Senior UX Engineer, Chrome AI Innovation, Disco

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Engineer, Chrome AI Innovation, Disco

Company: Google

Location: Mountain View, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Engineering / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-06-09T22:38:49.882

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual design and technical execution of AI-native browser surfaces, shipping high-fidelity UI with complex user interactions and functionality that defines next-generation AI-first software.

• Spearhead rapid prototyping and real-time collaboration within the 'Disco' vehicle to explore novel interaction concepts, translating ambitious design ideas into distinctive, testable experiences built for future product scale and integration.

• Partner with Research, Design, and Product Management, alongside core partners like Google DeepMind, Google Labs, and Creative Lab, to scope, build concepts, and iterate based on user feedback towards product graduation.

• Set the technical standard for front-end craft, polish, and animation quality across the team, while contributing to the evolution of foundational code and tooling to accelerate AI-assisted engineering workflows for future scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Engineer, implying a need for significant autonomy, technical leadership, and a proven track record in delivering complex, user-facing features. The emphasis on "AI-native browser surfaces" and "AI-first software" indicates a forward-looking role at the intersection of AI and user experience within Google's Chrome ecosystem. The "Disco vehicle" suggests an internal project or framework for rapid experimentation and development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the craft and visual design of key AI-native browser surfaces, shipping high-fidelity UI with complex user interactions and functionality that defines next-generation AI-first software.

• Drive rapid prototyping and real-time collaboration within the Disco vehicle to explore novel interaction concepts, translating ambitious design ideas into distinctive, testable experiences built for future product scale and integration.

• Partner with Research, Design, and Product, as well as core partners like Google DeepMind, Google Labs, and Creative Lab, to scope and build concepts and iterate based on user feedback toward graduation.

• Set the technical standard for front-end craft, polish, and animation quality across the team, while contributing to the evolution of foundational code and tooling to accelerate AI-assisted engineering workflows for future scale.

• Contribute to the development of innovative features and build tools that accelerate UX team efficiency, bridging the gap between design and engineering for high-quality execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on development, strategic technical leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. The role demands ownership from concept to execution, with a strong emphasis on visual polish, interaction design, and the ability to work with cutting-edge AI technologies. The mention of specific internal teams (DeepMind, Labs, Creative Lab) suggests a high-impact, innovative project.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum 6 years of experience in front-end development, technical UX design, or prototyping.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in front-end development, technical UX design, or prototyping.

• Experience in application development in at least one platform/area (e.g., web, iOS, Android, CompDes, XR).

• Experience architecting and delivering applications.

• Proficiency in building on browser-based tools like Chrome extensions, React, or Electron.

• A portfolio, website, or relevant link showcasing your work is required. Preferred Skills:

• 7 years of experience developing responsive, adaptive, and performant websites and applications.

• 6 years of experience as a front-end developer, UX Engineer, creative or design technologist, or in a prototyping design environment.

• Experience with full-stack development and rapid UX prototyping.

• Experience in motion design, setting a high standard for visual quality, including physics-based patterns and design systems.

• Excellent visual craft and systems thinking skills, with a bias for fast, creative experimentation and iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between minimum and preferred qualifications suggests that candidates with a deeper and broader range of experience, particularly in full-stack development, motion design, and systems thinking, will be highly competitive. The requirement for a portfolio is critical for demonstrating practical application of skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase complex, high-fidelity UI designs and user interactions, particularly those involving AI-native surfaces or novel AI-driven functionalities.

• Demonstrate experience in rapid prototyping and the ability to translate ambitious design ideas into testable experiences, highlighting the iteration process.

• Include examples of application architecture and delivery, showcasing the ability to build scalable and performant software.

• Feature projects utilizing browser-based technologies such as Chrome extensions, React, or Electron, illustrating practical implementation skills.

• Highlight contributions to foundational code, tooling, or AI-assisted engineering workflows, if applicable. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of contributing to the evolution of foundational code and tooling, with a focus on accelerating AI-assisted engineering workflows.

• Examples of collaboration with cross-functional teams (Research, Design, PM, DeepMind, Labs, Creative Lab) throughout the concept and iteration phases.

