Principal Software Engineer - Metadata

Snowflake1 months ago

Location

DE-Berlin-Trion Building

Type

Full Time

Salary

EUR 150,000 – 200,000

Level

Principal

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Feb 6, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join their Metadata team in Berlin, focusing on building scalable metadata systems for petabyte-scale data processing. The role involves designing distributed caches, transaction frameworks, and core database services that enable features like cross-region replication and data sharing.

What you'll do

System Architecture Design: Create architecture and design for scalable metadata systems handling petabyte-scale data

Distributed Cache Development: Design and develop multi-layered distributed caches for terabytes of metadata with growing request rates

Transaction Framework Implementation: Design and implement core foundational features including transactions, DDL/DML logs, and metadata APIs

Performance Optimization: Analyze and resolve performance and scalability bottlenecks in distributed database systems

Cross-Region Feature Development: Build foundation for global features like cross-region replication, data sharing, and data marketplace

Operational Excellence: Ensure operational readiness of services and meet customer commitments for availability and performance

Product Roadmap Influence: Influence product roadmap decisions and take ownership of new project initiatives

Declarative Entity Management: Implement advanced features for declarative entity management and developer toolchain integrations

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Expertise14+ years of experience designing and building large-scale distributed systems

Systems ProgrammingProficiency in multi-threading, concurrency, caching, and systems-level programming

Database Internals KnowledgeDeep understanding of database internals and storage engine design

Java ProficiencyFluency in Java or similar procedural object-oriented languages

Computer Science FundamentalsStrong foundation in data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBS in Computer Science or equivalent technical field

Advanced Degree PreferredMaster's or PhD in Computer Science or related field preferred

Experience

Senior Engineering Experience14+ years of industry experience in software engineering

Production SystemsProven track record of building and supporting large-scale production systems

Creative Problem SolvingExperience identifying and implementing creative solutions to complex technical problems

Cross-Team CollaborationAbility to work effectively across engineering teams in multiple locations

Skills

Required skills

Java ProgrammingExpert-level proficiency in Java for enterprise-scale applications

Distributed SystemsDeep understanding of distributed computing principles and patterns

Database SystemsKnowledge of database internals, storage engines, and query optimization

System DesignAbility to design large-scale, fault-tolerant systems

Performance EngineeringSkills in identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks

Nice to have

Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform

Big Data TechnologiesFamiliarity with Apache Spark, Kafka, or similar technologies

ContainerizationExperience with Docker, Kubernetes, and container orchestration

Data WarehousingUnderstanding of data warehousing concepts and ETL processes

Monitoring & ObservabilityExperience with monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or DataDog

Compensation & benefits

Salary

EUR 150,000 – 200,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Participation

Stock options and equity participation in Snowflake's growth

Professional Development

Learning and development opportunities including conference attendance

Healthcare Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid work model with flexibility for remote and office work

Retirement Planning

Pension contributions and retirement savings plans

Unlimited PTO

Flexible time off policy for work-life balance

Innovation Time

Dedicated time for exploring new technologies and side projects

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiter to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Phone Screen — 45-minute technical interview covering algorithms, data structures, and system design basics
3
System Design Round — 90-minute session designing a large-scale distributed system similar to Snowflake's metadata layer
4
Technical Deep Dive — Technical interview focusing on database internals, distributed systems, and performance optimization
5
Behavioral Interview — Leadership and collaboration assessment with engineering management
6
Final Interview — Culture fit and team collaboration discussion with senior leadership