Optical Network Engineer, PhD, University Graduate

NETWORK_ENGINEERING
USA
February 14, 2026
FULL_TIME

Job Overview

  • Date Posted
    February 14, 2026
  • Location
    USA
  • Expiration date
    --

Job Description

2025-10-31T14:00:00.501Z

128225368375993030

Minimum qualifications:

  • PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience with one or more optical technologies such as client transceivers, optical metro, long-haul DWDM systems, or submarine systems.
  • Experience in one or more programming languages such as C++, Go, or Python.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with planning and designing large-scale networks (e.g., multiple sites, multiple products, etc.).

About the job

Google is proud to boast a network that provides service to millions of Internet users around the world. The Network Engineering team is responsible for operating that network reliably and at scale. As a member of the team, you have a direct impact on design and feature enhancements to keep our systems running smoothly. You also ensure that network operations are safe and efficient by monitoring network performance, coordinating planned maintenance, adjusting hardware components and responding to network connectivity issues. Google’s complex network generates a constant stream of challenges which require you to continually be innovative with an evolving set of technologies. Keeping the network reliable ensures that our users stay connected with our suite of applications, products and services.

Google’s Optical Networking Technologies (ONT) team is the one-stop shop for Google Global Networking (GGN)’s optical transport needs. We are a team of engineers that provide global cloud connectivity by guiding photons across land and sea! Our mission is to deliver solutions that empower our partners to plan, build, and operate a reliable optical network.

The team covers a wide range of optical technologies and reaches, from client transceivers to metro and long haul Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) coherent systems. You’ll understand optical physical layer technologies and transport-layer networking systems. Your work will involve specifying the hardware, embedded software, and control/management software requirements for optical platforms, as well as evaluating and qualifying new technologies and developing tools and processes for introducing and managing these in the network.

Behind everything our users see online is the architecture built by the Technical Infrastructure team to keep it running. From developing and maintaining our data centers to building the next generation of Google platforms, we make Google’s product portfolio possible. We’re proud to be our engineers’ engineers and love voiding warranties by taking things apart so we can rebuild them. We keep our networks up and running, ensuring our users have the best and fastest experience possible.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $132,000-$189,000 + 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 requirements and identify technologies for scaling our transport network in a cost-efficient and operationally streamlined manner.
  • Engage with external vendors and internal teams to operationalize stable, scalable platforms.
  • Develop and execute test plans for optical systems.
  • Automate test infrastructure to qualify and introduce new products into our production network.
  • Develop tools and processes for automation of network management and operations.

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 Google’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form.

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