Staff Software Engineering Tech Lead, YouTube Living Room

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. As a software engineer, you will work on a specific project critical to Google’s needs with opportunities to switch teams and projects as you and our fast-paced business grow and evolve. We need our engineers to be versatile, display leadership qualities and be enthusiastic to take on new problems across the full-stack as we continue to push technology forward.

With your technical expertise you will manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions.

YouTube on TV is our fastest-growing platform, with over a billion hours of daily watchtime. Our team manages the distribution of YouTube across a vast device ecosystem, ensuring a premium experience on everything from high-end systems to entry-level hardware.

Cobalt is an open-source, lightweight embedded browser designed for living room devices, powering the full suite of YouTube applications on TV, including the YouTube main app, YouTube TV, Music, and Kids.

In this role, you will lead the development of YouTube experiences for the living room, working with the latest smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming media devices.

At YouTube, we believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share, and build community through our stories. We work together to give everyone the power to share their story, explore what they love, and connect with one another in the process. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and boundless creativity, we move at the speed of culture with a shared goal to show people the world. We explore new ideas, solve real problems, and have fun — and we do it all together.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $207000 - $301000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + bonus + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical direction and development for TV platforms, ensuring the delivery of YouTube experiences on a broad ecosystem of partner devices. Mentor and lead a team of engineers, driving technical excellence, best practices, and professional growth.
• Oversee and implement critical performance and memory optimization initiatives to maintain a user experience on resource-constrained hardware.
• Facilitate deep technical collaboration with YouTube internal web client teams to optimize applications and leverage platform-specific capabilities.
• Lead cross-team integration efforts for YouTube Living Room on partner devices, managing a seamless delivery of platform features and updates.
• Leverage Generative AI tools for coding, debugging, and data analysis to accelerate team velocity and innovation.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in software development.
• 3 years of experience programming in C++.
• 3 years of experience with multi-threaded programming and CPU-sensitive performance optimization.
• Experience building systems on embedded devices working close to hardware.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working within embedded devices (e.g., Smart TVs, game consoles, or streaming devices).
• Experience in system integration and release management for third-party partner platforms.
• Knowledge of video streaming technologies, graphics programming, or browser engine internals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across cross-functional and external partner teams.