Principal Engineer, ServerOps

The Server Operations team is responsible for keeping the servers, networks, and logistics processes in Google’s global fleet of data centers running smoothly and efficiently. The team installs, commissions, operates and maintains some of the most sophisticated systems equipment in the world. We strive to be creative, team-oriented technicians and managers working on a daily basis to operate systems in Google’s data centers that are changing computing.

Google is seeking a Principal Engineer who will be responsible for setting the overall technical direction for ServerOps, driving innovation and ensuring the reliability and scalability of Server Operations. You will partner with Platform and Prod Ops leaders to ensure the product hardware roadmap and features are compatible and support product deployability, serviceability and fleet maintenance in all data center designs while balancing cost, efficiency, and technology innovation.

As the overall ServerOps Technical Lead, you'll build collaborative bridges across Google, including Platform Engineering, Fleet Management, Tech Writing, and multiple engineering organizations.

Google continuously innovates on the designs of the server, storage, and networking hardware. While performance of the hardware is key, our ability to quickly deploy the hardware at scale in Google’s own and third-party data centers is key to our agility. Once deployed, the ability of our ServerOps teams is to repair, maintain, upgrade, move, and decommission the hardware that is critical to the efficiency of our deployed fleet, effectiveness of our data center technicians, and directly impacts our customer experience.

Behind everything our users see online is the architecture built by the Technical Infrastructure team to keep it running. From developing and maintaining our data centers to building the next generation of Google platforms, we make Google's product portfolio possible. We're proud to be our engineers' engineers and love voiding warranties by taking things apart so we can rebuild them. We keep our networks up and running, ensuring our users have the best and fastest experience possible.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $256,000-$356,000 + 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 specifications, which include establishing detailed technical requirements for server hardware & specifying the performance metrics, scalability goals & compliance standards. 
• Collaborate with hardware engineering teams to align on the product roadmap & features, especially as they impact deployability & serviceability of the hardware systems. This also includes advocating for new technologies or processes that improve efficiency & performance.
• Influence leaders across Hardware Design, NPI, Quality & Reliability, Software, & Data Center Design Engineering to align server specifications with business requirements & compatibility between applications & server infrastructure, while drive decisions that ensure a balance of cost, efficiency, & technology innovation for the ServerOps teams, enabling operational excellence (optimizing performance, capacity planning & incident response).
• Design and oversee interfaces for seamless communication between systems while ensuring interfaces comply with standards. This also includes assessing & helping to select technologies, frameworks, and tools for optimal server operations.

Minimum qualifications:

• 15 years of experience in the deployment of a lifecycle hardware product
• 10 years of relevant work experience in driving strategy and operations for organizations

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in all phases of hype cycle and maturity
• Experience mentoring engineers and techs fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence
• Demonstrated ability to make critical decisions under pressure, balancing technical requirements with business objectives
• Track record of driving innovation, including adopting new technologies and methodologies to improve overall performance