Principal Software Engineer

Overview

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer to help shape and build the next generation of real-time data and AI technologies. This is a hands-on IC role focused on designing and building innovative capabilities across real-time data streaming, distributed systems, and data infrastructure, while helping push the boundaries of what the platform can do.

Responsibilities

• Design and build high-impact product features across real-time data streaming, distributed systems, and data infrastructure.
• Take complex, loosely defined problems from concept to design, implementation, testing, and production.
• Influence technical direction, architecture, and engineering practices through hands-on contribution.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and customer-facing teams to turn real-world problems into effective product solutions.
• Solve challenging product and customer issues, digging into the code and systems to identify root causes and durable solutions.
• Mentor engineers and raise the technical bar across the team.
• Leverage modern AI development tools to accelerate coding, testing, debugging, and delivery.

Requirements

• 8+ years of software engineering experience building commercial data or infrastructure products.
• Deep expertise in database internals, query processing, distributed systems, or a related discipline.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals and a track record of taking ambiguous requirements through production.
• Experience working in small, high-performing engineering teams in a technical leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and influence technical decisions without formal management responsibility.
• Strong debugging, problem-solving, and systems-level thinking skills.
• Experience working across the software development lifecycle, from design through production support.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment.
• Candidates must be able to work onsite at our office in PALO ALTO, CA on a Hybrid basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with stream processing, Apache Kafka, and Kafka internals.
• Deep understanding of operating systems, concurrency, memory management, and performance tuning.
• Experience with real-time data streaming, CDC, data replication, or data integration.
• Experience building high-throughput, low-latency distributed systems.
• Expert use of AI-assisted development tools such as Claude, Gemini, Codex, or similar technologies to accelerate development and testing.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and pre-IPO stock options
• Comprehensive health care plans (medical, dental and vision), including medical and dependent FSA
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• The chance to contribute to and shape an upbeat, fully engaged culture

Compensation

$200,000 - 280,000 USD on an annualized basis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.