OverviewWe are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape and build the next generation of real-time data and AI technologies. This is a hands-on IC role focused on designing and building innovative capabilities across real-time data streaming, distributed systems, and data infrastructure, while helping push the boundaries of what the platform can do.
The ideal candidate has deep expertise in database internals, query processing, distributed systems, or a related discipline, strong commercial product experience, and thrives in a small, fast-moving engineering environment. This role is highly technical and tactical, with opportunities to shape the product, mentor engineers, and leverage modern AI development tools to move quickly.
Responsibilities- Design and build high-impact product features across real-time data streaming, distributed systems, and data infrastructure.
- Take complex, loosely defined problems from concept to design, implementation, testing, and production.
- Influence technical direction, architecture, and engineering practices through hands-on contribution.
- Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and customer-facing teams to turn real-world problems into effective product solutions.
- Solve challenging product and customer issues, digging into the code and systems to identify root causes and durable solutions.
- Mentor engineers and raise the technical bar across the team.
- Leverage modern AI development tools to accelerate coding, testing, debugging, and delivery.
Requirements- 8+ years of software engineering experience building commercial data or infrastructure products.
- Deep expertise in database internals, query processing, distributed systems, or a related discipline.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals and a track record of taking ambiguous requirements through production.
- Experience working in small, high-performing engineering teams in a technical leadership capacity.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and influence technical decisions without formal management responsibility.
- Strong debugging, problem-solving, and systems-level thinking skills.
- Experience working across the software development lifecycle, from design through production support.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment.
- Candidates must be able to work onsite at our office in PALO ALTO, CA on a Hybrid basis.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with stream processing, Apache Kafka, and Kafka internals.
- Deep understanding of operating systems, concurrency, memory management, and performance tuning.
- Experience with real-time data streaming, CDC, data replication, or data integration.
- Experience building high-throughput, low-latency distributed systems.
- Expert use of AI-assisted development tools such as Claude, Gemini, Codex, or similar technologies to accelerate development and testing.
Benefits- Competitive salary and pre-IPO stock options
- Comprehensive health care plans (medical, dental and vision), including medical and dependent FSA
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- The chance to contribute to and shape an upbeat, fully engaged culture
Compensation$200,000 - 280,000 USD on an annualized basis.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
