Senior Software Engineering Manager, Search AI Quality and Protections

Company: Google
Location: Mountain View
Posted on: April 4, 2026

Job Description:

Minimum qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. 8 years of experience with software development. 5 years of experience in a people management or team leadership role. Experience in AI/ML quality evaluation and improvement. Experience with applied machine learning and ML training and serving. Preferred qualifications: 5 years of experience working in a complex, matrixed organization. Experience managing a high-performing team of software engineers and managers. Experience with data analysis, quality, and experimentation. Experience in content safety, digital well-being, or trust and safety issues. Familiarity with Large Language Model (LLM) capabilities and applications. About the job Like Google's own ambitions, the work of a Software Engineer goes beyond just Search. Software Engineering Managers have not only the technical expertise to take on and provide technical leadership to major projects, but also manage a team of Engineers. You not only optimize your own code but make sure Engineers are able to optimize theirs. As a Software Engineering Manager you manage your project goals, contribute to product strategy and help develop your team. Teams work all across the company, in areas such as information retrieval, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking, security, data compression, user interface design; the list goes on and is growing every day. Operating with scale and speed, our exceptional software engineers are just getting started and as a manager, you guide the way. With technical and leadership expertise, you manage engineers across multiple teams and locations, a large product budget and oversee the deployment of large-scale projects across multiple sites internationally. Search Intelligence Trust team is responsible for the integrity and reliability of Google’s most advanced Search features, including AI Overviews, AI Mode, and classic Search ranking. We ensure that as Generative AI is integrated into the Search experience, it maintains our high bar for accuracy and safety. Our work bridges the gap between model capabilities and the rigorous quality standards required for Google's most trusted product. Our primary focus is ensuring that users receive reliable, safe, and helpful information, particularly when it matters most. We specialize in developing safeguards, model improvements, and ranking refinements for high-stakes queries involving health, civics, and finance. In Google Search, we're reimagining what it means to search for information – any way and anywhere. To do that, we need to solve complex engineering challenges and expand our infrastructure, while maintaining a universally accessible and useful experience that people around the world rely on. In joining the Search team, you'll have an opportunity to make an impact on billions of people globally. The US base salary range for this full-time position is $262,000-$365,000 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 Set and communicate team priorities that support the broader Search organization's goals. Align strategy, processes, and decision-making across teams. Ensure that our Search experiences are state-of-the-art (SOTA) in trustworthiness and safety. Empower Search to deliver rich new experiences (e.g., Personal Intelligence, Generative UI) and provide solutions to the novel trust and safety challenges that are currently present. Manage a team of over 20 engineers, setting their technical direction, coaching them, and ensuring the delivery of key Search goals. Collaborate closely with partner teams across Search and Google Deepmind (GDM) on modeling, infrastructure, and evaluation needs.

Keywords: Google, Watsonville , Senior Software Engineering Manager, Search AI Quality and Protections, IT / Software / Systems , Mountain View, California