• Demonstrations of setting technical standards for front-end craft, polish, and animation quality.

• Case studies or project examples showing the process of exploring novel interaction concepts and driving real-time collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements emphasize demonstrating the ability to execute on complex UI/UX for AI-driven features within a browser context. Strong examples of rapid prototyping, cross-functional collaboration, and technical contributions to tooling or codebases are expected.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $159,000 - $231,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• 15% Bonus Target

• Equity (Stock Options/RSUs)

• Comprehensive Health Insurance

• Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Parental Leave

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k matching)

• Professional Development and Training Opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programs

• Access to Google's extensive perks and amenities

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week (approximately 40 hours), with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team agreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior UX Engineer role in major tech hubs like Seattle, Mountain View, and San Francisco. The bonus target and equity indicate a performance-driven compensation structure, common at large technology companies like Google. The benefits package is expected to be robust, aligning with Google's industry-leading offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Web Browsers)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (100,000+ employees)

Founded: 1998

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Chrome AI Innovation team, specifically the "Disco" vehicle.

• This team operates within the broader Chrome organization, which is dedicated to building a better, more open web through its browser.

• UX Engineers collaborate closely with Product Managers, Researchers, Designers, and core engineering partners, including highly specialized teams like Google DeepMind, Google Labs, and Creative Lab.

• The structure likely involves agile methodologies, with cross-functional teams working on specific product features or innovation initiatives. Methodology:

• Focus on user-centric design: "Focus on the user and all else will follow."

• Embraces creativity, analytical skills, and knowledge of user-facing technologies.

• Employs rapid prototyping, real-time collaboration, and iterative development based on user feedback.

• Aims to bridge design and engineering for efficient, high-quality execution.

• Emphasis on innovation, exploration of novel interaction concepts, and pushing the boundaries of AI in software.

Company Website: https://www.google.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture is known for its innovation, data-driven decision-making, and emphasis on employee well-being and development. The Chrome team specifically focuses on delivering a world-class browser experience, with a strong commitment to open web standards and user privacy. The AI Innovation team within Chrome signifies a strategic focus on integrating cutting-edge AI capabilities into the core browser product.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (IC) in a highly specialized technical and design field. This role operates at a level where significant technical leadership, mentorship, and ownership of complex features are expected. The focus is on deep technical expertise and creative problem-solving rather than direct people management, though mentoring junior team members is common.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a UX Engineering Manager or a Group Lead within the Chrome AI Innovation organization. Collaboration is key, with frequent interaction with Product Managers, UX Designers, Researchers, and Engineering Leads across various Google product areas.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the future of Google Chrome by shaping AI-native user experiences. Success means defining and shipping innovative features that enhance user interaction, productivity, and engagement with the browser, potentially influencing how millions of users interact with the web and AI. The ability to translate ambitious AI concepts into tangible, high-quality user interfaces is crucial for product adoption and market leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven UX, advanced animation, cross-platform development, or specific browser technologies.

• Leadership: Grow into a Tech Lead role, guiding technical strategy for projects, mentoring junior engineers, and influencing architectural decisions.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition to related roles within Google, such as Product Management (with a strong technical UX background), Research, or specialized front-end architecture roles.

• Innovation: Contribute to high-impact, cutting-edge projects that could define the next generation of web experiences and AI integration.

• Mentorship: Formal or informal mentorship of junior UX Engineers and Design Technologists.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior UX Engineer title suggests a path towards Principal Engineer or Architect roles within Google, or potentially a move into management if desired. The emphasis on innovation and collaboration with leading AI teams provides unique opportunities for professional development and high-impact contributions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Google offices are typically modern, collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and productivity. They often feature open-plan areas, private meeting rooms, phone booths, and comfortable break-out zones. The environment is conducive to both focused individual work and dynamic team collaboration.

Office Location(s):

• Seattle, WA: Google has a significant presence in Seattle, with offices located in desirable tech hubs.

• Mountain View, CA: The Googleplex is the company's headquarters, a sprawling campus known for its amenities and innovative atmosphere.

• San Francisco, CA: Google has multiple offices in San Francisco, placing employees in the heart of the city's vibrant tech scene. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: Expect an environment where spontaneous discussions and planned meetings with design, research, and engineering partners are common.

