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Senior Staff Software Engineer and Technical Lead, GCS Semantic Search

Google

Seattle, WAJob$262–364K/yrSeen 3w agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$262–364K/yr
Location
Seattle, WA
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

Google seeks a Senior Staff Software Engineer and Technical Lead for GCS Semantic Search. The role provides technical leadership on high-impact projects, guides a distributed engineering team, and designs and delivers large-scale software solutions. Candidates need a bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience, substantial C++ programming experience, and experience with software design, architecture, testing, and launches. Preferred qualifications include advanced education and technical leadership experience.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

C++ ProgrammingSoftware DesignSoftware ArchitectureSoftware TestingSoftware LaunchingData StructuresAlgorithmsTechnical LeadershipProject Team LeadershipTechnical DirectionCross-Functional CollaborationCross-Business Projects

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Practical Experience8 Years C++ Experience5 Years Design and Architecture ExperienceMaster's or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or Related Field8 Years Data Structures and Algorithms Experience5 Years Technical Leadership Experience3 Years Complex Organization ExperienceEnglish Proficiency

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave

Full job description

Senior Staff Software Engineer and Technical Lead, GCS Semantic Search

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corporate_fare Google place Seattle, WA, USA

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

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info_outline

XIn most instances, this position requires in-person interviews as part of the hiring process.

In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based employees. Benefits for this role include:

  • Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance

  • Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with company match

  • Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year, accruing at a rate of 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years of employment

  • Sick Time: 40 hours/year (increased to 69 hours/year for Seattle) including 5 discretionary sick days per instance

  • Maternity Leave (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding): 28-30 weeks

  • Baby Bonding Leave: 18 weeks

  • Holidays: 13 paid days per year

Minimum qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

  • 8 years of experience programming in C++.

  • 5 years of experience with design and architecture; and testing/launching software products.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

  • 8 years of experience with data structures/algorithms.

  • 5 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 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.

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: $262000 - $364000 (USD) + 25% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more aboutbenefits at Google (https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/benefits/) .

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership on high-impact projects.

  • Influence and coach a distributed team of engineers.

  • Facilitate alignment and clarity across teams on goals, outcomes, and timelines.

  • Manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.

  • Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance large-scale software solutions.

Information collected and processed as part of your Google Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Google'sApplicant and Candidate Privacy Policy (./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 alsoGoogle's EEO Policy (https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/eeo/) ,Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal (https://careers.google.com/jobs/dist/legal/EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf) ,Belonging at Google (https://about.google/belonging/) , andHow we hire (https://careers.google.com/how-we-hire/) .

If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing ourAccommodations for Applicants form (https://goo.gl/forms/aBt6Pu71i1kzpLHe2) .

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.

To all recruitment agencies: Google does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Google employees, or any other organization location. Google is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also https://careers.google.com/eeo/ and https://careers.google.com/jobs/dist/legal/OFCCP_EEO_Post.pdf If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form: https://goo.gl/forms/aBt6Pu71i1kzpLHe2.

How this job compares

Set against the 7,944 open Software Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 30, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$262–364K/yr
  • Washington median$168–254K/yr373 salary ranges
  • US median$147–245K/yr5,954 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $313K, is 49% above the Washington median midpoint ($210K) — in the top quarter of Software Engineering salary ranges in Washington.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 450 open Software Engineering jobs in Washington and 7,944 across the US. 7% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Washington
Experience
This posting asks for at least 8 years of experience; Software Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 7 years at the median (6,138 postings).
Education
2,188 of the 7,944 open Software Engineering jobs (28%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 30, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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