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Debug Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Debugging PC systems with an emphasis on platform level debug. A thorough understanding of PC industry standard busses, such as HT, PCI, PCIe, LPC, USB, and SATA is required in addition to detailed ...

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Debug Engineer information

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$39K

$101.8K

$137.5K

How much do debug engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for debug engineer in the United States is $101,752.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Debug Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Debug Engineer, you need strong analytical skills, a background in computer science or electrical engineering, and expertise in troubleshooting hardware and software issues. Familiarity with debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG interfaces, and experience with programming languages like C/C++ are typically required. Attention to detail, effective communication, and perseverance are vital soft skills for diagnosing complex problems and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure timely identification and resolution of technical issues, improving product reliability and accelerating development cycles.

What are some common challenges Debug Engineers face when troubleshooting complex hardware or software issues?

Debug Engineers often encounter challenges such as identifying the root cause of intermittent or hard-to-reproduce bugs, working with incomplete documentation, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to resolve issues. They may need to balance multiple priorities while maintaining detailed records of their troubleshooting process. Effective communication with developers, quality assurance, and hardware teams is essential to ensure that findings are clearly understood and that solutions can be implemented efficiently.

What are Debug Engineers?

Debug Engineers are technical professionals responsible for identifying, analyzing, and resolving issues or defects in hardware or software systems. They use specialized tools and methodologies to diagnose problems, interpret error logs, and collaborate with development teams to implement fixes. Debug Engineers play a critical role in ensuring product quality and reliability by proactively finding and addressing bugs during the development and testing phases. Their expertise helps to minimize downtime and improve the user experience.

What is the salary of a debugger?

A Debug Engineer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries. Compensation often includes benefits such as health insurance and paid time off.

What is the difference between Debug Engineer vs Software Tester?

AspectDebug EngineerSoftware Tester
Primary FocusIdentifying and fixing bugs in software codeFinding bugs through testing and validation
Skills & CertificationsProgramming, debugging tools, problem-solvingTesting methodologies, QA tools, attention to detail
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, coding environmentsQA labs, testing environments
Industry UsageSoftware development, tech companiesSoftware quality assurance, testing firms

While both Debug Engineers and Software Testers work to improve software quality, Debug Engineers focus on diagnosing and fixing bugs within the code, often working closely with developers. Software Testers primarily execute tests to identify issues before release. Both roles require strong analytical skills, but Debug Engineers typically have more programming expertise, whereas Testers focus on testing strategies and tools.

More about Debug Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Debug Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Debug Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Debug Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Debug Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Debug Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,752 per year, or $48.9 per hour.

System Debug Engineer Manager, Cloud AI Infrastructure

Google

Kirkland, WA • On-site

$122K - $160K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 92 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

31st of 185 rated software companies


Job description

Job Summary:
Google is a leading technology company known for its innovative solutions and services. They are seeking a Systems Debug Engineer Manager to lead a technical team in managing and debugging cloud AI infrastructure, ensuring high performance and reliability while collaborating with various teams to resolve customer challenges.
Responsibilities:
• Drive technical team performance across on-call activities and system management by delivering leadership, mentorship, and career development while collaborating with primary responders to address system issues.
• Debug platform hardware, silicon, and AI/ML workloads to drive root-cause resolution, develop permanent infrastructure improvements, and build tools for faster diagnosis through troubleshooting and reproduction.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Quality, and Engineering teams to enhance product outcomes, and engage with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) teams to ensure high-quality production and reliability.
• Resolve customer challenges on AI/ML infrastructure through effective diagnosis, resolution, and the implementation of investigation tools to increase productivity for critical reported issues.
• Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for internal stakeholders to resolve deployment and operational obstacles across AI infrastructure environments daily.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or IT-related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience with system design.
• 5 years of experience managing or leading a team.
• 5 years of experience with managing technical work, engineering strategy, and roadmaps.
• 5 years of experience with hardware debug (silicon debug, platform debug, IO interface, memory analysis).
• 3 years of experience with organizational design.
Preferred:
• 5 years of experience working with vendors or customers.
• 3 years of experience with leadership development and career growth of employees.
• 3 years of experience in analyzing and troubleshooting distributed systems.
• 2 years of CPU, dGPU, or TPU debug or validation experience.
• Understanding of memory and high-speed IO technologies.
Company:
Google specializes in internet-related services and products, including search, advertising, and software. It is a sub-organization of Alphabet. Founded in 1998, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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