Principal Engineer, Data and Retrieval for AI, Core

Google's Core Data team is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead their Data and Retrieval for AI initiatives. This role sits at the intersection of Google's core infrastructure and cutting-edge AI development, working on systems that power everything from Google Search to Gemini. The position requires an experienced technical leader who will evolve IR (Information Retrieval) infrastructure to support AI training data applications while maintaining system sustainability and scalability.

The role offers an opportunity to shape the future of Google's data infrastructure, working directly with teams across Search, GDM (Gemini, GenMedia), and other flagship products. You'll be responsible for technical oversight of Core IR's data enrichment, indexing, and serving systems, which are critical for both traditional applications and next-generation AI model training.

As a Principal Engineer, you'll be recognized as a leading expert in large data processing systems, guiding technical decisions for multiple global teams. Your influence will extend beyond immediate team boundaries, contributing to long-term strategy across multiple product areas. The position offers competitive compensation ($294,000-$414,000 + bonus + equity) and the chance to work at Google's major tech hubs.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in distributed systems and AI/ML with strong leadership skills. You'll need to balance immediate delivery needs with long-term architectural vision, mentor technical leads, and collaborate across organizational boundaries. This role represents a unique opportunity to impact the technical foundation behind Google's most important products while helping shape the company's AI-driven future.