• Resource-Rich: Access to state-of-the-art hardware, software, internal tools, and extensive documentation.

• Innovation-Focused: Spaces and culture designed to encourage experimentation, "blue sky" thinking, and the development of groundbreaking technologies.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to engage with a diverse team of highly skilled professionals, fostering knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While the role is on-site, Google often offers a degree of flexibility regarding daily start and end times, provided core team collaboration hours are met and project deadlines are achieved. The emphasis is on impact and results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often beneficial for complex, innovative projects involving rapid iteration and deep cross-functional teamwork. Google's campuses are designed to support this by providing excellent facilities and fostering a collaborative culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will review your application, focusing on your resume and portfolio link, to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Technical Phone Screen: A UX

Engineer or hiring manager will conduct a call to discuss your experience, portfolio highlights, and technical skills relevant to front-end development, UX engineering, and AI-driven interfaces.

• On-site/Virtual Interviews (Loop): Typically consists of 3-5 interviews, each lasting around 45-60 minutes. These may include:

  • Portfolio Review: A deep dive into your submitted work, discussing your design process, technical challenges, solutions, and impact. Be prepared to present 2-3 key projects in detail.
  • Coding/Prototyping Challenge: A hands-on exercise to assess your front-end development skills, ability to build interactive prototypes, and problem-solving approach. This might involve live coding or a take-home assignment.
  • System Design/Architecture: Questions focused on how you would design and build complex user-facing systems, especially those involving AI integration and scalability.
  • Behavioral/Team Fit: Questions assessing your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, ability to handle ambiguity, and alignment with Google's culture and values.

• Hiring Committee Review: Interview feedback is compiled and reviewed by a hiring committee for a final decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and contributions, the design and technical process, key challenges, solutions, and the quantifiable impact or learnings.

• Showcase AI/Innovation: Highlight projects that demonstrate experience with AI integration, novel interaction concepts, or cutting-edge technology.

• Demonstrate Craft: Emphasize visual polish, animation, and the creation of high-fidelity, performant interfaces.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss the technical stack, architectural decisions, and specific coding challenges you overcame.

• Provide Access: Ensure your portfolio link is easily accessible and loads quickly. Include clear instructions if necessary.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brush Up on Fundamentals: Review core front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), modern frameworks (especially React), and browser extension development concepts.

• Practice Prototyping: Familiarize yourself with rapid prototyping tools and techniques. Consider practicing building interactive UI elements or small features.

• AI/ML Concepts: Understand basic AI/ML concepts and how they translate into user experiences.

• Systems Thinking: Practice thinking about scalability, performance, and user flow in complex applications.

• Google's Design Principles: Research Google's Material Design and UX principles, as they often inform their product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Google is rigorous and multi-faceted. A strong portfolio that clearly showcases technical skill, design craft, and problem-solving ability, particularly in the context of AI and browser technologies, is paramount. Preparation should include both technical and behavioral aspects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Front-end Frameworks: React (highly probable given stated preference), potentially others.

• Web Technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), Web APIs.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for design and prototyping; potentially internal Google tools.

• Browser Extension Development: Deep understanding of Chrome Extension APIs and architecture.

• Animation Libraries: Familiarity with animation frameworks and best practices for smooth, performant animations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics or internal equivalents for user behavior analysis.

• Performance monitoring tools to ensure application speed and responsiveness.

• Data visualization tools to present findings and impact. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX impacts user engagement and retention is key.

• Familiarity with tools that facilitate cross-functional collaboration and project management (e.g., Jira, Google's internal tools).

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines for efficient code deployment.

• Potential exposure to AI/ML development platforms or frameworks if contributing to tooling.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in React and Chrome Extension development is explicitly mentioned and highly critical. The role will likely involve working with a sophisticated internal toolchain at Google, but foundational knowledge of industry-standard technologies is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: Prioritizing user needs and experience above all else, ensuring that AI integrations enhance rather than complicate user interactions.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages bold ideas, rapid prototyping, and learning from experimentation, even from failures.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and partnering effectively across diverse disciplines (Design, Research, Engineering, Product).

