
Staff Software Engineer, Android Kernel and Systems
Mountain View, CAJob$207–300K/yrSeen 2w agoSeen in employer's feed 5 days ago
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Job overview
Google seeks a Staff Software Engineer to develop Android kernel and system components and create the Generic Kernel Image for devices across multiple product areas. The role contributes to open-source projects and helps maintain a reliable, secure foundation for Android. Candidates need substantial embedded operating systems experience, software design and architecture experience, C/C++ programming, and Linux Kernel development experience.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Staff Software Engineer, Android Kernel and Systems
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corporate_fare Google place Mountain View, CA, USA
Advanced
Experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders; deep expertise in domain.
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XIn most instances, this position requires in-person interviews as part of the hiring process.
Minimum qualifications:
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Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
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8 years of experience working with embedded operating systems.
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3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
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Experience programming in C/C++.
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Experience with software development in the Linux Kernel.
Preferred qualifications:
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Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
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8 years of experience with data structures and algorithms.
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Experience building software in the Rust programming language.
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Experience with Android platforms.
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Experience with system software in any of the following areas - ARM/ARM64 architecture, compilers, firmware, operating systems, Linux kernel, filesystems/storage, device drivers, performance tuning, networking, tools, tests, virtualization, platform libraries.
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.
Android is Google’s mobile operating system powering more than 3 billion devices worldwide. Android is about bringing computing to everyone in the world. We believe computing is a super power for good, enabling access to information, economic opportunity, productivity, connectivity between friends and family and more. We think everyone in the world should have access to the best computing has to offer. We provide the platform for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and developers to build compelling computing devices (smartphones, tablets, TVs, wearables, etc) that run the best apps/services for everyone in 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 aboutbenefits at Google (https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/benefits/) .
Responsibilities
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Work on core system components including memory management, scheduling, power, storage, virtualization, networking.
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Create and ship Generic Kernel Image (GKI) for billions of devices.
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Scale development across a growing number of verticals (Wear, Auto, TV, large screen, etc.)
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Contribute to various open source projects, such as Linux Kernel, STG, AOSP, LLVM, LTP.
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Create and maintain a reliable, secure and robust foundation for the Android software ecosystem.
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 8,426 open Software Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$207–300K/yr
- California median$188–275K/yr1,244 salary ranges
- US median$150–247K/yr6,401 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $254K, is 11% above the California median midpoint ($228K) — in the middle half of Software Engineering salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 1,687 open Software Engineering jobs in California and 8,426 across the US. 10% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- 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 (6,622 postings).
- Education
- 2,209 of the 8,426 open Software Engineering jobs (26%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 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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