Software Engineer Manager, Linux Networking

Google

Sunnyvale, California, United StatesFull-time$207,000–$300,000Posted Oct 13, 2026

About the role

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8 years of experience in software development.
  • 3 years of experience with developing large-scale infrastructure, distributed

systems or networks, or experience with compute technologies, storage or

hardware architecture.

  • 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role.
  • 2 years of experience in a people management or team leadership role.
  • Experience in systems programming using C or C++, with experience in Linux

kernel internals and large-scale system architecture design.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
  • 3 years of experience working in a complex, matrixed organization.
  • Experience with PCI Express (PCIe) interfaces, related device driver

development, and advanced network protocols or kernel-level networking

performance optimization.

ABOUT THE JOB:

Like Google's own ambitions, the work of a Software Engineer goes beyond just

Search. Software Engineering Managers have not only the technical expertise to

take on and provide technical leadership to major projects, but also manage a

team of Engineers. You not only optimize your own code but make sure Engineers

are able to optimize theirs. As a Software Engineering Manager you manage your

project goals, contribute to product strategy and help develop your team. Teams

work all across the company, in areas such as information retrieval, artificial

intelligence, natural language processing, distributed computing, large-scale

system design, networking, security, data compression, user interface design;

the list goes on and is growing every day. Operating with scale and speed, our

exceptional software engineers are just getting started -- and as a manager, you

guide the way.

With technical and leadership expertise, you manage engineers across multiple

teams and locations, a large product budget and oversee the deployment of

large-scale projects across multiple sites internationally.

The Linux Kernel Networking team within CoreOS builds and maintains the secure,

high-performance stack powering Google's global infrastructure and Google Cloud.

Managing all internet-facing traffic, production traffic, and massive AI/ML data

pipelines, our work delivers planet-scale impact across millions of machines. We

follow an upstream first philosophy and guide the community as a major

contributor to Linux TCP/IP.

In this role, you will design, optimize, and maintain core kernel networking

protocols for latency-sensitive and high-throughput workloads. In addition to

technical execution, you will direct cross-organizational initiatives, mentor

engineers, and contribute directly to the upstream kernel.

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 force 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

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

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Serve as a Manager for the Linux Kernel Networking team, collaborating with

leadership to define long-term architectural strategy, establish team vision,

and manage project priorities, deliverables, and production support.

  • Design, develop, test, and enhance large-scale Linux kernel networking

solutions and PCIe-related device drivers tailored for high-throughput,

low-latency performance.

  • Coach, mentor, and guide a distributed team of engineers, supporting their

career development and fostering high engineering standards.

  • Drive alignment across cross-organizational teams on goals, roadmaps, and

dependencies to execute planet-scale infrastructure projects.

  • Leverage emerging AI-assisted tools and best practices to accelerate software

development workflows, testing, and deployment cycles.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Linux Kernel Networking team and define architectural strategy, team vision, priorities, deliverables, and production support.
  • Design, develop, test, and enhance Linux kernel networking solutions and PCIe device drivers for high-throughput, low-latency performance.
  • Coach and mentor a distributed engineering team and support career development.
  • Align cross-organizational teams on goals, roadmaps, and dependencies for large-scale infrastructure projects.
  • Use AI-assisted tools and best practices to accelerate software development, testing, and deployment.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • At least 8 years of software development experience.
  • At least 3 years developing large-scale infrastructure, distributed systems, networks, compute technologies, storage, or hardware architecture.
  • At least 3 years in a technical leadership role and 2 years in people management or team leadership.
  • Experience with C or C++ systems programming, Linux kernel internals, and large-scale system architecture design.
  • Preferred: Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science or a related field; experience in complex, matrixed organizations; PCIe, device drivers, advanced network protocols, or kernel-level networking performance optimization.

Benefits

  • 20% bonus target
  • Equity
  • Benefits

Skills mentioned

CC++LinuxTCP/IPDistributed SystemsSystem DesignPerformance OptimizationConcurrencySystems EngineeringEmbedded Software Development

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.