Google is recruiting engineers at its new UK research and development (R &D) centre to work on its expanding product portfolio.

The London-based office, which was opened two weeks ago, will house 200 Google staff and form a base for the internet giant’s European mobile engineering operation, complementing its office in Zurich.

The company has not disclosed how many positions it has to fill, but says Europe is an important location for Google.

‘The Google London R&D centre will draw on the talented pool of computer scientists and engineers from the UK and Europe,’ said a spokeswoman.

‘As Europe continues to outpace the US in mobile and wireless infrastructure and applications development, the London centre will extend those technical capabilities we are building.’

But the London centre also has a broad charter to innovate and implement new products.

‘We are looking for prolific engineers and researchers, with a computer science degree and strong C++ system building skills,’ she said.

Experience of machine learning, information retrieval and algorithmic manipulation will mark out the strongest candidates in Google’s initial search for more senior recruits.

‘I think the best thing about working for Google is the fact that there’s lots of opportunity to develop ideas on your own,’ said Zurich-based Google engineer, Douwe Osinga.

‘We have the “20 per cent rule” that allows us to work on personal projects during a fifth of our time in the office.’