Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer – Core Database

Location: Sunnyvale, United States
Team: Core Database
Position Level: Senior Software Engineer

Role Overview

As a Senior Software Engineer working on YugabyteDB’s core database engine, you will play a critical role in designing, building, and scaling the foundational components of a globally distributed SQL database — spanning query processing, storage, replication, and transactions.

You will work on some of the most challenging problems in distributed systems, including query planning and execution, consistency, durability, fault tolerance, performance, and scalability. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams across query, platform, and cloud, you will help ensure YugabyteDB remains robust, reliable, and high-performing at scale.

This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy deep systems work and want to shape the core architecture of a high-performance, fault-tolerant distributed database.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deliver core database features across query processing, storage, replication, and transactions in YugabyteDB.
• Write high-quality C/C++ code (and other languages as needed) with strong automated test coverage; actively participate in design discussions and code reviews.
• Troubleshoot and resolve correctness, stability, and performance issues across:
• Distributed query planning and execution
• Storage and transactional subsystems
• Improve database scalability and throughput as cluster sizes, data volumes, and transaction rates grow.
• Identify and implement performance optimizations across the stack, including:
• Query plan optimization, batching, and parallelism
• Storage engine and replication efficiency
• End-to-end latency and throughput improvements
• Build and enhance core operational capabilities
• Contribute to the open-source YugabyteDB project, helping strengthen its distributed SQL capabilities and reliability.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (query, storage, platform, cloud) to deliver cohesive, high-quality features.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices in distributed systems, database internals, and performance engineering.

Required Qualifications

• 5–8 years of software engineering experience
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science (or related field), or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ (or similar systems language)
• Solid understanding of:
• Data structures and algorithms
• Operating systems fundamentals
• Distributed systems basics
  
  
• Experience in at least one of:
• Database internals (query processing, execution engines)
• Storage systems (LSM trees, WAL, compaction, etc.)
• Distributed systems (replication, consensus, transactions)
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building or working with distributed systems, including distributed storage, transactional engines, or consensus protocols.
• Strong understanding of database internals, with familiarity in areas such as:

• PostgreSQL or other relational database engines
• Query processing or storage engine design

• Contributions to open-source systems or database projects are a strong plus.

We work in a hybrid model, with the team together in our Sunnyvale office 2–3 days per week.

Work Authorization

This position is based in the U.S. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States. Sponsorship may be considered only under specific circumstances aligned with current regulatory requirements.