The role
From Google's own posting.
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. As a Principal Software Engineer within the Android XR team, you will be at the core of redefining how users interact with spatial computing through intelligence and voice. The Android XR team is focused on building platforms and technologies that blend the digital and physical worlds seamlessly. In this role, you will lead the architectural vision for on-device Large Language Models (LLMs) and voice-first interfaces, ensuring that our next-generation wearables and XR devices are responsive, private, and exceptionally capable. You will bridge the gap between silicon capabilities and high-level AI services, driving strategic technical decisions that impact millions of users.
The Platforms and Devices team encompasses Google's various computing software platforms across environments (desktop, mobile, applications), as well as our first party devices and services that combine the best of Google AI, software, and hardware. Teams across this area research, design, and develop new technologies to make our user's interaction with computing faster and more seamless, building innovative experiences for our users around the world.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $307000 - $427000 (USD) + 30% bonus target + equity + benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google .
Lead the end-to-end technical architecture for on-device LLM integration and voice processing pipelines within the Android XR ecosystem.
Drive hardware-software co-design efforts to optimize model performance for constrained Edge-AI environments, focusing on latency, power, and memory efficiency.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Silicon, Android OS, and Google Research teams to define the long-term roadmap for spatial intelligence.
Mentor senior technical leads and staff engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovative problem-solving across the organization.
Influence the broader industry by representing Google in technical standards and partnerships related to on-device AI and XR.
Minimum qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
15 years of software development experience, with a focus on system architecture, machine learning, or mobile platforms.
Experience leading large-scale technical projects from conception to launch, managing multiple stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience architecting systems for mobile or embedded devices.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with C++, Rust, and modern machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX) at the systems level.
Deep understanding of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and voice-based user interface design.
Ability to navigate complex, ambiguous technical landscapes and drive clarity for massive engineering organizations.
Expertise in low-level compilation, model quantization, and optimization techniques specifically for Edge-AI and NPU/DSP hardware.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
15 years of software development experience, with a focus on system architecture, machine learning, or mobile platforms.
Experience leading large-scale technical projects from conception to launch, managing multiple stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience architecting systems for mobile or embedded devices.