Principal Software Engineer II, Horizon Catalog at Snowflake

Snowflake is revolutionizing the cloud data and AI landscape, empowering enterprises to unlock the full potential of their data. We are a company built on impact, innovation, and collaboration, offering a dynamic environment where you can build a significant career. Join us and take technology – and your career – to the next level.

Role Overview

As a Principal Software Engineer II in the Horizon Catalog team, you will be at the forefront of building Snowflake's Universal AI Catalog. This catalog provides built-in context and governance for AI across all enterprise data, working seamlessly with any engine and data format, and running anywhere. You will play a pivotal role in unifying discovery, security, compliance, and collaboration, serving as the single source of truth for the entire data estate.

This role demands a visionary engineering leader who can drive company-wide technical strategy and execute critical, multi-year initiatives with cross-organizational impact. You will set the technical vision for the Horizon Catalog, translating complex business goals into technical architecture and developing high-impact engineering roadmaps. Your influence will extend to co-developing the product roadmap in partnership with the Product Management team, directly leading the execution of high-complexity initiatives, and guiding the execution of other team initiatives. Furthermore, you will mentor and grow senior engineers, contributing to the overall technical expertise of the team.

A Day in the Life

Here’s what a typical day might look like for you:

• Morning: Start with a team stand-up to discuss progress, roadblocks, and priorities. Followed by a deep-dive session with senior engineers to refine the technical architecture for a new feature, ensuring scalability and security.
• Mid-day: Collaborate with the Product Management team to align on the product roadmap, providing technical insights and feasibility assessments. Present your technical vision to stakeholders, gathering feedback and fostering alignment.
• Afternoon: Lead a design review session for a high-complexity initiative, ensuring the design meets the performance, security, and scalability requirements. Mentor a senior engineer on best practices for distributed systems design.
• Late Afternoon: Research and prototype new technologies or approaches to enhance the Horizon Catalog's capabilities, such as integrating with new AI frameworks or improving metadata management techniques.

Why Menlo Park, CA?

Menlo Park, CA, is a hub of innovation and technology, offering a vibrant environment for tech professionals. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo Park provides unparalleled access to industry events, networking opportunities, and cutting-edge research. The area boasts a high quality of life with excellent schools, numerous outdoor activities, and a thriving cultural scene. Working in Menlo Park places you in close proximity to other leading technology companies, fostering a collaborative and competitive environment. Snowflake’s Menlo Park office provides a modern and collaborative workspace designed to inspire creativity and productivity.

Career Path

This Principal Software Engineer II role offers a clear path for career advancement within Snowflake. You can grow into a Staff Engineer, focusing on even broader technical leadership and strategic influence. Alternatively, you can transition into an Engineering Manager role, leading and mentoring a team of engineers while continuing to contribute to technical strategy. Snowflake is committed to providing opportunities for continuous learning and development, empowering you to achieve your career goals. You will have access to various training programs, mentorship opportunities, and internal mobility options to further enhance your skills and advance your career.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to a competitive salary, Snowflake offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Stock Options: Opportunity to own a piece of Snowflake and participate in the company's success.
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match to help you save for retirement.
• Professional Development: Access to training programs, conferences, and certifications to enhance your skills.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Options for flexible work hours and remote work.
• Employee Assistance Program: Confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.
• Wellness Programs: Resources and programs to support your physical and mental well-being.
• Paid Parental Leave: Generous leave policy for new parents.
• Commuter Benefits: Assistance with commuting costs, such as public transportation or parking.
• Company-Sponsored Events: Opportunities to connect with colleagues through social events and team-building activities.

Innovation Culture

Snowflake's engineering team is at the heart of our innovation culture. We believe in empowering our engineers to solve challenging technical problems related to security, parallelism, distributed systems, and large-scale system maintenance. You will be part of a world-class team that innovates with rigor, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible. We foster a collaborative environment where ideas are encouraged, and every team member has the opportunity to make a significant impact. Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our cutting-edge technology and our continuous investment in research and development.

How to Apply

If you are a visionary engineering leader with a passion for data and AI, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter through our online application portal. Be sure to highlight your experience in designing and building large-scale distributed systems, metadata management, and data governance. We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate a track record of translating high-level business strategy into actionable engineering roadmaps and influencing technical direction across multiple teams. If your qualifications align with our requirements, we will contact you to schedule an interview.

FAQ

1. What is the Horizon Catalog?

   The Horizon Catalog is Snowflake's Universal AI Catalog, providing built-in context and governance for AI across all enterprise data. It unifies discovery, security, compliance, and collaboration, serving as the single source of truth for the entire data estate.

2. What are the key responsibilities of a Principal Software Engineer II in this role?

   Key responsibilities include setting the technical vision for the Horizon Catalog, driving product influence, leading the execution of high-complexity initiatives, and mentoring senior engineers.

3. What qualifications are required for this position?

   Required qualifications include 15+ years of experience designing and building large-scale distributed services, deep expertise in metadata management and data governance, and a proven ability to translate business strategy into engineering roadmaps.

4. What are the preferred qualifications?

   Preferred qualifications include experience leveraging semantic metadata to power AI experiences, ability to articulate architectural differentiation against key competitors, and a solid understanding of RBAC and ABAC principles.

5. What is the career path for this role?

   You can grow into a Staff Engineer, focusing on broader technical leadership, or transition into an Engineering Manager role, leading and mentoring a team of engineers.

6. What benefits does Snowflake offer?

   Snowflake offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, stock options, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and flexible work arrangements.

7. What is the culture like at Snowflake?

   Snowflake fosters a culture of impact, innovation, and collaboration, empowering engineers to solve challenging technical problems and make a significant impact.

8. How does Snowflake support employee growth and development?

   Snowflake provides opportunities for continuous learning and development through training programs, mentorship opportunities, and internal mobility options.

9. What is it like to work in Menlo Park, CA?

   Menlo Park is a hub of innovation and technology, offering a vibrant environment for tech professionals with access to industry events, networking opportunities, and a high quality of life.

10. What is Snowflake's approach to data security?

    Every Snowflake employee is expected to follow the company’s confidentiality and security standards for handling sensitive data, abiding by the company’s data security plan to keep customer information secure and confidential.