Software Engineer, PhD, Early Career, AI/Machine Learning, 2026 Start

About the role

Google's software engineers develop the next-generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact with information and one another. Our products need to handle information at massive scale, and extend well beyond web search. We're looking for engineers who bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking and data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design and mobile; the list goes on and is growing every day.

Responsibilities

• Learn more about benefits at Google.
• Collaborate or lead on team projects to carry out design, analysis, and development of advanced ML systems across the stack using your research expertise.
• Support building end-to-end ML Systems that involves working across the full stack, from low-level hardware acceleration and compiler optimizations to high-level model architecture and production APIs, transforming your research expertise into robust, scalable products.
• Optimize complex system performance by analyzing and fixing performance bottlenecks, memory inefficiencies, and errors in production systems to meet stringent customer goals.
• Elevate engineering excellence by writing well-tested code, conducting code reviews and fostering a culture of quality by advocating best engineering practices.

Requirements

• PhD degree in Computer Science, ML/AI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience coding in one of the following programming languages including but not limited to: Python, C, C++, Java, JavaScript or Golang.
• Experience in Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence.

Preferred qualifications

• Research experience in designing, developing, or applying ML/AI systems or applications in a large-scale distributed environment.
• Experience in designing, training, or refining complex ML/AI models.
• Experience in deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow/Jax/Pytorch.
• Experience in building a stack for an AI-powered application, including data ingestion and processing pipelines, building APIs, and connecting the model to a user-facing interface.
• Familiarity with model architectures (CNNs, NLP Transformers, Diffusion/Vision Transformers).

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance.
• Retailer 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

$147,000 - $211,000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Schedule

Full-time role starting in 2026.