Google Security Engineer, Data Center Platforms, Technical Infrastructure :Interview Questions
Published: (December 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM EST)
2 min read
Source: Dev.to
Source: Dev.to
Job Overview
Google is hiring a Security Engineer, Data Center Platforms, Technical Infrastructure to focus on hardware and firmware security. The role involves embedding security into the hardware and firmware that powers Google’s data centers, ensuring that every component is resilient against sophisticated attacks.
Key Responsibilities
- Threat Modeling – Analyze hardware and firmware designs to identify attack vectors and define security requirements before implementation.
- Security Design Review – Examine hardware and software architectures for security flaws, applying secure design principles at the system level.
- Automated Security Testing – Architect, develop, and maintain scalable test infrastructure that continuously validates security controls across the entire fleet of devices.
- Security Assessments – Perform hands‑on testing and evaluation of hardware/firmware components, including bootloaders and management controllers.
- Supply‑Chain Security – Work with vendors and internal teams to enforce security requirements throughout design, manufacturing, and deployment stages.
- Collaboration – Partner with development teams to translate threat models and risk assessments into concrete security requirements and improvements.
Required Skills & Experience
| Skill | Details |
|---|---|
| C/C++ Programming | Proficiency for analyzing and testing low‑level firmware and system software. |
| Firmware Security Analysis | Ability to assess bootloaders, BMCs, and other low‑level code. |
| Hardware & Software Security Interaction | Understanding of how hardware/firmware vulnerabilities can be exploited by software. |
| Security Engineering Fundamentals | Knowledge of cryptography, authentication, secure protocols, and network security. |
| Reverse Engineering | Capability to analyze firmware without source code to uncover vulnerabilities. |
| Risk Assessment | Experience with formal risk assessment methodologies to prioritize security efforts. |
| Experience | ≥5 years in security, with a strong track record of solving complex security challenges. |
Technical Challenges
- Scale – Manually reviewing every hardware component is infeasible; automated testing infrastructure is essential.
- Supply‑Chain Threats – Mitigating risks from malicious implants or unintentional vulnerabilities introduced before hardware reaches the data center.
- Zero‑Trust Hardware – Designing frameworks that enforce zero‑trust principles across a hyper‑scale environment.
Interview Preparation
- Structured Thinking – Be ready to break down complex systems (e.g., a server motherboard) into analyzable components such as BIOS/UEFI, BMC, data buses, and integrity mechanisms.
- Mock Interviews – Practice with AI‑driven mock interview platforms to assess mastery of the required skills.
Sample Answer Framework:
- Identify assets and their context.
- Enumerate potential attack surfaces.
- Develop threat models and prioritize risks.
- Propose mitigation strategies and testing approaches.
Impact
The role directly influences the trustworthiness of Google’s entire infrastructure, protecting data for billions of users and ensuring resilience against advanced adversaries. It blends software engineering, hardware expertise, and security research to secure the foundational layer of global services.