Principal Engineer, Kubernetes Storage (Trident)

NetApp, Inc.; Morrisville (NC); Hybrid; USD 228,000 - 338,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Stock awards / RSUs

Paid time off

Job summary

NetApp, Inc. is seeking an accomplished engineering leader to own the Kubernetes data services story for Trident. You will set architectural direction, write production Go code, and drive collaboration with customers and open-source communities.

This is a high-impact, hands-on principal role with global scale. You will deep-dive into storage, CSI, and cloud-native challenges, shaping decisions that affect thousands of production clusters.

Qualifications

• Lead architecture for Trident and the Kubernetes data services around it
• Design and ship production Go code
• Guide engineers through complex cross-team technical work
• Work directly with customers on escalations, requirements, and validation
• Raise the bar on testing, debugging, and performance
• Run PoCs and R&D on where Kubernetes storage is heading
• Represent NetApp upstream and in the open-source community

Responsibilities

• Architectural leadership for Trident and related Kubernetes data services
• Deliver production Go software and robust storage features
• Collaborate across teams and with customers to validate solutions
• Drive testing, performance tuning, and reliability improvements
• Engage with upstream projects and CNCF communities

Skills

Go

Kubernetes

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms

Agile development

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Master's degree in engineering or software development

Tools

CSI driver experience

Kubernetes storage controller

Job description

Job Summary

Own the Kubernetes story for the world's #1 storage OS.

Trident was the first open-source, out-of-tree dynamic storage provisioner for Kubernetes. We shipped it before CSI was a spec. Today it's how thousands of teams run stateful workloads on NetApp, and it runs in production at some of the largest Kubernetes estates on the planet.

We're looking for the person who decides where it goes next.

What you'll actually do

You'll set the architecture for persistent storage and data protection on Kubernetes at NetApp. That means real decisions with real consequences: how volumes behave under failure, what the snapshot and recovery story looks like across clouds, where we invest upstream and where we don't.

This is a hands‑on principal role. You'll be in the Go code, in design reviews, and on calls with customers who are running something hard and need it to work. You'll partner with product management on the roadmap instead of receiving it. And when we take a position in the CSI community or on a conference stage, you're the one taking it.

Why this team

ONTAP manages hundreds of exabytes for more than 30,000 customers. Trident is the bridge between that and the cloud-native world, and the bridge is still being built. There is a lot of surface area here for someone who wants their architectural decisions to show up in other people's production clusters.

We build in the open, we argue about designs, and we ship. If you want ownership over a problem that matters to a large number of engineers, this is it.

Job Requirements

Specifically:

• Lead architecture for Trident and the Kubernetes data services around it
• Design and ship production Go, not just diagrams
• Guide engineers through complex, cross‑team technical work
• Work directly with customers on escalations, requirements, and validation
• Raise the bar on testing, debugging, and performance
• Run PoCs and R&D on where Kubernetes storage is heading
• Represent NetApp upstream and in the open-source community

What we need

• 10+ years building software, or equivalent demonstrated impact
• Strong production Go
• Deep Kubernetes knowledge: architecture, APIs, controllers and operators, and how storage actually gets consumed
• Real experience with persistent storage in Kubernetes (CSI, volume lifecycle, or comparable)
• Solid fundamentals in distributed systems, data structures, and systems design
• Hands‑on with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• The ability to explain a design clearly to engineers, to PM, and to a frustrated customer
• Comfort working in an Agile team

What helps

• You've built or maintained a CSI driver or Kubernetes storage controller in production
• Open-source contributions in Kubernetes, CSI, or CNCF projects
• Python for tooling, test, and automation
• Data protection on Kubernetes: snapshots, clones, backup, DR
• Experience with ONTAP or other enterprise and cloud-native storage platforms
• A track record leading technical work across teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical area of study: engineering disciplines

Master's degree in technical field such as engineering, software development, preferred with less additional experience stated above

The target salary range for this position is $227,800-338,000. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off (PTO), various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.

At NetApp, we embrace a hybrid working environment designed to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture for all employees. This means that most roles will have some level of in-office and/or in-person expectations, which will be shared during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

NetApp is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, protected veteran status, and any other protected classification.

Why You'll Thrive at NetApp

At NetApp, you won't wait for the perfect moment—you'll make it. The early planning, the extra thought, the bold idea that turns good into great: That's how our people operate and how we continue to push the boundaries of data infrastructure.

NetApp is the trusted partner for organizations transforming data into opportunity. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, we empower customers to run everything from traditional workloads to enterprise AI with unmatched performance, resilience, and security.

Our culture

We celebrate mold breakers, bold thinkers, and problem solvers. We reward initiative, impact, and ownership. We provide flexibility so you can balance professional ambition with your personal life. Here, differences are not just welcomed—they drive everything we do.

If you're ready to innovate, rise to the challenge, and own every moment - make your next move your best one.

AI Disclosure

For select roles, some stages of our hiring process may use artificial intelligence tools to help evaluate applications and candidate selection. These tools support—rather than replace—human decision-making.