# SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER
**Company:** [Snowflake](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/snowflake)
Join Snowflake as a Senior Software Engineer to architect the performance, scalability, and service infrastructure powering AI/ML observability systems at enterprise scale. In this role, you will design and develop core backend components for large-scale data processing, implement advanced techniques like sketch-based data aggregation and ML metrics, and serve as a technical lead for machine learning infrastructure. This position requires deep expertise in database systems, Java development, SQL technologies, and distributed data processing, with a focus on building reliable, enterprise-grade solutions that enable customers to govern transactional and analytical data seamlessly in one unified platform.
**Role:** Senior Software Engineer
**Seniority:** Senior
**Locations:** US-CA-Menlo Park
**Salary:** 221187–287500 USD
[Apply](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/snowflake/c03acc32-f60b-40de-9838-e954d3f419b9)
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/jobs/snowflake/senior-software-engineer-c03acc32
---
## Responsibilities

- Architect AI/ML Observability Infrastructure: Design, develop, and maintain core backend components of AI/ML observability systems supporting large-scale data processing, storage, and real-time data movement. Implement sketch-based data aggregation techniques and ML metrics computation to enable accurate monitoring and evaluation of machine learning and Generative AI models in production environments.
- Develop ML Infrastructure and Platform Features: Build and enhance scalable AI/ML infrastructure to support reliable training, deployment, and continuous monitoring of machine learning workloads at enterprise scale. Create platform features that enable sophisticated ML and Generative AI use cases while optimizing performance, reliability, and resource efficiency across distributed systems.
- Lead Technical Design and Implementation: Serve as a technical leader for the design and implementation of machine learning observability, data infrastructure, and model explainability capabilities. Drive architectural decisions that directly support customer-facing ML and Generative AI products, ensuring solutions meet enterprise-grade reliability standards.
- Optimize Specialized Data Processing Techniques: Implement and optimize highly specialized algorithms including advanced data aggregation methods, machine learning metrics computation, and query optimization. Focus on solving real-world scale and performance problems that enable the world's largest enterprises to process and govern multi-petabyte datasets efficiently.
- Core Product Evolution Contribution: Contribute as a key engineer to the continuous evolution of Snowflake's core product: an elastic, large-scale, high-performance data processing system. Master complex technical areas quickly and collaborate with cross-functional teams to build industry-leading technologies that deliver transformative impact.

## Requirements

### education

- {"name":"Bachelor's Degree Required","description":"Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. Foreign equivalent degrees are accepted."}

### technical

- {"name":"Java Development","description":"Strong proficiency in Java application development with deep understanding of object-oriented design patterns, concurrency, memory management, and performance optimization in large-scale systems."}
- {"name":"SQL and Database Technologies","description":"Expert-level knowledge of SQL, query optimization, and relational database technologies. Experience implementing internal database components, query compilation, and advanced database internals."}
- {"name":"Distributed Systems Architecture","description":"Deep expertise in designing, implementing, and debugging distributed systems that handle large-scale data processing. Understanding of consensus algorithms, replication strategies, and consistency models."}
- {"name":"Query Compilation and Optimization","description":"Advanced knowledge of query compilation, query execution planning, and optimization techniques. Experience building or contributing to compiler and query processing systems in production environments."}
- {"name":"Implementation, Testing, and Debugging","description":"Demonstrated excellence in implementation practices, comprehensive testing strategies, and advanced debugging techniques for complex backend systems. Strong focus on code quality, documentation, and maintainability."}
- {"name":"Data Processing at Scale","description":"Hands-on experience with large-scale data processing frameworks and technologies. Understanding of performance optimization, resource allocation, and handling petabyte-scale datasets efficiently."}

### experience

- {"name":"Five Years Progressive Experience","description":"Minimum five (5) years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience in software engineering, database systems engineering, data infrastructure, or closely related technical roles involving complex system design and implementation."}
- {"name":"Database and Compiler Systems Development","description":"Proven experience designing and building database systems, query compilers, developer tools, and distributed data processing platforms. Demonstrated ability to handle large-scale system architecture and optimization challenges."}
- {"name":"Enterprise Software Architecture","description":"Solid track record building enterprise-grade, reliable, and trustworthy software systems and services. Experience designing systems that prioritize fault tolerance, data consistency, and operational reliability at scale."}
- {"name":"Data Warehousing and Processing Solutions","description":"Hands-on experience designing data warehouses, database systems, and large-scale data processing solutions. Understanding of distributed query processing, query optimization, and modern data architecture patterns."}
- {"name":"Open-Source Contributions","description":"Demonstrated contributions to Apache Software Foundation (ASF) open-source projects, particularly those in big data, Hadoop ecosystem, or related distributed systems initiatives. Shows collaborative development experience and commitment to community-driven technology."}

