Staff Software Engineer, Incubation and Prototyping

Jigsaw takes a proof-of-concept approach to our work: we focus on the 0-to-1 stage of building out new concepts and our projects culminate in real world activations that demonstrate the capabilities of Google's latest technology. We don’t build traditional Google products; we build blueprints for the future. Our team of researchers, designers, and engineers collaborate closely with each other, and external partners, to realize AI concepts that give individuals greater influence over their lives. Once we have proven real-world impact through rapid co-design and iterative development, we scale by empowering third parties to replicate and adopt our innovations via open-source contributions and strategic partnerships.

Jigsaw is an incubator within Google that builds technologies to give people greater agency in the world around them. Across the globe, we're more connected than ever before, to information and to each other, yet many of us feel disconnected from the decisions and systems that affect our lives. We believe that AI can bridge this divide between the desire to shape our world and the ability to do so.

Jigsaw offers mission-driven work within a nimble interdisciplinary team, connections to academia and civil society, and a quick path to taking technology public.

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 about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical work to translate ethnographic research into proven AI capabilities through rapid prototyping, cross-functional collaboration, and iterative feedback.
• Execute the end-to-end development of applied AI concepts, navigating the development lifecycle from exploration to guiding handoffs for replication.
• Set the technical goals for new proofs-of-concept from 0-to-1, guiding a small team and fostering a culture of rapid experimentation and technical excellence.
• Collaborate iteratively with researchers, designers, product managers, and external partners to bridge the gap between human needs and technological capabilities.
• Own the technical narrative for proofs-of-concept by preparing demos and technical documentation that inspire leadership and external partners.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 5 years of experience testing and launching software products, and 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• 5 years of experience in applying AI solutions and ML-related technologies in consumer or enterprise applications.
• Experience integrating generative AI tools or LLM interfaces into workflows.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role leading project teams and setting technical direction.
• Experience navigating ambiguous problem spaces and delivering technical prototypes or proofs-of-concept.
• Experience integrating the latest artificial intelligence capabilities and vibe coding tools into engineering practices.
• Experience working at the intersection of technology and social systems, such as governance, health, or economic insecurity.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical complexity into compelling narratives for non-technical stakeholders.

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