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August 1, 2025

Software Engineer, Google Ads Auction Mechanisms

Mid • On-site

$141,000 - $202,000/yr

Mountain View, CA

Minimum qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • 2 years of experience with software development in C++.
  • 1 year of experience in experiment design.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics or related technical field.
  • 2 years of experience with data structures or algorithms in either an academic or industry setting.
  • Experience with auction theory.
  • Experience in code and system health, diagnosis and resolution, and software test engineering.
  • Experience developing accessible technologies.

About the job

Google's software engineers develop the next-generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact with information and one another. Our products need to handle information at massive scale, and extend well beyond web search. We're looking for engineers who bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking and data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design and mobile; the list goes on and is growing every day. As a software engineer, you will work on a specific project critical to Google’s needs with opportunities to switch teams and projects as you and our fast-paced business grow and evolve. We need our engineers to be versatile, display leadership qualities and be enthusiastic to take on new problems across the full-stack as we continue to push technology forward.

In this role, with your technical expertise you will manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions. You will drive long-term business growth for Google via auction mechanisms that unlock new ways to optimize economic considerations, leverage quality signals, and increase user (ad-)engagement.

Our mode of operation is a mix between research scientist, data scientist and software engineer. We are constantly making hypotheses about the way the world works, testing them experimentally, working out what auction changes are appropriate, testing those, and iterating to get to a more ideal state.

Google Ads is helping power the open internet with the best technology that connects and creates value for people, publishers, advertisers, and Google. We’re made up of multiple teams, building Google’s Advertising products including search, display, shopping, travel and video advertising, as well as analytics. Our teams create trusted experiences between people and businesses with useful ads. We help grow businesses of all sizes from small businesses, to large brands, to YouTube creators, with effective advertiser tools that deliver measurable results. We also enable Google to engage with customers at scale.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $141,000-$202,000 + 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

  • Write analyses to test hypotheses about the user-value landscape and what improvements (e.g., new mechanisms or improvements to existing ones) might be appropriate.
  • Implement and test mechanisms in the auction.
  • Contribute in designing experiments to evaluate hypotheses, tease out and analyze effects in improving user/advertiser value, and document findings.
  • Manage individual project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.