Principal Software Engineer (Data and Reporting)

Are you an experienced engineer ready to tackle complex data challenges at scale? Join Smartly and play a key role in developing high-performance, scalable solutions that power data-driven advertising for some of the world’s largest brands.

As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll drive architectural decisions, optimize large-scale data processing, and enhance the reporting tools that 90% of our customers rely on a daily basis. Your expertise will help shape the future of Smartly’s data ecosystem, enabling seamless analytics and reporting across multiple ad platforms.

You will focus on improving and maintaining Smartly’s core reporting engine, a system that ingests and aggregates billions of data points across various ad channels. This system is mission-critical, providing advertisers with insights and enabling campaign optimization at scale.

You will also play a key role in improving database performance and scalability across the whole organization, driving a continuous improvement and learning culture.

As a Principal Engineer, you will:

• Lead and drive architectural improvements to ensure scalability, efficiency, and correctness in our reporting infrastructure.
• Optimize high-performance data processing, working with large datasets and complex SQL queries.
• Enhance and extend our flexible query language to unlock deeper insights and analytical capabilities.
• Set a high engineering standard by directly contributing to our core reporting service backend, ensuring high availability and top-tier performance.
• Mentor and elevate other engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and engineering leadership.

What We’re Looking For:

• Deep expertise in relational databases (PostgreSQL is a plus) with hands-on experience in:
• Distributed tables and scaling strategies
• Schema design, query tuning, and execution plan analysis for highly efficient and performant data access
• OLAP and OLTP workloads, understanding how to optimize for both analytical and transactional use cases
• Time series data
• Proven experience optimizing large-scale data processing and high-throughput workloads.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate across multiple teams and stakeholders to drive business outcomes.
• Ownership mindset – the ability to lead high-impact initiatives, drive improvements, and mentor others, while setting high-quality standards.
• Ability and willingness to work in a hybrid capacity from our Helsinki office 3 days a week.

Technologies We Use:

• Backend: TypeScript (Node.js), Ruby, PostgreSQL (Citus extension), Redis
• Frontend: TypeScript (React)

What We Offer You:

• Inclusive Culture: Join a team of over 750 Smartlies representing more than 60 nationalities across 24 locations in 13 countries, and we foster a culture built on trust, transparency, and open feedback.
• Global Impact: Be part of a company making a global impact, directly influencing our customers and business growth.
• Wellbeing Focus: Enjoy generous healthcare packages, mental health services, and a healthy work-life balance with paid holidays and family leave.
• Total Rewards: Benefit from equity options, performance-based rewards, competitive compensation, and ample career development opportunities.
• Hybrid Workplace: Experience a hybrid work model, balancing office and remote work, with the option to work abroad for up to 30 days.

Smartly is committed to being the best place to work for growth-minded individuals to thrive - explore more in our Culture Handbook!

What to Expect from Our Recruitment Experience:

• Recruiter Call – Introduction to Smartly and the role.
• Team Lead Discussion – Deep dive into the team, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Technical Interviews – Hands-on coding, system design, and architecture discussions.
• Final Meeting – A leadership conversation to ensure a great fit.

If you're eager to solve high-scale data challenges and drive impact in an AI-powered advertising platform, apply now and become part of Bobby Tables at Smartly!

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