Director of Engineering, AI SQL at Snowflake - Menlo Park, CA

Role Overview

Snowflake is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead our AI SQL organization. This pivotal role involves driving the organization focused on delivering advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to users without requiring them to be AI experts. The goal is to democratize AI by surfacing powerful AI functions for predictive and unstructured analytics directly in SQL with minimal configuration. The Director will oversee the entire AI lifecycle behind the scenes, enabling users to perform advanced analytics in just seconds. This approach brings AI data directly to data analysts, data engineers, and data scientists, allowing them to apply sophisticated AI models seamlessly as part of their existing workflows within the familiar SQL environment. This organization will have a significant and lasting impact on Snowflake’s product vision and the future of AI-powered analytics.

A Day in the Life

As the Director of Engineering, AI SQL, your day will be dynamic and multifaceted. A significant portion of your time will be dedicated to strategic planning, setting the vision for the team, and ensuring accountability for plans and deliverables. You will spend time hiring, developing, and mentoring senior technical leaders, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence. You will also be deeply involved in driving team projects from ideation through implementation, collaborating with partner teams to ensure seamless integration and execution. Translating product requirements into engineering initiatives and coordinating cross-functionally will be another key aspect of your daily responsibilities. Furthermore, you will lead organizational structure evolution and continuously improve engineering efficiency. A typical day might include:

• Meeting with senior technical leaders to align on strategic priorities and discuss project progress.
• Conducting interviews for senior engineering positions and mentoring existing team members.
• Collaborating with product managers to translate product requirements into actionable engineering initiatives.
• Reviewing project plans and providing guidance to ensure successful implementation.
• Attending cross-functional meetings to coordinate efforts and ensure alignment across teams.
• Analyzing engineering processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Why Menlo Park, CA?

Menlo Park, California, is at the heart of Silicon Valley, making it an ideal location for this role. Being situated in Menlo Park offers several advantages:

• Access to Top Talent: Menlo Park is a hub for top engineering talent, providing access to a highly skilled and experienced workforce.
• Innovation Ecosystem: The city is part of a vibrant innovation ecosystem, with numerous tech companies, startups, and research institutions nearby, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Networking Opportunities: Menlo Park provides ample networking opportunities with industry leaders, venture capitalists, and other key stakeholders.
• Quality of Life: The city offers a high quality of life, with excellent schools, recreational opportunities, and a thriving cultural scene.
• Strategic Location: Menlo Park's proximity to other major tech hubs like San Francisco and San Jose makes it a strategic location for Snowflake.

Career Path

The Director of Engineering, AI SQL role at Snowflake offers significant opportunities for career advancement. Potential career paths include:

• VP of Engineering: As the organization grows, you could advance to a VP of Engineering role, overseeing multiple engineering teams and driving broader technological initiatives.
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): With a strong track record of innovation and leadership, you could potentially advance to the role of CTO, responsible for the company's overall technology strategy.
• Executive Leadership: The experience and skills gained in this role could also lead to executive leadership positions within Snowflake.

Within the AI SQL organization, potential paths include growing into a Senior Director role or a distinguished engineering fellow.

Salary & Benefits

While the exact salary range for this position is not disclosed in the job description, Snowflake offers a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and industry standards. In addition to a competitive base salary, the benefits package typically includes:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Employee Stock Options: Opportunity to own a piece of the company through stock options.
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.
• Other Perks: Employee discounts, wellness programs, and other benefits to support employee well-being.

For specific salary and benefits information, please visit the job posting on the Snowflake Careers Site: careers.snowflake.com

Innovation Culture

Snowflake fosters a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and collaborative problem-solving. As the Director of Engineering, AI SQL, you will play a key role in promoting this culture within your team and across the organization. Snowflake encourages employees to challenge ordinary thinking, push the pace of innovation, and build a future for themselves and the company. The company values individuals who share its values and are passionate about making an impact. You will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge LLM technology and contribute to transformative initiatives that shape the future of data and AI.

How to Apply

If you are excited about the opportunity to lead the AI SQL organization at Snowflake and contribute to the future of AI-powered analytics, we encourage you to apply. To apply for the Director of Engineering, AI SQL position, please visit the Snowflake Careers Site and submit your application online: careers.snowflake.com

FAQ

1. What is the primary focus of the AI SQL organization?The AI SQL organization focuses on delivering advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to users without requiring them to be AI experts, democratizing AI for a broader audience.
2. What kind of AI technologies will I be working with?You will be working with cutting-edge LLM (Large Language Model) technology and building AI infrastructure to support advanced analytics.
3. What are the key responsibilities of the Director of Engineering, AI SQL?Key responsibilities include setting strategic vision, hiring and mentoring senior technical leaders, driving projects from ideation to implementation, and fostering a culture of innovation.
4. What qualifications are required for this role?Required qualifications include an advanced degree in Computer Science, 2+ years of engineering director experience, 5+ years of experience leading teams building database systems, and 10+ years of software engineering experience.
5. What opportunities for career advancement are available?Potential career paths include VP of Engineering, CTO, or executive leadership positions within Snowflake.
6. What is the work environment like at Snowflake?Snowflake fosters a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and collaborative problem-solving.
7. What benefits does Snowflake offer?Snowflake offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, employee stock options, and a retirement plan with company match.
8. How does Snowflake support employee growth and development?Snowflake provides opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth through various programs and initiatives.
9. What is the impact of the AI SQL organization on Snowflake's product vision?The AI SQL organization will have a significant and lasting impact on Snowflake’s product vision and the future of AI-powered analytics by making AI accessible to a wider range of users.
10. What is Snowflake's approach to data security and confidentiality?Every Snowflake employee is expected to follow the company’s confidentiality and security standards for handling sensitive data and must abide by the company’s data security plan.