Principal Software Engineer - PostgreSQL

Snowflake2 months ago

Location

US-CA-Menlo Park

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Software Engineer

Posted

Dec 19, 2025

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the development of their cloud-native PostgreSQL service, reimagining the modern Postgres experience. This strategic role involves architecting scalable database solutions, leading cross-functional projects, and building a fully managed Postgres service that integrates seamlessly with Snowflake's data platform.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership: Serve as the technical leader on critical, cross-functional projects spanning database architecture and cloud infrastructure

Problem Decomposition: Break down complex database challenges and build consensus across multiple teams to reach scalable, tractable solutions

Strategic Planning: Function as both problem solver and problem finder by building the PostgreSQL product roadmap while delivering on current commitments

Architecture Design: Define and implement the architecture for Snowflake's cloud-native PostgreSQL service, pushing boundaries of database performance in the cloud

Trade-off Analysis: Balance consistency, performance, scaling limits, and costs to build solutions meeting demands of rapidly growing database services

Operational Excellence: Ensure operational readiness of PostgreSQL services and meet customer commitments regarding durability, availability, performance, and security

Cross-team Collaboration: Navigate large, complex codebases and lead cross-team architecture efforts across engineering and product organizations

Product Development: Drive PostgreSQL enhancement projects from concept to production with measurable impact on developer experience and platform adoption

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems Experience10+ years building and operating large-scale distributed systems, databases, or cloud services

PostgreSQL ExpertiseDeep appreciation and hands-on experience with PostgreSQL as end user or administrator, with solid understanding of database fundamentals

Systems ProgrammingStrong systems programming experience with preference for Ruby expertise

High-Availability SystemsProven experience building high-availability, multi-tenant, or highly distributed data systems

Codebase NavigationDemonstrated ability to navigate large, complex codebases and lead cross-team architecture initiatives

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in database systems

Database Systems KnowledgeDeep understanding of database internals, query optimization, and distributed systems principles

Experience

Project LeadershipTrack record of driving complex database projects from concept to production with measurable business impact

Communication SkillsExcellent communication abilities and proven capability to influence across engineering and product organizations

PostgreSQL PassionDemonstrated passion for making PostgreSQL better, simpler, and more powerful for developers worldwide

Skills

Required skills

PostgreSQL AdministrationExpert-level PostgreSQL database administration, performance tuning, and optimization

Distributed Systems ArchitectureDesigning and implementing large-scale, fault-tolerant distributed database systems

Cloud InfrastructureBuilding cloud-native database services with focus on scalability and reliability

Systems ProgrammingLow-level programming skills for database internals and performance optimization

Technical LeadershipLeading cross-functional engineering teams and driving architectural decisions

Nice to have

Ruby ProgrammingStrong systems programming experience in Ruby for database tooling and automation

Multi-tenant ArchitectureExperience designing and operating multi-tenant database systems at scale

Database InternalsDeep knowledge of PostgreSQL internals, storage engines, and query processing

Cloud Platform ExpertiseHands-on experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP database services and infrastructure

Performance EngineeringDatabase performance analysis, optimization, and capacity planning at enterprise scale

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Competitive equity package as part of Snowflake's growth trajectory in the cloud data platform market

Professional Development

Opportunities to work with industry veterans and rising stars, building expertise in cutting-edge database technologies

Innovation Culture

Work environment focused on impact, innovation, and collaboration with direct influence on strategic product direction

Technical Growth

Exposure to challenging problems in security, distributed systems, resource management, and large-scale system maintenance

Customer Impact

Direct collaboration with enterprise customers and partners to understand use cases and drive strategic innovation

Comprehensive Benefits

Full benefits package including health insurance, retirement planning, and additional perks detailed on Snowflake careers site

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Recruiter phone screen focusing on background, interest in PostgreSQL, and alignment with principal-level expectations
2
Technical Deep Dive — In-depth technical discussion covering PostgreSQL internals, distributed systems architecture, and past project leadership experiences
3
System Design Interview — Architecture design session focusing on large-scale database systems, cloud-native design patterns, and trade-off analysis
4
Cross-functional Collaboration — Behavioral interview assessing leadership skills, cross-team collaboration, and ability to influence technical decisions
5
Executive Interview — Final round with senior engineering leadership discussing strategic vision, technical roadmap, and cultural alignment
6
Reference Checks — Verification of technical expertise, leadership impact, and collaborative working style with previous colleagues