ServiceNow

Distinguished Engineer

ServiceNow$254K — $445K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience with large-scale distributed systems and Kubernetes operations.
  • Experience with major hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their managed Kubernetes offerings.
  • Proven technical leadership across engineering teams without relying on positional authority.
  • Deep expertise in modern platform components including operators, infrastructure-as-code, GitOps, and service mesh.
  • Strong programming skills in Go and familiarity with the cloud-native ecosystem.
  • Experience integrating AI into engineering and platform workflows.

Responsibilities

  • Set technical direction for cloud-native platform across engineering teams.
  • Own complex technical challenges in multi-cloud environments and workload isolation.
  • Collaborate with senior technical leaders to ensure consistency in architectural decisions.
  • Identify and manage significant technical risks for high-stakes initiatives.
  • Design and develop critical components like control planes and infrastructure abstractions.
  • Mentor staff and principal engineers to foster technical leadership throughout the organization.

Benefits

  • Health plans including flexible spending accounts.
  • 401(k) Plan with company match.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
  • Matching donations for charitable contributions.
  • Flexible time away plan and family leave programs.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Cloud Platform - Kubernetes, Hyperscalers & Distributed Systems
Org-wide technical authority. Sets direction across multiple engineering organizations and owns the hardest, most ambiguous problems in the platform domain.
What you get to do in this role:
• You will set the technical direction for our cloud-native platform across multiple engineering teams and organizations, defining the architecture and standards for how Kubernetes, distributed systems, and hyperscaler infrastructure are built and operated at scale.
• You will own the hardest, most ambiguous technical problems in the platform domain - multi-cloud topology, control-plane design, workload isolation, identity and trust fabric, and reliability at the scale of hundreds of clusters and dozens of product workloads.
• You will partner with engineering fellows, principal engineers, and other senior technical leaders to drive consistent architectural decisions and the adoption of best practices across the entire platform ecosystem.
• You will identify and mitigate the deepest technical risks in initiatives with C-suite visibility, and you will be the person leadership trusts to make the call on managed-vs-self-managed tradeoffs, substrate portability, and multi-hyperscaler strategy.
• Where you see the need, you will personally design and build the critical components - control planes, operators, infrastructure abstractions, and the systems other teams build on top of.
• You will mentor staff and principal engineers and shape the next generation of the organization's technical leadership.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role you have:
• Experience leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into engineering and platform work - whether using AI-powered tooling, automating operational workflows, building agentic systems for fleet visibility and operations, or reasoning about AI's impact on how infrastructure is built and run.
• 12+ years of experience designing, building, and operating large-scale distributed systems in production, with deep expertise running Kubernetes at scale (multi-cluster, multi-region, multi-tenant).
• Hands-on, authoritative experience across one or more major hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, GCP), including their managed Kubernetes offerings (EKS, AKS, GKE) and the networking, IAM, and capacity tradeoffs that come with each.
• A proven track record of providing technical leadership across multiple engineering teams, influencing architecture and direction without relying on positional authority.
• Deep expertise in the core building blocks of a modern platform: the operator/controller pattern, infrastructure-as-code and control planes (e.g., Crossplane), GitOps-based delivery, container networking (CNI), and service mesh.
• Strong programming skills in Go and fluency across the cloud-native ecosystem.

It also helps if you have:
• Experience designing identity and trust fabrics for distributed systems - workload identity, mTLS, and standards such as SPIFFE/SPIRE.
• Experience with multi-tenant workload isolation and runtime security (e.g., Kata Containers, sandboxed runtimes).
• Experience building and operating platforms for regulated or federal markets (FedRAMP, air-gapped or self-hosted distribution, OCI bundling).
• Experience with observability at scale - metrics, tracing, and SLO-driven operations across a large fleet.
• A platform-as-product mindset: treating internal engineering teams as customers and the platform as a product with a roadmap, contracts, and a delivery pipeline.

JV20

For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $254,500 - $445,400, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

Additional Information

Work Personas

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.

About ServiceNow

ServiceNow provides cloud-based solutions that define, structure, manage, and automate services for enterprise operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and other countries. The company offers service management solutions, including incident, problem, change, request, and cost management as well as service catalogs; and IT, HR, facilities, and field service management solutions. It also provides IT operations management solutions covering service mapping, delivery, and assurance solutions; business management solutions such as financial management, project portfolio suite, vendor performance management, and performance analytics as well as governance, risk, and compliance; and application development services.

ServiceNow Careers

Join the dynamic team at ServiceNow, a global leader in digital workflow solutions, where innovation and leadership converge to shape the future of work. At ServiceNow, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for professional growth and a chance to be part of a culture that values diversity, creativity, and continuous learning.

Work You’ll Do

Embark on a career journey with ServiceNow and contribute to the world’s leading enterprises' digital transformation. Our team is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies that improve how people work. With ServiceNow, you will use your skills to impact businesses and industries profoundly, driving efficiency and innovation.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

ServiceNow is not just another technology company. We are a team that thrives on diversity and leadership, fostering an inclusive environment that promotes growth and development. Our commitment to diversity training ensures that every team member can achieve their potential.

Innovative Work

ServiceNow is home to more than 10,000 dedicated professionals who lead the charge in digital workflows and enterprise solutions. As part of our team, you will engage in projects that merge technology with practical applications, creating revolutionary products that advance how services are delivered and managed.

Career Development

At ServiceNow, your career trajectory is filled with boundless opportunities. We support your growth with robust training programs, leadership development courses, and access to global challenges. Whether you are looking for an internship, full-time position, or leadership role, ServiceNow equips you with the tools to excel.

Be Part of a Great Team

Working at ServiceNow means being part of a community that values teamwork and innovation. Our collaborative environment encourages networking and sharing ideas, making our workplace vibrant and dynamic. The benefits of joining ServiceNow extend beyond comprehensive health and wellness; they include fostering professional connections and friendships that last a lifetime.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, ServiceNow offers a range of employment options to suit your career goals. From internships that provide real-world experience to full-time positions that challenge you to leverage your expertise, we are committed to hiring the best talent.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. At ServiceNow, we look for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. Explore the possibilities that await you at a company that is committed to your professional success.

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ServiceNow Careers

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Learn more about ServiceNow
Size
16,881 employees
Market Cap
$76.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$118.5 million
Founded
2004
5 Year Trend
+33.5%
Revenue
$4.5 billion
NASDAQ

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