Staff Software Engineer, Issue Workflow

Sentry3 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco, California

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 240,000 – 300,000

Level

Staff

Role

Staff Software Engineer

Posted

Feb 18, 2026

Full TimeStaff

The role

Summary

Sentry is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for their Issue Workflow team, responsible for architecting high-scale distributed systems that process billions of events daily. The ideal candidate will drive technical strategy, solve complex performance challenges, and enhance the developer debugging experience by creating scalable, high-performance monitoring solutions.

What you'll do

Technical Strategy: Partner with engineering leadership, product, and design to shape the multi-quarter technical vision for Issue Workflow platform. Make strategic architectural decisions and manage technical debt.

Performance Optimization: Solve complex performance and scalability challenges for a platform processing billions of events daily. Design high-scale distributed systems with focus on reliability and efficiency.

Product Quality: Champion product quality and user experience by building delightful features that consider every detail, from interfaces to error messages. Instrument systems for continuous measurement and improvement.

Team Development: Mentor and elevate team members by sharing knowledge, supporting skill growth, and creating a collaborative learning environment.

What we look for

Technical

Programming LanguagesProficiency in Python and TypeScript with 10+ years of full-stack software engineering experience

Distributed SystemsDeep expertise in distributed systems architecture, including eventual consistency, partitioning strategies, caching layers, and query optimization

Data TechnologiesAdvanced knowledge of PostgreSQL, ClickHouse, Kafka, and message queue systems

Education

Computer ScienceBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Experience

System DesignProven track record of designing and implementing complex, scalable software systems

Full-Stack DevelopmentComprehensive understanding of full-stack development, including frontend performance and API design

Skills

Required skills

Distributed SystemsExpert-level understanding of high-scale system architectures and performance optimization

Backend EngineeringAdvanced backend development skills with focus on scalability and reliability

Technical LeadershipAbility to drive technical strategy and mentor team members

Nice to have

Open SourceExperience or interest in open-source software development

Performance MonitoringBackground in developer tools or application performance monitoring

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 240,000 – 300,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Healthcare

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

Equity

Stock options and potential equity grants

Flexible Work

Hybrid work model with in-office collaboration days (Mon, Tue, Thu)

Professional Development

Continuous learning opportunities, conference attendance, and skill development programs

Wellness

Mental health resources and wellness programs

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — HR phone screen to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit
2
Technical Phone Interview — In-depth discussion of technical background, system design, and problem-solving approaches
3
Coding Challenge — Take-home or online coding assessment focusing on distributed systems and algorithmic problem-solving
4
Onsite/Virtual Interviews — Multiple rounds including system design, technical deep dive, team fit, and leadership potential evaluation
5
Final Leadership Interview — Discussion with senior engineering leadership to assess strategic thinking and long-term potential