Senior Software Engineer - Database Engine Internals

About the role

Databricks is building the next‑generation decoupled query engine and structured storage system to replace traditional data warehouses with a Lakehouse architecture. As a Senior Software Engineer on the Database Engine Internals team, you will help design and implement core components that deliver high‑performance relational query processing while supporting diverse workloads from ETL to data science.

Key responsibilities

• Drive requirements clarity and design decisions for ambiguous problems.
• Produce technical design documents and project plans.
• Develop new features for the query compilation, optimization, and execution stack.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide best‑practice implementation.
• Test, roll out to production, and monitor the reliability of new capabilities.

Required profile

• A passion for database, storage, or distributed systems and performance optimization.
• Comfortable working toward a multi‑year vision with incremental deliverables.
• Customer‑oriented mindset focused on impact.
• 5+ years of experience in related system development.
• Optional: PhD in databases or distributed systems.