Principal Engineer, Messaging, Platforms and Devices

The Google Messages team is building the future of communication. We are a driving force behind the global adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS), the modern industry standard that has fundamentally upgraded the default texting experience, replacing SMS and MMS. With over 2 billion users, RCS delivers a rich, modern messaging experience featuring high-resolution media sharing, typing indicators, read receipts, group chats, and end-to-end encryption. Beyond consumer-to-consumer communication, we are rapidly scaling RCS for Business. RCS for Business transforms how businesses connect with their customers by bringing interactive, branded, and secure conversational experiences directly into the user’s default messaging app.

The advent of generative AI is fundamentally transforming the discipline of software engineering, rapidly ushering in an era of autonomous coding agents. As the most senior technical leader in the organization, you will hold a dual mandate of immense strategic importance. First, you will define the architectural technical roadmap for the messaging platform, across both consumer and business messaging. Second, you will serve as the chief architect of our internal AI transformation, completely rethinking how our organization builds, tests, and deploys software.

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.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $307,000-$427,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the multi-year architectural outlook for Google Messages and the underlying RCS infrastructure, ensuring it scales seamlessly for users.
  
• Act as the lead architect and technical sponsor for our ambitious, high-impact engineering projects, resolving deep systemic bottlenecks and setting the standard for engineering excellence.
• Evolve how we build software fundamentally by integrating generative AI, autonomous coding agents, and automated workflows to drastically accelerate developer velocity.
• Serve as the definitive technical subject matter expert, representing the product internally across Google and externally.
• Elevate the engineering culture by mentoring staff and senior staff engineers, developing the next generation of technical leadership within the organization.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience.
• 15 years of experience in engineering, including experience with cross-functional technical innovation.
• 5 years of experience with mobile/voice/messaging networks/systems engineering or operations.
• Experience communicating and translating technical information with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred qualifications:

• 7 years of experience in a technical leadership role responsible for multiple technical areas and setting technical direction.
• Experience rapidly scaling a platform and team, and experience building enterprise products, working with developers, and building a developer ecosystem.
• Experience with carrier-based messaging technologies and products, and experience with messaging security.
• Experience in the mobile industry's ecosystem, products, and services, especially in SMS, MMS, RCS, RBM, voice and messaging technologies, devices and device architecture, mobile networks, and communications platforms.
• Ability to manage multiple complex assignments simultaneously and to work with geographically dispersed, cross-functional teams.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: San Jose, CA, USA; Kirkland, WA, USA.

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