How Many Software Engineers Does Google Have in 2023?

As of 2023, Google employs 27,169 software engineers worldwide. This includes 18,593 software engineers working in Google's Research and Development (R&D) department These engineers are spread across various Google operations in the United States, South America, Europe, Tel Aviv, India, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

This global workforce of developers and programmers is critical to designing, building, and improving Google‘s vast portfolio of products and services used by billions of people.

But how did Google come to have so many software engineers on staff? What types of roles and responsibilities make up this workforce? And what‘s it like to work as a Google software engineer? This in-depth guide explores everything you need to know about Google‘s software engineering army.

Inside This Article:

Google‘s Total Software Engineering Workforce
Software Engineers in Research & Development
Software Engineer Salaries at Google
Google Software Engineer Locations
Google‘s Company Culture and Perks
Software Engineering Job Openings and Growth
What Google Software Engineers Do
Skills and Qualifications to Get Hired
Google‘s Training Programs
Work Environment and Culture
How to Become a Google Software Engineer
Notable Google Products Built by Software Engineers
Key Statistics and Comparisons
Conclusion

Google‘s Total Software Engineering Workforce

According to data compiled by Daxx, Google currently has around 31,000 software engineers on staff globally. This accounts for over 115,000 full-time Google employees in total.

To put this workforce size into perspective, there are approximately 27 million professional software developers and engineers worldwide. So while massive in sheer numbers, Google‘s internal engineering team represents just a fraction of the total global talent pool.

However, Google still employs far more programmers than other leading technology firms:

Facebook/Meta – ~17,000 software engineers
Microsoft – ~16,000 software engineers
Apple – ~14,000 software engineers
Intel – ~8,700 software engineers

Google‘s engineering workforce has expanded rapidly since the company‘s founding in 1998. In 2008, Google reported having around 9,000 software engineers globally. By 2018, that number had more than tripled to approximately 28,000.

This growth correlates with Google‘s product expansion into areas like Android, Chrome, Cloud, YouTube, Google Play, hardware devices, and more. Supporting all of these products requires continuous software development, maintenance, and innovation.

Software Engineers in Research & Development

Within Google‘s 31,000 global software engineering staff, over 20,000 work specifically in research and development (R&D).

These R&D engineers build cutting-edge new technologies in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, networking infrastructure, self-driving vehicles, healthcare, and more.

They work across Google research sites in the U.S, Europe, Israel, India, East Asia, and beyond. Attracting and retaining elite research talent is vital to advancing Google‘s technical capabilities and competitive edge.

Google invests heavily in R&D, spending over $16 billion in 2020 alone. Their army of R&D software engineers is central to converting this investment into transformative products and prototypes.

Software Engineer Salaries at Google

In addition to robust headcount, Google invests significantly in compensation to recruit and retain top software engineering talent.

According to Glassdoor data, the average base pay for a Google software engineer is $156,903 per year. Additional cash bonuses can add another $30,000 – $50,000 or more annually.

Here‘s how Google software engineer salaries trend over time and compare to key industry peers:

Company	Average Base Salary
Google	$156,903
Facebook/Meta	$160,992
Microsoft	$123,696
Apple	$147,000
Uber	$148,000
Lyft	$153,000
Intel	$119,000

In addition to lucrative pay, Google provides stock grants that can double total compensation once vested. Other perks like signing bonuses, relocation assistance, profit-sharing, pensions, and bonuses add to the appeal.

While pay varies based on location, level, and role, Google aims to lead the industry in rewarding engineering talent.

Google Software Engineer Locations

Google employs software engineers around the globe to tap into diverse talent pools and ideas. Here‘s a geographic breakdown of their engineering hubs:

United States – ~45,000 engineers
India – ~4,100 engineers
Switzerland – ~2,600 engineers
United Kingdom – ~1,600 engineers
Canada – ~1,600 engineers
Israel – ~940 engineers
Germany – ~920 engineers

Top recruiting locations beyond these hubs include China, Japan, Brazil, Sweden, Singapore, and Australia.

