Senior Software Engineer, Photos Android Ecosystem and XR

About the Job

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.

The Photos Android Infrastructure and Ecosystem team's mission is to build engaging and delightful Photos experiences by deeply integrating with the Android platform and device ecosystem. We ensure Google Photos excels across all Android devices, from foundational media quality to leveraging new platform innovations.

We're also at the forefront of bringing memories to life in new ways, including our close partnership with the XR team on the Photos XR project. We adapt the core Photos Android app to power immersive 3D experiences on Android XR, bridging the gap between the traditional gallery and spatial computing.

Google Photos is a photo sharing and storage service developed by Google. Photos is one of the most sought-after products at Google and is looking for both client‑side (web and mobile), server‑side (search, storage, serving), and machine intelligence (learning, computer vision) Software Engineers. We are dedicated to making Google experiences centered around the user.

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $174,000–$252,000 + 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.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience with software development in the Kotlin or Java programming language.
• 3 years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and 1 year of experience with software design and architecture.
• 3 years of experience with Android development.

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 5 years of experience with data structures and algorithms.
• 3 years of experience with performance, large‑scale systems data analysis, visualization tools, or debugging.
• Experience building large‑scale developer APIs.

• Lead the design and implementation of features, APIs, and architectural changes within the core Google Photos Android application (Photos 2D) to seamlessly power and integrate with the standalone "Photos XR" immersive application.
• Serve as a primary technical point of contact between the Photos Android Infrastructure and Ecosystem team and the Photos XR team.
• Facilitate communication, resolve technical dependencies, and ensure architectural alignment across both teams. Provide technical leadership and guidance on Android best practices, system design, and XR integration strategies.
• Drive the investigation and resolution of complex technical issues, particularly those at the intersection of the Photos Android app and the Android XR platform or Photos XR app.
• Leverage knowledge of the Android OS, SDK, and ecosystem to build optimal solutions and proactively address challenges related to new Android versions or device‑specific behaviors.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the law.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form.