## Skills

### required

- {"name":"Java","description":"Expert-level proficiency in Java for building scalable backend systems and data processing applications"}
- {"name":"SQL","description":"Deep expertise in SQL, query optimization, and advanced database query processing techniques"}
- {"name":"Distributed Systems Design","description":"Proven ability to architect and implement distributed data processing systems at enterprise scale"}
- {"name":"Database Systems Architecture","description":"Strong knowledge of database internals, query compilation, and large-scale data warehousing solutions"}
- {"name":"Debugging and Performance Optimization","description":"Advanced proficiency in debugging complex backend systems and optimizing performance for large-scale workloads"}

### preferred

- {"name":"Machine Learning Infrastructure","description":"Experience building infrastructure for training, deployment, and monitoring of ML and Generative AI models"}
- {"name":"Apache Spark or Hadoop","description":"Hands-on experience with big data frameworks and ecosystem technologies from the Apache Software Foundation"}
- {"name":"Cloud Data Warehousing","description":"Familiarity with modern cloud-native data warehousing architectures and scalable analytics platforms"}
- {"name":"Stream Processing","description":"Experience with real-time stream processing systems and event-driven data pipelines"}
- {"name":"Open Source Contribution","description":"Track record of contributing to high-impact open-source projects in data infrastructure or distributed systems"}
- {"name":"Model Observability","description":"Understanding of ML model monitoring, explainability, and observability techniques for production systems"}

## Tech stack

### tools

- {"name":"Git/Version Control","description":"Standard version control for collaborative development and code management"}
- {"name":"Build and Deployment Tools","description":"Experience with compilation, build systems, and CI/CD deployment pipelines"}
- {"name":"Debugging and Profiling Tools","description":"Proficiency with performance analysis and debugging tools for backend systems"}

### others

- {"name":"Sketch-Based Data Aggregation","description":"Specialized probabilistic data structures for efficient approximate aggregation in large-scale systems"}
- {"name":"ML Observability Techniques","description":"Methods for monitoring, evaluating, and observing machine learning model performance in production"}
- {"name":"Query Compilation Systems","description":"Understanding of query compilers, execution planning, and optimization engines"}
- {"name":"Elastic Cloud Infrastructure","description":"Experience leveraging cloud computing resources for scalable data processing and storage"}

### databases

- {"name":"Relational Databases","description":"Experience with relational database systems, query processing, and optimization"}
- {"name":"Data Warehouses","description":"Knowledge of modern data warehouse technologies and columnar storage optimization techniques"}
- {"name":"Distributed Storage Systems","description":"Understanding of distributed storage architectures and scalable data management solutions"}

### languages

- {"name":"Java","description":"Primary programming language for backend system development and data processing applications"}
- {"name":"SQL","description":"Essential for database query development and optimization in data warehousing contexts"}
- {"name":"Python","description":"Useful for scripting, ML-related tasks, and data processing in modern analytics stacks"}

### frameworks

- {"name":"Apache Spark","description":"Large-scale distributed data processing framework used in big data and ML workloads"}
- {"name":"Hadoop","description":"Distributed storage and processing framework that forms the basis of many big data architectures"}
- {"name":"Snowflake Cloud Platform","description":"Snowflake's proprietary elastic cloud-native data warehousing platform built on modern cloud infrastructure"}

## Benefits

### benefits

- {"name":"Competitive Equity Package","description":"Stock options and equity participation in Snowflake's continued growth and success as a publicly traded cloud computing leader"}
- {"name":"Health and Wellness Benefits","description":"Comprehensive health insurance, wellness programs, and support for physical and mental well-being"}
- {"name":"Professional Development","description":"Opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI, ML, and data infrastructure technologies while expanding technical expertise"}
- {"name":"Flexible Work Arrangements","description":"Telecommuting permitted with flexibility to work remotely while maintaining strong collaborative relationships"}
- {"name":"Learning and Growth Culture","description":"Access to emerging technologies and an AI-native culture that encourages continuous learning and experimentation"}
- {"name":"Impact-Driven Work","description":"Opportunity to shape the future of how enterprises govern and process data at global scale"}