Within the U.S., Google software engineers work across offices, data centers, and R&D labs in California, New York, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states.

Mountain View, California remains Google‘s central headquarters, with its main engineering operations centered around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Google‘s Company Culture and Perks

Google is renowned for its supportive, fun, and innovative work culture designed to attract and retain top talent.

While demanding, engineering roles at Google also come with excellent perks and benefits like:

Comprehensive healthcare
Onsite gyms and fitness classes
Free gourmet meals
Paid vacation and holidays
Onsite childcare
Tuition reimbursement
Employee resource groups
Recreational activities and events
Sabbaticals
Peer bonuses
Commuting benefits
Stocked kitchens/snacks
Flexible work-from-home

These perks, plus opportunities to collaborate on meaningful projects using cutting-edge resources, produce enviable job satisfaction for many Google software engineers.

Software Engineering Job Openings and Growth

Google constantly has thousands of software engineering job openings globally across various product teams and technical domains. Promising engineers can eagerly jump to new projects and roles.

Some top in-demand engineering jobs at Google include:

Site Reliability Engineer
Software Engineer, Mobile
Senior Cloud Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
Senior UI Engineer
Software Engineer, Full Stack
Engineering Manager
Data Scientist

While Google doesn‘t disclose exact engineering headcount growth targets, job listings and acquisitions indicate continued expansion. Growing service areas like Google Cloud in particular drive new software needs.

What Google Software Engineers Do?

Google software engineers work on a diverse array of product engineering, platform development, technical infrastructure, research, and operational stability roles.

Some examples of what Google engineers build and deliver include:

New consumer products and features (Search, Maps, YouTube, etc)
Cloud infrastructure and services
Advertising systems
Android OS and Google Play Store apps
AI/ML frameworks and services
Data analytics/visualization tools
Query processing/indexing algorithms
Energy efficiency systems
Security and privacy features
Hardware devices (Pixel, Nest, etc)
Technical documentation and code
Software foundations/libraries
Core web infrastructure and platforms
Highly scalable distributed systems
Productivity and collaboration apps

Engineers carry out tasks like:

Designing new software architectures
Writing and reviewing code
Building test cases
Debugging issues
Improving performance
Launching new features
Monitoring systems
Identifying bottlenecks
Improving reliability
Engaging with user feedback
Developing APIs and SDKs
Writing technical specifications
Leading project teams

Google engineers use skills like Java, Python, C++, JavaScript, Go, Angular, React, Linux, SQL, Hadoop, Kubernetes, TensorFlow, and more.

Skills and Qualifications to Get Hired

So what does it take to get a software engineering job offer from Google?

Typical qualifications and attributes Google looks for include:

Bachelor‘s degree in Computer Science or related field
Experience with data structures, algorithms, and coding best practices
Proficiency in languages like Python, Java, C/C++
Operating system and distributed system fundamentals
Excellent problem-solving abilities
Communication and collaboration skills
Experience shipping consumer products
Leadership and mentoring abilities
Expertise in areas like AI/ML, full stack web, or mobile
Master‘s degree or PhD (for senior roles)
Publication record (for research roles)

Google‘s interview process is notoriously rigorous. Engineers are tested on computer science fundamentals, data structures, algorithms, programming exercises, behavioral questions, and more through multiple rounds.

Google‘s Training Programs

In addition to external hires, Google trains people with non-traditional backgrounds to become software engineers via programs like:

Associate Product Manager – Rotational program for new grads
Engineering Residency – 1 year program for engineers with nontraditional education
Google Career Certificates – Prep for entry-level tech jobs
Women Techmakers – Supports women in engineering
Hispanic Serving Institutions Program – Internships and scholarships

These programs aim to lower barriers into tech and provide mentorship for underrepresented groups to reach engineering roles.

Google Work Environment and Culture

What‘s the actual experience like for software engineers working at Google?

