Role Overview

Discord powers connections for over 200 million monthly active users, with 90% engaging in gaming activities totaling 1.5 billion hours monthly. As a Software Engineer, Data Platform, you'll build the infrastructure handling petabytes of data that drive insights for one of the world's most vibrant gaming communities. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, this role offers the chance to impact millions of gamers worldwide by creating scalable data systems that power voice channels, streaming, quests, and community building.

Discord's Data Platform team is revolutionizing how gaming data is processed, transformed, and served. We're leveraging open-source tools like Kafka, Spark, Flink, Airflow, and Dagster to build a modern data stack. If you thrive on distributed systems challenges, prioritize user privacy, and want your code to directly influence product decisions for gamers, this is your opportunity to join a team that's shaping the future of social gaming.

The role requires residency or relocation to the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma counties). Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates passionate about gaming and large-scale data engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain data infrastructure that processes petabytes of behavioral data from millions of Discord users daily.
• Develop high-throughput data ingestion pipelines using Kafka and similar streaming technologies to capture real-time gaming events.
• Implement scalable data transformation jobs with Apache Spark or Flink, optimizing for cost and performance at exabyte scale.
• Write production-grade, well-tested code in Python, Java, Rust, or Go for data serving layers that power analytics dashboards.
• Own complete project lifecycles: from initial requirements gathering and system design through CI/CD deployment and 24/7 production support.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists to build ML feature stores and experiment platforms that drive A/B testing for gaming features.
• Partner with product managers to translate business requirements into reliable data pipelines supporting new voice, video, and community tools.
• Monitor system health using advanced observability tools, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks in data flows.
• Optimize ETL workflows with Airflow or Dagster, ensuring data freshness and lineage for regulatory compliance.
• Champion data privacy practices, implementing differential privacy and anonymization techniques across the platform.
• Contribute to Discord's engineering blog, sharing insights on scalable data orchestration with the broader tech community.
• Mentor junior engineers, conducting code reviews and architecture discussions to elevate team capabilities.
• Experiment with cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP) and container orchestration (Kubernetes) to enhance platform reliability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience building distributed systems.
• Expertise in systems programming languages like Python, Java, Rust, or Go, with a portfolio of production deployments.
• Deep understanding of computer science fundamentals: distributed algorithms, concurrency, and database theory.
• Track record of rapidly mastering complex technologies and debugging intricate production issues under pressure.
• Growth-oriented mindset demonstrated through feedback loops, personal projects, and continuous learning.
• Exceptional communication skills, able to distill technical complexity for executives, peers, and juniors alike.
• Bonus: Genuine passion for gaming and familiarity with Discord's role in esports, streaming, and community building.
• Bonus: Hands-on experience with data ecosystem tools (Kafka, Spark, Flink, Airflow, Dagster, dbt, SQL databases).
• Bonus: Cloud platform proficiency (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).

Salary & Benefits

The base salary range for this full-time Software Engineer, Data Platform position is $160,000 - $180,000 USD annually, plus equity and comprehensive benefits. Total compensation includes Discord stock options with significant upside potential given our growth trajectory.

• Unlimited PTO with encouraged recharge periods
• Top-tier medical, dental, vision coverage
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Parental leave exceeding industry standards
• Relocation package including housing assistance
• $1,500+ annual learning stipend for conferences/courses
• Full Discord Nitro + gaming peripherals budget
• Weekly catered meals, snacks, and team events
• Wellness programs including mental health support
• Home office setup allowance
• Fitness reimbursement and gym partnerships
• Annual company retreats and hackathons

Why Join Discord?

Discord isn't just another tech company—it's the essential hub for 200M+ gamers worldwide. Your data platform work will directly power features used by esports professionals, casual players, streamers, and developers building on our API. Join a culture that values work-life harmony, radical candor, and shipping lovable products.

Read our engineering blog on building our modern data stack to see the impactful work happening now. With Bay Area offices equipped for collaboration and fun, you'll thrive alongside brilliant engineers passionate about gaming's social layer.

How to Apply

Ready to build data infrastructure powering the future of gaming? Submit your resume, GitHub/portfolio, and a brief note on your favorite Discord gaming memory. Our team reviews applications on a rolling basis—top candidates interview within 1-2 weeks. Discord is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in gaming communities.