## Compensation

- **max:** 287500
- **min:** 221187
- **currency:** USD
- **stockOptions:** true

## Interview process

### steps

- {"name":"Initial Application Review","description":"Resume and cover letter screening to assess technical background, relevant experience with distributed systems, database technologies, and Java development. Snowflake evaluates alignment with five-year minimum progressive experience requirement."}
- {"name":"Technical Screening Call","description":"Preliminary conversation with a technical recruiter or engineer covering your background with database systems, data warehousing, query optimization, and your contributions to open-source projects. Expect discussion of specific projects and technical decision-making."}
- {"name":"System Design Interview","description":"In-depth technical interview focusing on distributed systems architecture, large-scale data processing design, and database system internals. You may be asked to design scalable solutions for challenges similar to those at Snowflake such as query optimization, data movement, or observability infrastructure."}
- {"name":"Backend Engineering Technical Interview","description":"Hands-on coding assessment demonstrating Java proficiency, algorithmic thinking, and ability to solve complex backend engineering problems. May include implementation of data structures, query processing logic, or distributed system components."}
- {"name":"Machine Learning Infrastructure Deep Dive","description":"Specialized technical discussion on ML infrastructure, observability systems, model monitoring, or data pipeline architecture. Interviewers assess your understanding of ML systems, sketch-based algorithms, or metrics computation if relevant to your background."}
- {"name":"Behavioral and Leadership Interview","description":"Conversation with a senior engineer or manager exploring your experience as a technical leader, collaboration style, handling of complex technical challenges, and alignment with Snowflake's values of challenging ordinary thinking and driving innovation."}
- {"name":"Hiring Manager Deep Dive","description":"Final interview with the hiring manager covering role expectations, team dynamics, growth opportunities within Snowflake's AI-native enterprise vision, and your motivation for joining the company."}

## Full description
At Snowflake, we are powering the era of the agentic enterprise. To usher in this new era, we seek AI-native thinkers across every function who are energized by the opportunity to reinvent how they work. You don’t just use tools; you possess an innate curiosity, treating AI as a high-trust collaborator that is core to how you solve problems and accelerate your impact. We look for low-ego individuals who thrive in dynamic and fast-moving environments and move with an experimental mindset — who rapidly test emerging capabilities to discover simpler, more powerful ways to deliver results. At Snowflake, your role isn't just to execute a function, but to help redefine the future of how work gets done.

**Job Location:** 135 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

**ELT:** Engineering

**REQ ID:** ASHREQ-8246

Joining this team means architecting the performance, scalability, and service infrastructure that will empower the world's largest enterprises to seamlessly govern their transactional and analytical data in one place. If you are passionate about building industry-leading technologies that solve real-world scale and performance problems, this is the place to be. In this role, you will be a key contributor to the evolution of our core product: an elastic, large-scale, high-performance data processing system. We are looking for smart, enthusiastic engineers who can quickly master complex technical areas and are passionate about building new, industry-leading technologies.

## **AS A SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER (MULTIPLE POSITIONS AVAILABLE) AT SNOWFLAKE, YOU WILL:**

Design, develop, and maintain core components of AI/ML observability systems, including backend infrastructure for largescale data processing, storage, and data movement. Implement and optimize highly specialized techniques such as sketch based data aggregation and machine learning metrics to support accurate monitoring and evaluation of ML and Generative AI models. Develop and enhance AI/ML infrastructure to support reliable training, deployment, and monitoring of machine learning workloads at scale. Build and extend platform features that enable scalable ML and Generative AI use cases while improving performance, reliability, and resource efficiency. Serve as a technical lead for the design and implementation of machine learning observability, data infrastructure, and model explainability capabilities supporting customer-facing ML and Generative AI products. Telecommuting permitted.

**Minimum Requirements for Position:**

* Bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering or a related field, and five (5) years of progressive post baccalaureate experience in the job offered or a related occupation.

**Education or experience must include:**

* Designing and building database systems, compilers, and developer tools;
* Building enterprise-grade, reliable, and trustworthy software and services;
* Developing applications using Java;
* Using SQL and other database technologies, including implementing internal database components;
* Designing data warehouses, database systems, and large-scale data processing solutions;
* Contributing to ASF open-source projects, including big data and Hadoop ecosystem initiatives; and
* Performing implementation, testing, debugging, and documentation, and design query compilation and compiler systems.

The base salary range for this role is $221,187 - $287,500

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](http://careers.snowflake.com)

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](http://careers.snowflake.com)