Principal Engineer, Data Protection

Job Summary

Google is hiring a Principal Engineer, Data Protection to work from its Grand Central, Manhattan office. This senior technical role leads the design and implementation of privacy‑focused solutions across Google’s products.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and oversee data protection frameworks that comply with global privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Lead cross‑functional teams of engineers, security analysts, and product managers to embed privacy by design.
• Define technical roadmaps, set standards, and drive best practices for encryption, anonymization, and access control.
• Mentor senior engineers and influence engineering culture around security and privacy.
• Collaborate with legal, policy, and compliance teams to translate regulatory requirements into actionable engineering solutions.
• Conduct threat modeling, security reviews, and incident response for data protection features.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 8 years focused on data privacy, security, or cryptography.
• Deep expertise in encryption algorithms, tokenization, differential privacy, and secure data pipelines.
• Proven track record designing large‑scale, distributed systems that handle sensitive user data.
• Strong leadership skills with experience guiding multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent communication abilities to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Cryptography, or related field.
• Experience with privacy regulations in the United States and Europe.
• Publications or patents in data protection, cryptography, or privacy engineering.
• Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform services and internal security tooling.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $259,524.94 – $259,524.94 per year, plus Google’s comprehensive benefits package, stock options, and professional development opportunities.

Location

Grand Central, Manhattan, New York, USA. Candidates may also indicate a preference for other Google locations (Sunnyvale, CA; Zürich, Switzerland) during the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Principal Engineer, Data Protection do at Google?

You will design and lead the implementation of privacy‑by‑design solutions, oversee encryption and anonymization strategies, and guide cross‑functional teams to ensure compliance with global data protection regulations.

What experience is required for this role?

At least 15 years of software engineering experience, with 8+ years focused on data privacy, security, or cryptography, and a strong track record of building large‑scale systems handling sensitive data.

Where is the position located and can I work remotely?

The primary office is in Grand Central, Manhattan, New York. During the application you can indicate a preference for other Google locations, but the role is office‑based.