Staff Platform Engineer (Control Plane)
Yugabyte · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $250,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead YugabyteDB's Database-as-a-Service technical vision.
- Design and build distributed systems at massive scale.
- Enhance Yugabyte Aeon for cloud and on-premise deployment.
- Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship.
- Collaborate on product roadmap and future challenges.
About the role
About Yugabyte
Yugabyte is the company behind YugabyteDB, the AI-ready, multi-modal, distributed PostgreSQL database for cloud-native apps. Trusted by industry leaders including Shopify, Paramount+, GM, Kroger, Fiserv, and NPCI, YugabyteDB has been deployed in over 100 countries and powers more than 5 million clusters worldwide.
Together, our hard-working team of experts and our industry-leading technology are uniquely positioned to meet the demands of modern workloads: geo-distributed, ultra-resilient, and built to scale without limits.
Our Yugabeings (distributed, like our database) span 12+ countries and multiple time zones, sharing expertise from diverse backgrounds and industries.
The Team
The YugabyteDB management plane team is responsible for building Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) that allows you to run YugabyteDB clusters on public cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. The team works on cutting edge technologies in cloud computing, orchestration, and distributed systems that simplify database management while ensuring scalability, security, and reliability. Joining this team offers the opportunity to solve complex challenges in a collaborative and innovative environment. If you’re passionate about cloud-native technologies and distributed databases, and enjoy solving complex problems at scale, the Yugabyte Aeon team is the perfect place for you.
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled Staff Software Engineer to join our Yugabyte Aeon team. This role will focus on enhancing and maintaining Yugabyte Aeon, which enables seamless deployment and management of YugabyteDB across various public cloud environments and on-premise infrastructures. The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate proficiency in systems design and prior experience in building distributed systems/operating systems/storage or database systems in the past. They should be proficient in one or more modern software programming languages like Java and have a proven track record of shipping high quality products running at massive scale. They should also be familiar with different infrastructure providers like AWS/GCP/Azure/VMware/OCI/Kubernetes, and different interfaces to use them like CLIs, Rest APIs, K8s Operators.
Responsibilities
- Define and drive the technical vision, architecture, and strategy for YugabyteDB’s Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS).
- Lead and execute engineering projects from planning to deployment, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
- Guide and mentor junior engineers and teams, promoting best practices and knowledge sharing.
- Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes and adopt new technologies.
- Provide expert-level technical guidance and serve as a technical point person for projects and initiatives.
Requirements
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of software development, 3+ years of technical leadership experience.
- Expert knowledge in system architecture, cloud native development, and distributed systems.
- Strong proficiency in design, programming (Java), and debugging skills.
- Influence, guide, and motivate engineers and teams across the organization without a direct reporting line.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for aligning stakeholders and presenting ideas in diverse forums.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across various departments, including product managers, designers, and other engineers, to achieve business goals.
- Anticipate future technical challenges and help define a long-term roadmap for the product and the company.
Compensation and Benefits
The cash compensation for this role is market competitive, with a range of USD 150,000-USD 250,000, inclusive of variable/incentive for some roles. As well as equity (when applicable), and benefits including health plans, retirement plans, and unlimited paid time off (PTO). The pay range for this position is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The actual pay will vary based on factors including experience, qualifications, and skill level.
Visa Sponsorship
Due to the Proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, which went into effect on September 21, 2025, at this time we are no longer able to sponsor new H-1B visa petitions filed after September 21, 2025 for new hires. We are still able to consider candidates who require H-1B extensions, changes of employer, or other types of work authorization.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
As an equal opportunity employer, Yugabyte is committed to a diverse workforce. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws.
To review Yugabyte's Privacy Policy please visit Yugabyte Privacy Notice.
Key skills/competency
- Staff Platform Engineer
- Distributed Systems
- Cloud Native Development
- System Architecture
- Database as a Service (DBaaS)
- Java Programming
- Technical Leadership
- System Design
- Kubernetes
- Large-Scale Systems
Skills & topics
- Staff Platform Engineer
- Platform Engineering
- Database Engineering
- Distributed Systems
- Cloud Native
- Java
- System Architecture
- Technical Leadership
- DevOps
- SRE
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 10+ years in software development and 3+ years of technical leadership, emphasizing distributed systems, cloud-native development, and Java proficiency for the Staff Platform Engineer role.
- Showcase system design expertise: Detail your experience in designing and building large-scale distributed systems, operating systems, storage, or database systems, as well as familiarity with cloud infrastructure providers and interfaces.
- Demonstrate leadership and influence: Provide examples of how you've guided and motivated teams, influenced technical direction, and collaborated effectively across departments, even without direct reporting lines.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss system architecture, cloud-native concepts, and complex problem-solving scenarios related to running databases at scale.
- Research Yugabyte's culture: Understand their mission to build an AI-ready, distributed PostgreSQL database and their focus on cloud-native technologies and scalability.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the salary range for the Staff Platform Engineer role at Yugabyte?
- The cash compensation for the Staff Platform Engineer position at Yugabyte ranges from USD 150,000 to USD 250,000 annually. This range is a guideline and the actual salary will depend on factors such as your experience, qualifications, and skill level. Equity and benefits are also offered.
- Does Yugabyte offer H-1B visa sponsorship for the Staff Platform Engineer position?
- Yugabyte is currently unable to sponsor new H-1B visa petitions filed after September 21, 2025, due to a recent proclamation. However, they can still consider candidates who require H-1B extensions, changes of employer, or other types of work authorization.
- What are the key technical skills required for the Staff Platform Engineer role?
- Key technical skills for the Staff Platform Engineer include expert knowledge in system architecture, cloud-native development, and distributed systems. Proficiency in Java programming, system design, and debugging is also essential. Experience with cloud infrastructure providers (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc.) and interfaces like CLIs, Rest APIs, and K8s Operators is highly valued.
- What is the educational background preferred for a Staff Platform Engineer at Yugabyte?
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred for the Staff Platform Engineer position. This foundation is important, along with extensive practical experience in software development and technical leadership.
- What does 'Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS)' mean in the context of the Staff Platform Engineer role?
- In the context of this role, Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) refers to the management plane team's responsibility for building and maintaining the infrastructure that allows users to seamlessly deploy and manage YugabyteDB clusters across various cloud and on-premise environments. The Staff Platform Engineer will play a key role in defining the technical vision and architecture for this service.
- How does Yugabyte handle unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) for its employees?
- Yugabyte offers unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) as part of its benefits package. This approach reflects a trust in employees to manage their time effectively and maintain work-life balance, allowing them to take time off as needed for rest and rejuvenation.
- What is the typical career progression for a Staff Platform Engineer at Yugabyte?