaborate with Google Compute Engine and Cloud teams on large-scale security initiatives.
  • Triage and fix production issues while reducing toil and improving quality.
  • Improve VMM and virtualization node security through low-level systems engineering and architectural improvements.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5 years of software development experience, including programming languages, data structures, and algorithms.
  • 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of software design and architecture experience.
  • Experience with Linux kernel programming, device bring-up, and BSP.
  • Experience with KVM, kernel programming, virtual machines, VMMs, operating systems, security analysis, and threat modeling.
  • Preferred: Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
  • Preferred: 1 year of technical leadership experience.
  • Preferred: Systems engineering, operating system principles, and architecture experience.

Benefits

  • 15% bonus target
  • Equity
  • Benefits

Skills mentioned

CC++PythonRustLinuxEmbedded LinuxSystems EngineeringCybersecurityThreat ModelingSystem Design

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

H-1B sponsorship history

Historical employer filing data was found for Google. The employer record includes 57,181 historical certified applications. This is employer-level history, not a guarantee that this role currently offers sponsorship.