Staff Research Hardware Engineer

corporate_fare Google place Mountain View, CA, USA

Advanced

Experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders; deep expertise in domain.

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• Bachelor’s degree in Hardware Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Imaging Science, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience working in a research environment, focusing on hardware design or imaging technologies.
• Experience building and designing intricate hardware systems, with an emphasis on multi-camera setups.
• Experience with camera technologies, including lenses, image sensors, and optics.
• Experience working with Linux operating systems.

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD in Hardware Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Imaging Science, Robotics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with lenses, cameras, displays, audio hardware, and Digital Multiplex (DMX) lighting systems.
• Experience working in an early-stage product team.
• Experience in prototyping and iterative development processes, particularly in hardware integration and testing.
• Understanding of filming e-techniques and equipment with background in motion picture or video production.
• Ability to navigate associated risks, ambiguity, and high-pressure environments.

About the job

Be part of a diverse team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's direct-to-consumer products. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide. Your expertise will shape the next generation of hardware experiences, delivering unparalleled performance, efficiency, and integration.

Labs is a group focused on incubating early-stage efforts in support of Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Our team exists to help discover and create new ways to advance our core products through exploration and the application of new technologies. We work to build new solutions that have the potential to transform how users interact with Google. Our goal is to drive innovation by developing new Google products and capabilities that deliver significant impact over longer timeframes.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $168,000-$252,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. 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.

Responsibilities

• Create advanced multi-camera systems using custom hardware to enhance Machine Learning (ML) based neural rendering research. This includes integrating mechanical structures, specialized cameras, lenses, LED lighting, and Linux-based personal computers (PC).
• Develop effective hardware solutions to meet project needs by gathering requirements from diverse research teams.
• Explore and evaluate new technologies in cameras, lighting, scaffolding, and image capture techniques to improve research outcomes.
• Ensure high-fidelity imagery collection by managing camera settings such as focus, aperture, and color calibration, while assessing overall image quality.
• Oversee lab inventory and organization, including the management of shipping and receiving processes.

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.

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.