Principal Software Engineer I - Snowhouse Foundation

Snowflake2 weeks ago

Location

US-CA-Menlo Park

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Software Engineer

Posted

Feb 26, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

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.

What you'll do

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

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Expertise15+ years of experience in distributed systems with focus on data warehouse or data infrastructure software development

Large Scale SystemsStrong track record of delivering large scale and resilient distributed systems and services

Cloud DevelopmentExtensive development experience in cloud environments including AWS, Azure, and GCP

Database SystemsDeep experience in distributed systems and database architecture and implementation

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

Education

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

Experience

Senior Engineering Experience15+ years of professional software engineering experience with focus on distributed systems

Data InfrastructureSignificant 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 skills

Distributed Systems ArchitectureExpert-level knowledge of designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems

Cloud Platform ExpertiseExtensive hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, and GCP for distributed infrastructure

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

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

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

Nice to have

Machine LearningExperience with ML systems integration and ML-powered business logic implementation

Data Science CollaborationTrack record of enabling data science teams and building analytics platforms

Pipeline AuthoringExperience with data pipeline authoring platforms and workflow orchestration

Multi-cloud ArchitectureExperience designing systems that span multiple cloud providers

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

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

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video screening with recruiter covering background, experience, and role alignment
2
Technical Deep Dive — Technical interview focusing on distributed systems design, scalability challenges, and past project experiences
3
System Design Interview — Whiteboard or virtual system design session for large-scale data infrastructure problems
4
Behavioral & Leadership — Interview assessing leadership experience, cross-functional collaboration, and cultural fit
5
Team Interviews — Multiple rounds with potential team members and stakeholders to assess technical depth and collaboration style
6
Final Executive Interview — Senior leadership interview focusing on vision, strategy, and long-term impact potential