Staff Software Engineer - Core Data and Transactions Infrastructure (Metadata) at Snowflake

Role Overview

As a Staff Software Engineer in the Core Data and Transactions Infrastructure (Metadata) team at Snowflake, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Snowflake’s Data Cloud. You will be part of a talented team of software engineers responsible for providing low-latency and highly consistent access to Snowflake’s metadata in a secure way. This involves building high-scale APIs that power various types of workloads, including analytics warehouse, Unistore, AI, and container functions. Your work will directly impact almost every internal service at Snowflake, supporting trillions of requests per day.

Day in the Life

On a typical day, you might: * Design and implement new features for Snowflake’s metadata system. * Optimize the performance and scalability of existing systems. * Troubleshoot and debug production issues. * Collaborate with other engineers on design and code reviews. * Write unit and integration tests. * Analyze and understand performance bottlenecks. * Participate in team meetings and discussions. * Research new technologies and approaches. * Document designs and code. ## Why Berlin? Berlin is a vibrant and diverse city with a thriving tech scene. Snowflake's Berlin office, located in the Trion Building, is home to the Metadata team, which plays a crucial role in the company's global operations. Working in Berlin offers the opportunity to collaborate with talented engineers from around the world, experience a rich cultural environment, and enjoy a high quality of life. The Metadata team in Berlin takes the lead in many critical aspects of Snowflake's data cloud infrastructure. The city's central location in Europe also allows for easy travel to other European destinations. ## Career Path This Staff Software Engineer role offers a clear career path within Snowflake. You can progress to Senior Staff Software Engineer, Principal Engineer, or even leadership positions within the engineering organization. Snowflake is a fast-growing company, and there are ample opportunities for career advancement for talented and motivated individuals. Furthermore, exposure to cutting-edge technologies and the opportunity to work on challenging problems will enhance your skills and experience. ## Salary & Benefits The salary for this Staff Software Engineer role is competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to a competitive salary, Snowflake offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: * Competitive salary and equity. * Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance. * Generous paid time off and holidays. * Paid parental leave. * Flexible spending accounts (FSA). * Health savings accounts (HSA). * Life insurance and disability coverage. * Employee assistance program (EAP). * 401(k) plan with company match. * Professional development opportunities. * Employee resource groups. * Stock options * Relocation assistance (if applicable). * Company-sponsored events and activities. * Commuter benefits. * Free snacks and drinks in the office. * Gym membership discounts. ## Innovation Culture Snowflake fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. Engineers are encouraged to experiment with new technologies and approaches and to contribute to the company's overall success. The company values creativity, problem-solving, and a passion for building high-quality software. Snowflake's commitment to innovation is reflected in its continuous development of new features and improvements to its Data Cloud platform. ## How to Apply If you are a talented and driven software engineer with a passion for distributed systems, performance, and scalability, we encourage you to apply for this Staff Software Engineer role. To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter through the Snowflake careers website. Be sure to highlight your relevant experience and skills, and explain why you are interested in working at Snowflake. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q1: What is the Snowflake Data Cloud?** The Snowflake Data Cloud is a global network where thousands of organizations unlock the potential of their data. It enables data warehousing, data lakes, data engineering, data science, data application development, and secure data sharing – all powered by one engine. **Q2: What does the Metadata team do at Snowflake?** The Metadata team is responsible for providing low-latency and highly consistent access to Snowflake's metadata in a secure way. This involves building high-scale APIs that power various types of workloads. **Q3: What technologies does the Metadata team use?** The Metadata team uses a variety of technologies, including Java, distributed systems, data structures, algorithms, multi-threading, concurrency, and caching. **Q4: What are the key skills for this role?** The key skills for this role include strong computer science fundamentals, systems programming skills, experience with distributed systems, and a track record of identifying and implementing creative solutions. **Q5: What is the interview process like?** The interview process typically involves a phone screen, a technical interview, and an on-site interview with members of the team. **Q6: What opportunities for professional development are available?** Snowflake offers a variety of professional development opportunities, including training courses, conferences, and mentorship programs. **Q7: What is the work environment like at Snowflake?** Snowflake has a collaborative and supportive work environment where engineers are encouraged to experiment with new technologies and approaches. **Q8: How does Snowflake support diversity and inclusion?** Snowflake is committed to diversity and inclusion and has a number of employee resource groups that support employees from diverse backgrounds. **Q9: What is Snowflake's approach to work-life balance?** Snowflake values work-life balance and offers flexible work arrangements to help employees manage their personal and professional lives. **Q10: What makes Snowflake a great place to work?** Snowflake is a great place to work because it offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology, collaborate with talented engineers, and make a significant impact on the company's success.

Snowflake is growing fast, and we’re scaling our team to help enable and accelerate our growth. We are looking for strong system engineers who are interested in solving some of the most challenging problems in distributed systems, performance and scalability, and passionate about building system software with high quality.

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