Director of Engineering, General Purpose and Node Platform

About the role

Google Compute Engine (GCE) empowers its users with a comprehensive suite of VM and Baremetal instances for General-Purpose, Compute-Optimized, Memory-Optimized, Storage-Optimized and GPU/TPU-Accelerated Workloads. GCE is used by businesses of all sizes, from startups to Large Enterprises running AI/ML, Cloud Native and Mission Critical workloads. We work closely with hardware partners and Google’s engineering teams to harness the latest advancements in CPU (x86/ARM), Storage, Network, GPU/TPU virtualization, all backed by cutting-edge security, reliability and performance.

Responsibilities

• Drive the strategic direction, engineering execution, and commercialization of the General-Purpose compute portfolio across both x86 and ARM architectures.
• Lead the design and delivery of foundational virtualization capabilities, including hostile multi-tenancy isolation, resource overcommit, disruption free updates, and consistent performance.
• Champion next-generation hypervisor and microVM development to build secure, high-density substrates for agentic AI workloads and sandboxed environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leadership across cluster management, container platforms, hardware platform engineering, and security to align on roadmaps, resource planning, and shared infrastructure goals.
• Manage senior technical talent, engineering managers, while resolving critical customer escalations and ensuring operational excellence across the global compute fleet.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 15 years of professional experience in software engineering, including team leadership and people management.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure systems, virtualization substrates, or low-level systems engineering.

Preferred qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience managing and scaling engineering teams responsible for core cloud infrastructure products.
• Deep technical knowledge of hypervisors (Hyper-V, KVM, Xen, Cloud Hypervisor), virtual machine managers (VMMs), or Linux kernel internals.
• Demonstrated experience driving large-scale, multi-year cross-functional programs under tight deadlines.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage escalations, and translate complex technical trade-offs for executive leadership and partners.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance
• Retailment 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

Pay

US: $307000 - $428000 (USD) + 30% bonus target + equity + benefits