Senior Staff Software Engineer, Video Playback, YouTube

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.

The YouTube Playback Experience team is responsible for video playback on all screens and is critical to enable this core user journey.

In the role of Technical Lead for mobile video playback, you will guide the team in advancing the entire player stack, from high-level APIs to leveraging hardware features. Your leadership will ensure performant and engaging experiences for both established formats like VOD, Live, and DRM, and emerging areas such as Generative AI, multi-modal feeds, and vertical video. Additionally, you will drive client media innovation by utilizing on-device hardware like NPUs, GPUs, and codecs to introduce next-generation media formats and capabilities.

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.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $248,000-$349,000 + 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead client media innovation to bring next-generation codecs and formats (e.g., AV1/2, Spatial Audio) to users. Enable innovative video experiences by leveraging on-device GPU and NPU for advanced rendering effects, while contributing to the advancement of networking and crypto stacks.
• Evolve the mobile player architecture and platform to deliver the best playback experience across all YouTube products (Main, Music, Kids, YTV) and video formats (VOD, Shorts, Live, Encrypted content).
• Drive deep investigative work to unlock performance at scale.
• Foster strong partnerships and technical collaboration with internal teams (YouTube Apps, Infrastructure, AOM, Android, Pixel) and industry partners (OEMs, SOCs, Network Operators, technical standards bodies). Embrace and experiment with emerging technologies, such as GenAI.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in software engineering.
• 3 years of experience in mobile engineering (e.g., iOS or Android) or mobile media experience (e.g., codecs or graphics).

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience as a tech lead, a formal mentor, or a go-to expert for a team.
• Experience working with video, music or other media related products.
• Experience in designing, building, and operating systems at large scale.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.