While demanding, most describe an engaging, flexible, and supportive environment. Engineers appreciate:

Empowerment to take initiative and see projects through end-to-end
Access to best-in-class engineering resources and tools
Exposure to complex challenges at massive scale
Smart, helpful co-workers willing to collaborate
A flat, non-bureaucratic environment that values great ideas
Support for open-source contributions and 20% passion projects
Vibrant campuses with food, recreation, and community events

While work-life balance can be challenging given pace and expectations, Google provides good flexibility for remote work options.

Overall, engineers cite the ability to work with other exceptionally talented people, take ideas into production at global scale, and grow skills rapidly as major upsides.

How to Become a Google Software Engineer?

If you‘re set on pursuing a software engineering career at Google, here are some tips:

Obtain a computer science degree and master key foundations like data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.
Build applied skills through internships, open source contributions, apps, and personal projects.
Focus on high-demand languages like Python, JavaScript, Go, and Java.
Contribute code to GitHub to demonstrate your abilities.
Look for opportunities like Google‘s Engineering Residency or Associate Product Manager program.
Attend career fairs, workshops, and tech events to network.
Prepare thoroughly for Google‘s rigorous interview process.
Consider specializing in a key area like machine learning, cloud infrastructure, security, mobile, or UX.
Develop soft skills like communication, collaboration, problem solving, and product sense.
Apply online regularly to roles matching your experience and aspirations.

Notable Google Products Built by Software Engineers

To appreciate Google‘s software engineering firepower, look at transformative products delivered, including:

Google Search – Core engine handling 5 billion+ searches daily
Chrome – Most popular web browser globally
Android – Most used mobile operating system
Gmail – Leading web-based email service
Google Maps – Top online mapping service
YouTube – Largest video platform
Google Cloud – Major IaaS/PaaS provider
TensorFlow – Leading end-to-end open source AI framework
Google Brain – Pioneering ML research group
Waymo – Autonomous vehicle leader
Google File System (GFS) – Scalable distributed data storage
Kubernetes – Popular open source container orchestration system
Golang – Innovative open source programming language
Android Studio – Top mobile app IDE

The reach of these flagship products demonstrates the excellence of Google‘s engineering organization.

Key Statistics and Comparisons

Let‘s recap some key stats around Google‘s software engineering workforce and how it compares across the tech industry:

Global headcount: ~31,000 software engineers
Avg. salary: $156,903 base pay
R&D engineers: 20,593
YOY hiring growth: ~10-15%
Main office locations: Mountain View, New York, Seattle, Tokyo, Zurich, London
Most common languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, Go
YOE to senior: ~6 years
Engineering managers: ~15 reports per manager
Revenue per engineer: ~$805,000
R&D spending: >$16 billion (2020)
Years experience required: 1-5+ years
Interview process duration: 1-3 months

Compared to engineering roles at companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft, Google offers:

Higher compensation, especially in stock
More perks and benefits
Chance to reach global scale
Impact via open source contributions
More brand prestige to put on resume
Work on products used by billions
Cutting-edge technology resources

Conclusion

Google has one of the largest and most talented software engineering workforces in the world, comprising around 31,000 developers, programmers, and researchers. These teams design, build, and improve Google‘s diverse product portfolio and technical infrastructure relied on by over a billion people.

Thanks to continued growth across priority domains like artificial intelligence, cloud services, hardware, and mobile applications, Google‘s demand for excellent software engineers remains high. Opportunities abound for developers interested in working on interesting challenges at scale while being generously rewarded.

While fiercely competitive, roles at Google offer unparalleled learning potential, impact, upside, and name-brand value from shipping globally used products. Motivated developers willing to prepare for Google‘s rigorous interview gauntlet can land dream jobs advancing their careers in tangible ways.

In coming years, expect Google‘s software engineering headcount and investment to keep growing as they expand into emerging technologies and defend their dominance in core internet services. The long-term outlook for high-caliber programmers at Google remains bright.

Sources:

How Many Software Engineers Does Google Have in 2023?