Staff Software Engineer I

Confluent4 days ago

Location

Austin, Texas

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 235,700 – 277,000

Level

Staff

Role

Staff Software Engineer

Posted

May 21, 2026

Full TimeRemoteStaff

The role

Summary

Confluent is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join their Infrastructure team, focusing on designing and operating large-scale distributed systems that power Confluent Cloud. The ideal candidate will be a highly experienced engineer with expertise in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and cloud-native architectures, capable of driving complex infrastructure challenges across storage, networking, compute, and security domains.

What you'll do

Infrastructure Design: Design, develop, and operate large-scale, high-performance infrastructure that powers Confluent Cloud's data streaming platform

System Optimization: Build foundational software to improve reliability, scalability, and efficiency across cloud environments

Distributed Systems Engineering: Work on complex distributed systems challenges including consensus algorithms, failover strategies, and resource allocation

Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate with teams across Confluent to optimize infrastructure for real-time data streaming use cases

System Performance Management: Troubleshoot and improve system reliability, observability, and performance across multiple cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Open Source Contribution: Contribute to open-source projects and leverage open-source technologies to drive business impact

What we look for

Technical

Distributed SystemsStrong fundamentals in distributed systems architecture and design

Cloud InfrastructureDeep understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services

Systems OperationsSolid grasp of systems operations including disk, networking, and OS-level optimizations

Education

Academic BackgroundBS, MS, or PhD in computer science or related field, or equivalent work experience

Experience

Professional Experience10+ years of relevant experience in infrastructure and distributed systems engineering

Large-Scale System DesignExperience in building and operating large-scale, high-availability systems

Skills

Required skills

Programming LanguagesProficiency in Java, Scala, C++, Go, or other statically typed languages

Cloud PlatformsExpertise in AWS, Azure, or GCP cloud services

Nice to have

KubernetesExperience with Kubernetes and cloud-native architectures

Specialized DomainsBackground in storage, compute orchestration, networking, security, or performance engineering

Open SourceContributions to open-source infrastructure projects

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 235,700 – 277,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity

Stock options as part of compensation package

Remote Work

Fully remote work arrangement

Inclusive Workplace

Commitment to diversity and equal opportunity employment

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Review of resume and initial qualification check
2
Technical Interview — In-depth technical assessment of distributed systems and cloud infrastructure skills
3
System Design Challenge — Evaluate candidate's ability to design complex, scalable infrastructure solutions
4
Final Leadership Interview — Discussion with senior engineering leadership about team fit and strategic capabilities