Principal Software Engineer I - Snowhouse Foundation

Principal Software Engineer · Principal · Full Time

US-CA-Menlo ParkUSD 264k – 380k5mo ago
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Role

What you'll do.

Snowflake is seeking a Principal Software Engineer I for their Snowhouse Foundation team to build globally distributed data warehouse infrastructure managing petabyte-scale datasets. This role focuses on designing highly available distributed platforms, leading end-to-end projects, and providing technical leadership while collaborating across product, engineering, and data science organizations.

Responsibilities

  • Distributed Platform Design: Design and implement innovative highly available distributed platforms and pipelines to enhance Snowflake's global data infrastructure
  • Project Leadership: Lead and drive projects from idea formulation through design, implementation, and successful productionization
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with product managers, architects, engineering teams, data science organizations, and business groups on end-to-end solutions
  • Technical Leadership: Provide strong technical leadership to the team and partner teams across multiple critical infrastructure areas
  • Analytics Enablement: Enable data science organization, business groups, and engineering teams to build comprehensive analytics quickly and effectively
  • System Architecture: Architect petabyte-scale data systems for continuous ingestion, processing, and replication from global Snowflake environments
  • Customer Solutions: Develop customer-facing system database applications providing usage insights and business logic including ML-powered functions

Qualifications

What we look for.

Technical

  • Distributed Systems Expertise

    15+ years of experience in distributed systems with focus on data warehouse or data infrastructure software development

  • Large Scale Systems

    Strong track record of delivering large scale and resilient distributed systems and services

  • Cloud Development

    Extensive development experience in cloud environments including AWS, Azure, and GCP

  • Database Systems

    Deep experience in distributed systems and database architecture and implementation

  • System Implementation

    Strong hands-on skills with ability to dive deep into complex system design and implementation

Education

  • Computer Science Degree

    BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or related majors, or equivalent professional experience

Experience

  • Senior Engineering Experience

    15+ years of professional software engineering experience with focus on distributed systems

  • Data Infrastructure

    Significant experience in data warehouse or data infrastructure software development

  • Machine Learning (Preferred)

    Experience in ML systems and applications is a plus for business logic implementation

Skills

Required

  • Distributed Systems Architecture

    Expert-level knowledge of designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems

  • Cloud Platform Expertise

    Extensive hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, and GCP for distributed infrastructure

  • Data Infrastructure

    Deep understanding of data warehouse architecture, petabyte-scale data processing, and storage systems

  • Technical Leadership

    Proven ability to lead technical teams and drive complex projects from conception to production

  • System Performance

    Expertise in building high-performance, high-availability systems with focus on efficiency

Preferred

  • Machine Learning

    Nice to have

    Experience with ML systems integration and ML-powered business logic implementation

  • Data Science Collaboration

    Nice to have

    Track record of enabling data science teams and building analytics platforms

  • Pipeline Authoring

    Nice to have

    Experience with data pipeline authoring platforms and workflow orchestration

  • Multi-cloud Architecture

    Nice to have

    Experience designing systems that span multiple cloud providers

Tech stack

Languages

JavaScalaPythonSQL

Frameworks

Apache SparkApache KafkaSpring Boot

Databases

Snowflake Data CloudApache CassandraPostgreSQL

Tools

KubernetesDockerTerraformApache Airflow

Other

AWSAzureGCPApache Parquet

Compensation

Pay and benefits.

Base·USD 264,000 – 379,500

Equity·Stock options

Benefits

  • Comprehensive Health Coverage

    Medical, dental, and vision insurance with premium coverage options

  • Equity Participation

    Stock options and RSUs to participate in company growth and success

  • Retirement Planning

    401(k) plan with company matching contributions

  • Flexible Time Off

    Unlimited PTO policy to maintain work-life balance

  • Parental Leave

    Extended paid parental leave for new parents

  • Learning & Development

    Professional development budget and learning opportunities

  • Wellness Programs

    Mental health support and wellness initiatives

Process

Interview steps.

  1. 01

    Initial Screening

    Phone or video screening with recruiter covering background, experience, and role alignment

  2. 02

    Technical Deep Dive

    Technical interview focusing on distributed systems design, scalability challenges, and past project experiences

  3. 03

    System Design Interview

    Whiteboard or virtual system design session for large-scale data infrastructure problems

  4. 04

    Behavioral & Leadership

    Interview assessing leadership experience, cross-functional collaboration, and cultural fit

  5. 05

    Team Interviews

    Multiple rounds with potential team members and stakeholders to assess technical depth and collaboration style

  6. 06

    Final Executive Interview

    Senior leadership interview focusing on vision, strategy, and long-term impact potential

Full posting

Original listing.

Snowflake is about empowering enterprises to achieve their full potential — and people too. With a culture that’s all in on impact, innovation, and collaboration, Snowflake is the sweet spot for building big, moving fast, and taking technology — and careers — to the next level.

The Snowhouse Foundation team builds our globally distributed data warehouse. We manage a vast array of petabyte scale data sets that are continuously ingested, processed and replicated from across all Snowflake environments and external data sources. Snowhouse powers all of Snowflake’s core business, engineering and data science needs and provides customers with full visibility into their account activities, usage, and resource consumption from all their global environments. The team is investing in multiple critical areas, including a pipeline authoring platform, high performance/high efficiency data export, ingestion and data layout. Our team is also responsible for a fundamental product for Snowflake’s customers: the Snowflake system database/application that provides customers with all usage insights they need to reason about their global Snowflake footprint as well as 1st party business logic such as ML powered functions and Budgeting applications.

AS A PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER IN SNOWHOUSE FOUNDATION, YOU WILL:

  • Design and implement innovative highly available distributed platforms and pipelines and enhance the overall Snowflake data infrastructure

  • Lead and drive projects from idea formulation to design, implementation and successful productionization.

  • Collaborate with product managers, architects, other engineering teams, data science organizations, business groups, on end to end solutions.

  • Provide strong technical leadership to the team and partner teams.

  • Enable the data science organization, business groups, engineering teams to build comprehensive analytics quickly and effectively.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

  • 15+ years of experience in distributed systems, some of which are in data warehouse or data infrastructure software development.

  • Strong track record of delivering large scale and resilient distributed systems and services.

  • Extensive and strong development experience in cloud environments, such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.

  • Strong collaboration and communication skills.

  • Experience in distributed systems and databases.

  • Experience in ML is a plus.

  • Strong hands-on skills. Can dive deep into the complex system design and implementation when needed.

  • BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or related majors, or equivalent experience.

Every Snowflake employee is expected to follow the company’s confidentiality and security standards for handling sensitive data. Snowflake employees must abide by the company’s data security plan as an essential part of their duties. It is every employee's duty to keep customer information secure and confidential.

Snowflake is growing fast, and we’re scaling our team to help enable and accelerate our growth. We are looking for people who share our values, challenge ordinary thinking, and push the pace of innovation while building a future for themselves and Snowflake.

How do you want to make your impact?

For jobs located in the United States, please visit the job posting on the Snowflake Careers Site for salary and benefits information: careers.snowflake.com

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