Staff Hardware System Architect, Pixel Watch

About the job

The Watch Hardware Engineering team is looking for a System Architect responsible for defining and implementing the hardware architecture for wearable products to enable ambient and edge computing applications.

In this role, you will provide thought leadership in architecting the system design and platform architecture for next generation wearable products. You will ensure all subsystems work together to meet performance, power, and cost goals for all critical user journeys. This role involves an understanding and analysis of the data processing paths and associated hardware, silicon, and software solutions. You will collaborate cross-functionally both internally and externally with silicon vendors and technology partners.

The Platforms and Devices team encompasses Google's various computing software platforms across environments (desktop, mobile, applications), as well as our first party devices and services that combine the best of Google AI, software, and hardware. Teams across this area research, design, and develop new technologies to make our user's interaction with computing faster and more seamless, building innovative experiences for our users around the world.

US: $188000 - $274000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Architect the data processing paths and hardware-software interfaces for ambient and edge computing applications on wearable hardware.
• Define system and component-level specifications for performance, power, and thermals. Support critical user journeys, including on-device AI for audio and ecosystem interoperability across Google’s platforms.
• Evaluate the critical trade-offs between power, cost, and form factor. Select chipsets and key components while influencing supplier road maps to deliver optimized solutions.
• Oversee system prototyping and integration. Drive the validation and optimization process to ensure all hardware meets established key performance indicators.
• Investigate emerging technologies, algorithms, and architectures to drive innovation for future wearable products.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 6 years of experience working in a consumer electronics environment.
• 3 years of experience in technical leadership.

Preferred qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in computer architecture and System-on-Chip (SoC) design, for Android-based hardware systems.
• Experience in balancing complex design trade-offs across performance, power, cost, and form factor within hardware and software domains.
• Experience with machine learning models and AI accelerators, such as Neural Processing Units (NPUs).
• Experience in ambient and edge computing, including on-device AI processing, data processing, and memory management for low-power devices.
• Knowledge of consumer electronics, with a focus on wearable or mobile ecosystems.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive technical consensus across matrixed engineering, software, and product management teams.