VibeCodeCareers 
On-site in Mountain View, California, senior-level role. Google is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer for their Cognitive Architecture team within Special Projects. This role focuses on mechanistic AI research and developing cognitive architecture for future AI systems.
Skills / Requirements
- Agentic Programming
- AI Systems
- Cognitive Architecture
- Data Processing
- Debugging
- Engineering Excellence
- Ethical Guidelines
- Machine Learning
- Mentoring
- ML Infrastructure
- Model Deployment
- Model Evaluation
- Reinforcement Learning
- Scalable AI Systems
- Speech/Audio Technology
- Stakeholder Management
- System Design
- Technical Leadership
- Vibe Coding
Why Apply
This role is ideal for developers skilled in agentic programming tools like Antigravity/Jetski and full-stack vibe coding. You'll leverage AI tools to design and integrate scalable cognitive systems, pushing the boundaries of AI safety and reliability.
What You'll Be Doing
You will design and implement cognitive architecture primitives, guide system integration, and collaborate with stakeholders to align AI systems with ethical guidelines. You'll also mentor engineers and drive continuous improvement in AI capabilities.
Working in Mountain View, California
- Mountain View is a major hub for tech innovation, home to many leading tech companies including Google.
- The area offers a vibrant job market with ample opportunities in tech and adjacent fields.
- Public transport options like Caltrain and VTA light rail make commuting manageable in the Bay Area.
- Mountain View boasts a mild Mediterranean climate, ideal for outdoor activities year-round.
- The region is known for its high cost of living, but offers rich cultural and recreational amenities.
Pay and Career Growth
The role offers a competitive salary range of $207,000 to $300,000, plus bonus and equity. Google's culture emphasizes versatility and leadership, providing opportunities to switch projects and grow within a fast-paced environment.
Benefits and Perks
- Bonus
- diversity programs
- Equity
- healthcare
- Paid Time Off
- Parental Leave
- Professional Development
- retirement plan
Is This Role Right for You?
Good fit if you...
- Experienced in designing and deploying machine learning infrastructure.
- Comfortable leading technical teams and mentoring engineers.
- Proficient in agentic programming tools and full-stack vibe coding.
May not be for you if...
- Lacks experience in AI and machine learning design.
- Prefers remote work over on-site collaboration.
- Uncomfortable with a fast-paced, ambiguous problem-solving environment.
Original Job Description
Senior Staff Software Engineer, Cognitive Architecture, Special Projects
corporatefare_ Google place Mountain View, CA, USA
Advanced
Experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders; deep expertise in domain.
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 with one or more of the following: speech/audio (e.g., technology duplicating and responding to the human voice), reinforcement learning (e.g., sequential decision making), machine learning infrastructure, or specialization in another machine learning field.
5 years of experience with ML design and ML infrastructure (e.g., model deployment, model evaluation, data processing, debugging, fine tuning).
Preferred qualifications:
Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
8 years of experience with data structures and algorithms.
3 years of experience in a technical leadership role guiding project teams and setting technical direction.
3 years of experience working in a matrixed organization involving cross-functional or cross-business projects.
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.
Our special projects team within Google Tech and Society is dedicated to mechanistic artificial intelligence research. We are a collaborative group with interconnections to research and development teams throughout the company. Our focus is on the basic science of mechanistic interpretability, striving to reverse-engineer the internal computations of large language models to ensure their safety, alignment, and reliability. We push beyond traditional approaches to understand the compositional and structural mechanisms within models.
The US base salary range for this full-time position is $207,000-$300,000 + 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 aboutbenefits at Google (https://careers.google.com/benefits/) .
Responsibilities
Design, architect, and implement cognitive architecture primitives that form the foundation of future agentic artificial intelligence systems.
Guide the development and integration of these cognitive systems, leveraging agentic programming tools (e.g., Antigravity/Jetski, full-stack vibe coding) to accelerate production and deployment.
Partner with stakeholders, product managers, and research scientists to ensure system implementation is aligned with objectives and ethical guidelines.
Serve as a technical leader, mentoring engineers and researchers, and setting standards for engineering excellence and scalable artificial intelligence systems.
Deliver continuous improvement in core infrastructure and development workflows, and serve as a team foundation on scaled evaluation and the piloting of artificial intelligence capabilities.
Information collected and processed as part of your Google Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Google’sApplicant and Candidate Privacy Policy (./privacy-policy) .
Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See alsoGoogle’s EEO Policy (https://www.google.com/about/careers/applications/eeo/) ,Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal (https://careers.google.com/jobs/dist/legal/EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf) ,Belonging at Google (https://about.google/belonging/) , andHow we hire (https://careers.google.com/how-we-hire/) .
If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing ourAccommodations for Applicants form (https://goo.gl/forms/aBt6Pu71i1kzpLHe2) .
Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.
To all recruitment agencies: Google does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Google employees, or any other organization location. Google is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
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 https://careers.google.com/eeo/ and https://careers.google.com/jobs/dist/legal/OFCCPEEOPost.pdf If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form: https://goo.gl/forms/aBt6Pu71i1kzpLHe2.
