Global Labs Lead, YouTube

Mountain View, CA, US Until 8/21/2026 8+ years exp First posted June 16, 2026 Last posted June 16, 2026
Job description

About the Job

We are the Device Operations and Partner Engineering team for YouTube. Our goal is to ensure the best possible user experience for YouTube products on any connected devices. This is accomplished by driving operational excellence, at extraordinary scale, for the entire consumer experience on devices. As Partner Engineers, we deliver technical solutions and tools to empower internal teams and our partner teams worldwide.

As YouTube's Global Lab Lead, you will lead a network of device labs in locations across the world. This entails physical site management, resource management for vendor personnel, and establishing standard operating procedures across all locations.

In this role, you will lead projects and staff that require close collaboration with other teams like Product, Engineering, Business Development, Finance, and Partner Engineering. You will play a key role in improving existing operations, defining and maturing new solutions, bridging operational and resource gaps, automating operations, and taking new initiatives from conception to successful deployment.

You will balance business and partner needs with technical constraints, develop innovative, solutions and act as a partner and consultant to those you are working with. You will also be able to build tools and automate tasks, oversee the technical execution and business operations of YouTube's vendor partnerships, as well as develop operations strategy and prioritize projects, operating expenses, and resources.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $183000 - $266000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with cross-functional partners and executive leadership to explore and experiment with new AI technologies and approaches within our Labs, develop a roadmap, lead proof-of-concepts and scaled solutions.
  • Develop and maintain the overall workflow strategy, identify and mitigate risk from a delivery standpoint and ensure compliance with all internal policies and procedures.
  • Synthesize analysis to deliver actionable, insightful, data-driven recommendations (cost-benefit, risk-coverage-quality, forecasting, impact analysis).
  • Manage vendor operations including overall vendor performance for the assigned workflow(s), vendor selection, consultation, and overall vendor operations strategies.
  • Structure/execute operational and strategic initiatives for YouTube Global Lab Operations by developing plans, gathering/synthesizing relevant data, leading analyses and developing compelling, insightful recommendations.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8 years of experience coding with one or more programming languages (e.g., Java, C/C++, Python).
  • 6 years of experience in software-focused program/project management.
  • Experience with C/C++, Java, TypeScript, or Python programming languages.
  • Experience troubleshooting using common web technologies and with video streaming technologies.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with cloud technologies such as architecting, developing, or maintaining cloud solutions in virtualized environments or cloud data engineering.
  • Experience working with embedded devices, consumer electronics manufacturers, SoC providers, and Pay TV Operators.
  • Experience in the TV/consumer electronics (CE)/embedded space.
  • Experience working with vendor partners, lab operations, and facilities management.
  • Ability to communicate with both business and technical stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication, team-work, and problem-solving skills with organizational, prioritization, and multitasking skills.
About this role

Summary

Lead YouTube's device labs, manage operations, develop strategies, and collaborate on AI projects.

Job title

Global Labs Lead, YouTube

Experience level

8+ years

Minimum experience

8+ years exp

Industry

software

Location requirements

Mountain View, CA, USA; remote not allowed

Salary

$183k–$266k

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

JavaC/C++Pythonproject managementweb technologiesvideo streaming

Preferred skills

cloud technologiesembedded devicesconsumer electronicslab operationsvendor management

Specializations

programmingcloud solutionsvideo streaminglab operationsembedded devices
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Mountain View, CA, USA

On-site City