Head of Silicon Systems and Architecture, XR

Head of Silicon Systems and Architecture, XR

X Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: San Jose, CA, USA; San Diego, CA, USA .

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in silicon engineering, system integration, hardware design and silicon definition or architecture.
• 5 years of experience in technical leadership with direct reports.
• Experience successfully shipping consumer electronics products to mass production.
• Experience achieving consensus across matrixed engineering teams (Core Tech, Platform SW, HW, NTI) and collaborating with external silicon providers in development of novel hardware/software architectures.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in XR (AR/VR), mobile, or wearables ecosystems.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Background in silicon architecture and GenAI.

About the job

The XR team at Google is building the future of immersive and augmented computing. We are a fast-moving team with engineers, designers, and research scientists tasked to build the next generation technology to shape people’s way of living in new imaginative ways. Through the development of Galaxy XR, Smart Glasses prototypes, and ARCore we are enabling augmented reality experiences around the world. But we aren’t stopping there. We are working on really cool technologies enabling the next generation of immersive and augmented experiences, through collaborations with teams across Google and our third-party partners.

As the Head of Silicon Systems and Architecture, you will serve as the primary architect and multiplier for our silicon partnerships. You will define the hardware foundations through silicon for the next generation of headsets and glasses, ensuring that future chipsets are vertically integrated with Google’s perception and software stacks to deliver user experiences. For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. Google's XR team is at the forefront of the next major leap – the convergence of AI and XR. This is more than just new devices – it's about reimagining how we interact with the world around us. We're building a future where lightweight XR devices like smart glasses and headsets pair with helpful AI to augment human intelligence, offering personalized, conversational, and contextually aware experiences.

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $237,000-$329,000 + 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

• Define and drive the multi‑year silicon roadmap across main APs, co‑processors, and connectivity. Ensure future SoCs are optimized for Android XR requirements.
• Lead technical deep‑dives into critical IP blocks, including CPUs, GPUs, ISPs, DSPs, NPUs, connectivity. Ensure perception and GenAI workloads are optimized at the silicon level for "AI on the edge" and low‑power ambient sensing.
• Architect "split‑compute" topologies that enable seamless, low‑latency offloading from XR glasses to companion devices (phones, pucks, or cloud). Define the system‑level requirements for silicon and integration to next‑gen reference designs.
• Act as the technical bridge between Google’s Core Tech, Platform SW, HW NTI, and external chipset vendors. Navigate high‑stakes technical tradeoffs.
• Build and mentor a high‑performing team of system architects, oversee the integration of the various subsystems, and support validation and tuning process. Investigate new technologies, algorithms, and architectures.

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 also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

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.

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