• Technical Excellence: Commitment to high standards in code quality, performance, visual polish, and animation.

• Impact & Scale: Driving meaningful user impact through features that can be scaled to millions of users globally.

• Data-Driven: Using data and user feedback to inform design decisions and iterate on product development.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly cross-functional and iterative. Expect frequent sync-ups, design reviews, code reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions.

• Openness to feedback and a constructive approach to critique are essential for driving innovation.

• Bridging the gap between design intent and engineering feasibility is a core aspect of the collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture values individuals who are not only technically adept but also collaborative, curious, and driven by a desire to solve complex problems for users at scale. The AI Innovation team likely fosters an environment of intense collaboration and cutting-edge exploration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining Novel AI Interactions: Translating cutting-edge AI capabilities into intuitive, user-friendly browser experiences that feel natural and additive.

• Balancing Innovation and Scalability: Developing ambitious concepts that are also technically feasible, performant, and scalable for a global user base.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Ensuring seamless integration and communication between UX Engineering, Design, Research, Product Management, and AI research teams (like DeepMind).

• Setting Technical Standards: Establishing and maintaining high standards for UI polish, animation, and code quality in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

• Rapid Iteration: Working in a fast-paced environment that requires quick turnarounds on prototypes and feature development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Integration Expertise: Gaining deep experience in designing and implementing AI-powered features within a major consumer product.

• Cutting-Edge Technologies: Working with state-of-the-art AI models and browser technologies.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Developing strong skills in collaborating with diverse teams, including world-class AI researchers.

• Technical Leadership: Opportunities to influence technical direction, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to foundational codebases.

• Industry Exposure: Access to Google's internal research, conferences, and learning resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges in navigating the frontier of AI and user experience. Successfully tackling these challenges offers substantial growth opportunities in a highly sought-after field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• AI-UX Integration: "Describe a time you translated a complex AI capability into a user-friendly interface. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Prepare a case study emphasizing user needs, technical implementation, and iterative improvements.)

• Prototyping & Iteration: "Walk us through a challenging prototyping project. How did you explore novel interaction concepts, and how did user feedback influence your iterations?" (Focus on demonstrating speed, creativity, and adaptability.)

• Technical Craft & Standards: "How do you ensure high standards for UI polish and animation quality in your work? Give an example of when you set or improved technical standards for a team." (Highlight your attention to detail and commitment to quality.)

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: "Describe a situation where you had to bridge the gap between design and engineering, or collaborate with a specialized team like AI researchers. What strategies did you use for effective communication and alignment?" (Emphasize communication, problem-solving, and partnership.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Google's Mission: "How do you see AI innovation within Chrome contributing to Google's mission of organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful?" (Connect your work to the broader company vision.)

• User Focus: "How do you ensure your design and development choices are truly user-centric, especially when working with advanced technologies like AI?" (Demonstrate empathy and user advocacy.)

• Ambiguity & Fast Pace: "This role involves working in a fast-paced, innovative environment with some ambiguity. How do you thrive in such conditions?" (Showcase your resilience, initiative, and comfort with change.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (problem, your role), Process (design, technical challenges, solutions), Outcome (impact, learnings), and Future (potential next steps or broader implications).

• Focus on "Why": Clearly articulate the reasoning behind your design and technical decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics where possible to demonstrate the success or learnings from your projects.

• Technical Detail: Be prepared to discuss code snippets, architectural choices, and specific technologies used.

• Visual Storytelling: Use compelling visuals, animations, and interactive elements to bring your work to life.

• Conciseness: Respect time limits and focus on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Google interviews are known for their depth and focus on evaluating problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and cultural fit. Preparing specific examples that align with the role's requirements and Google's values is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the Google Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume prominently features a link to a well-organized, visually appealing portfolio that showcases your best work, especially projects involving complex UI, AI integration, or advanced front-end development.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Engineer," "front-end development," "prototyping," "AI-native UI," "React," "Chrome extensions," and "application architecture." Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience through the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare detailed explanations for your portfolio projects and anticipated technical challenges.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Google's mission, values, and recent developments in Chrome and AI. Understand their approach to user experience and innovation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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