Staff Site Reliability Developer, Protected Data SRE – Google, Waterloo, ON
Location: Waterloo, ON | Company: Google
Google is hiring a Staff Site Reliability Developer to support its Protected Data Site Reliability Engineering team in Waterloo, Ontario. This advanced technical position focuses on improving the reliability, safety and operational resilience of large-scale systems that handle protected data.
The role is designed for an experienced developer who can provide technical direction across complex infrastructure, identify systemic production risks and guide engineering work involving distributed systems. Candidates should bring substantial knowledge of Linux or Unix administration, computer networking, software development and large-scale system design.
Supporting Reliable and Secure Infrastructure at Scale
Site Reliability Engineering combines software development with systems engineering to keep critical services dependable, efficient and available. Within Google, SRE teams work on infrastructure that must continue operating reliably while serving large numbers of users and supporting rapidly evolving products.
The Protected Data SRE team addresses technical challenges involving sensitive infrastructure, operational controls and regulatory requirements. The Staff Site Reliability Developer will act as a technical anchor for the Waterloo team, helping engineers make decisions that reduce production risk without preventing responsible product development and infrastructure improvement.
Key Areas of Responsibility
This staff-level position combines hands-on engineering knowledge with technical leadership, cross-functional coordination and long-term reliability planning. The successful candidate will help establish approaches that can be applied across multiple systems rather than solving each reliability problem in isolation.
Reliability Strategy
Develop technical strategies that reduce infrastructure complexity and lower the likelihood of new production risks across the wider engineering ecosystem.
Reusable Solutions
Encourage the reuse of dependable components and established solutions so engineering teams do not repeatedly create systems with similar operational risks.
Change Safety
Help design capabilities that allow infrastructure and software changes to be introduced safely, observed effectively and corrected when unexpected behaviour occurs.
Distributed Observability
Support the development of monitoring and observability systems that provide useful information about the health and performance of distributed infrastructure.
Cross-Functional Alignment
Work with engineering leaders and cross-functional programs to balance service reliability, technical priorities, product requirements and regulatory deadlines.
Technical Mentorship
Provide direction and mentorship to developers in Waterloo while encouraging collaboration across different layers of Google’s infrastructure stack.
Technical Background and Qualifications
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, another related technical field or equivalent practical experience. Google also requires five years of experience that includes product demand or supply planning and production and inventory management. Candidates must additionally have at least three years of experience with Unix or Linux operating-system internals, administration and networking.
The position requires programming experience in at least one of the following languages: C, C++, Java, Python or Go. Candidates should also understand networking concepts such as DNS, load balancing, routing and TCP/IP. A master’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field is listed as a preferred qualification rather than a mandatory requirement.
Skills That May Help Candidates Succeed
The position requires more than familiarity with individual technologies. Staff-level developers are expected to understand how technical decisions affect entire infrastructure environments and to communicate those implications clearly to engineers, program stakeholders and senior decision-makers.
Detailed knowledge of operating-system internals, filesystems, system calls, administration and production troubleshooting is central to this SRE position.
Strong programming ability helps candidates automate operational work, improve infrastructure and create dependable solutions to recurring reliability challenges.
Understanding DNS, routing, load balancing, network topologies and TCP/IP supports the diagnosis and prevention of failures across distributed services.
The developer must be able to establish technical direction, explain complex trade-offs and help other engineers make informed infrastructure decisions.
Successful candidates should be able to look beyond isolated incidents and identify broader patterns that may create reliability, compliance or operational risks.
Compensation and Professional Environment
Google lists a Canadian base salary range of CAD $216,000 to $222,000 for this position. The posting also identifies a 20% bonus target, equity and benefits. Individual compensation is determined according to factors that may include relevant education, professional experience and job-related skills.
The position is based in Waterloo and forms part of Google’s Technical Infrastructure organization. The working environment involves collaboration across infrastructure technologies, technical teams and cross-functional programs. Because Google operates globally, English proficiency is required unless a job posting explicitly states otherwise.
How to Apply
Candidates can review the complete vacancy and submit an application through the official Google Careers website. Applicants should ensure their résumé clearly communicates relevant experience with Linux or Unix environments, computer networking, programming, distributed infrastructure and technical leadership.
Applications are processed by Google rather than Joblyz. Information submitted through a Google Careers profile or job application is handled according to Google’s applicant and candidate privacy policies. Candidates who require an accommodation during the application process can use the accommodation resources provided by Google.