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 crucial role in shaping the future of Snowflake’s Data Cloud. You will be part of a talented team of software engineers focused on providing low-latency and highly consistent access to Snowflake’s metadata in a secure way. Your work will directly impact the performance, scalability, and reliability of Snowflake's services, which support trillions of requests per day.

Day in the Life

On a typical day, you might:

• Design and implement new features for the next-generation transaction system or storage engine.
• Analyze and debug performance bottlenecks in the metadata system.
• Collaborate with other engineers to integrate new features into the Snowflake Data Cloud.
• Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality.
• Write unit and integration tests to verify the correctness of your code.
• Contribute to the documentation of the metadata system.
• Participate in on-call rotation to support production systems.

Why Berlin, Germany?

Berlin is a vibrant and growing tech hub with a diverse and international community. Snowflake's Berlin office is located in the heart of the city, offering a dynamic and stimulating work environment. The Metadata team in Berlin takes the lead on many critical projects, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Berlin offers a high quality of life, with affordable housing, excellent public transportation, and a rich cultural scene.

Career Path

This Staff Software Engineer role offers a clear path for career advancement within Snowflake. You can progress to Senior Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, or Engineering Manager roles, depending on your interests and skills. Snowflake is committed to providing its employees with the resources and opportunities they need to grow and succeed.

Salary & Benefits

Snowflake offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee assistance program.
• Commuter benefits.
• Wellness programs.
• Free snacks and drinks.
• Company-sponsored events.

Innovation Culture

Snowflake is a company that values innovation and encourages its employees to challenge ordinary thinking. The company is committed to providing its employees with the resources and support they need to develop new ideas and bring them to life. Snowflake fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment where employees are empowered to take risks and learn from their mistakes.

How to Apply

If you are a talented and driven software engineer with a passion for building high-performance, scalable, and reliable systems, 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.

FAQ

1. What is the Snowflake Data Cloud?

   The Snowflake Data Cloud is a global network where thousands of organizations unlock the transformative power of data. It enables data warehousing, data lakes, data engineering, data science, data application development, and secure data sharing – all powered by one engine.

2. What does the Metadata team do?

   The Metadata team is responsible for providing low-latency and highly consistent access to Snowflake’s metadata in a secure way. They build high-scale APIs that power different types of workloads, from analytics warehouses and Unistore to AI and container functions.

3. What technologies does the Metadata team use?

   The Metadata team primarily uses Java, but experience with other similar object-oriented languages is also valuable. They also work with distributed systems, data structures, algorithms, multi-threading, concurrency, and caching.

4. What are the key challenges of this role?

   The key challenges include designing and implementing high-performance, scalable, and reliable systems that can handle trillions of requests per day. You will also need to analyze and understand performance bottlenecks and solve them effectively.

5. What is the work environment like at Snowflake?

   Snowflake fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment where employees are empowered to take risks and learn from their mistakes. The company values innovation and encourages its employees to challenge ordinary thinking.

6. What are the opportunities for professional growth?

   This Staff Software Engineer role offers a clear path for career advancement within Snowflake. You can progress to Senior Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, or Engineering Manager roles, depending on your interests and skills.

7. What is the interview process like?

   The interview process typically involves several rounds of interviews with engineers and hiring managers. You can expect to be asked technical questions related to distributed systems, data structures, algorithms, and database internals. You may also be asked to solve coding problems.

8. Does Snowflake offer relocation assistance?

   Yes, Snowflake offers relocation assistance to qualified candidates.

9. What is Snowflake's approach to diversity and inclusion?

   Snowflake is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. The company believes that diversity and inclusion are essential to its success.

10. What is the best part about working at Snowflake?

    The best part about working at Snowflake is the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and make a significant impact on the company's success. Snowflake also offers a collaborative and supportive work environment where employees are empowered to grow and succeed.