Senior Engineering Manager - Observability

Snowflake4 months ago

Location

US-CA-Menlo Park

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500

Level

Senior

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Nov 5, 2025

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead their Observability team, focusing on building distributed systems at scale and driving product strategy. This role combines technical leadership with people management, requiring expertise in modern observability practices, cloud environments, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-impact solutions for engineering teams.

What you'll do

Vision & Strategy Leadership: Partner with engineering leadership to drive the Observability vision and shape the product roadmap

Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of high-performing engineers building state-of-the-art cloud-based environments

Talent Acquisition: Recruit and nurture new engineering talent to scale the observability team

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work across the organization with design, engineering directors, managers, and architects to deliver high-quality products

Data-Driven Decision Making: Promote data-driven decision-making using information collected across the Snowflake stack to ensure user needs are met

API & Infrastructure Development: Develop APIs, infrastructure, tools, and training to provide engineers with deeper insights into application performance

Operational Management: Balance strategic and operational needs, from pitching ideas to coordinating resources and negotiating trade-offs

Performance Metrics Reporting: Present core service performance metrics and health in operational meetings to discuss ongoing system improvements

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems ExperienceProven experience building and running distributed systems in production environments

Observability SystemsDeep understanding of systems observability and providing insights for software validation

Engineering PracticesCommitment to good engineering practices including fast iterative development, testing, and CI/CD automation

Modern ObservabilityExpert knowledge of logs, metrics, traces, and alerts for developer and operator decision-making

Container TechnologiesExperience with container deployment, orchestration, service discovery, and monitoring at scale

Cloud PlatformsExperience with development and deployment in AWS, Azure, or GCP environments

Education

Technical BackgroundStrong technical background in software engineering or related field

Experience

Leadership ExperienceExperience leading large software teams that delivered complex, impactful products

People ManagementProven track record of effective people management, leadership, and mentoring

Cross-functional CollaborationSkilled at working collaboratively across different functions and remote teams

Technical Program ManagementProven ability to collaborate with Technical Program Managers and Architects on highly technical initiatives

Skills

Required skills

Engineering LeadershipProven ability to lead and manage large software engineering teams

Distributed SystemsHands-on experience with building and operating distributed systems at scale

People ManagementStrong track record in mentoring, developing, and retaining engineering talent

Cross-functional CollaborationAbility to work effectively across different teams and functions

Observability ExpertiseDeep understanding of system observability and monitoring practices

Engineering PracticesKnowledge of modern development practices including CI/CD, testing, and automation

Nice to have

Modern Observability ToolsExpert knowledge of contemporary observability platforms and practices

Technical Program ManagementExperience collaborating with TPMs and architects on complex technical initiatives

Logs, Metrics, and TracesAdvanced knowledge of telemetry data types and their application in decision-making

Container OrchestrationHands-on experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and related technologies at scale

Cloud Platform ExpertiseDeep experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP for enterprise-scale deployments

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 264,000 – 379,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Full medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage

Stock Options

Equity participation in Snowflake's growth and success

Professional Development

Opportunities for career growth and skill development in a fast-growing company

Collaborative Culture

Work environment focused on impact, innovation, and collaboration

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid work model with office presence in Menlo Park, CA

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiter to discuss background and role alignment
2
Hiring Manager Interview — Technical discussion with hiring manager about leadership experience and observability expertise
3
Technical Leadership Panel — Panel interview focusing on system design, team leadership scenarios, and technical decision-making
4
Cross-functional Collaboration — Interview with peers from other engineering teams to assess collaboration and communication skills
5
Executive Interview — Final interview with senior leadership to discuss vision, strategy, and cultural fit
6
Reference Checks — Professional reference verification focusing on leadership and technical accomplishments