Principal Systems Developer – Kernel Boston, MA

InterSystems Corporation; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental insurance

Disability and life insurance

401(k) Profit Sharing Contribution

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Job summary

InterSystems in Boston, MA is seeking a seasoned low‑level software developer to design, implement and enhance components of the database engine and its ObjectScript language. You’ll join a small, autonomous team and impact core infrastructure while solving complex problems across OS and hardware interfaces. Requires 10+ years in system code and strong C/C++ skills, with a CS/SE degree.

Qualifications

• 10+ years developing low‑level system code for mission‑critical software.
• Experience in C or C++; assembly is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of computer architecture, operating systems, concurrency control, compiler and interpreter methods, and software engineering techniques.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Commitment to robust code for decades in high‑stakes deployments.
• Experience with AI‑assisted tools and ability to evaluate AI outputs.
• Bachelor's degree in CS, SE, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Compose elegant, efficient, reliable and maintainable source code in C, with some C++.
• Analyze, develop and optimize algorithms and data structures for efficiency in memory and storage devices.
• Analyze and understand concurrency control and memory ordering around shared memory structures.
• Learn, maintain and extend the embedded database programming language (ObjectScript).
• Enhance interactions with operating systems and hardware devices.
• Develop and maintain database management APIs.
• Debug complex problems; develop and run test code.
• Compose internal design documentation and guide external documentation.
• Stay up to date with OS, storage and database technology.

Skills

C/C++

Concurrency control

OS architecture

Software engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Tools

Assembly

Job description

The InterSystems IRIS data platform is the engine behind some of the world’s most important applications. At its core is a super scalable, high performance database engine built to naturally and flexibly store data accessed from multiple data models, including multi-dimensional arrays, key/value, relational tables, and objects. The database engine runs on a variety of operating systems including Linux, AIX and Windows. It’s designed to scale on large NUMA machines, distributed cache clusters, and the cloud.

The database kernel team needs a creative and motivated developer to join them in designing, implementing and enhancing components of the database engine and its embedded programming language. As part of a small team at the center of the data platform, you can expect to make a large impact with a high degree of independence.

Responsibilities

• Compose elegant, efficient, reliable and maintainable source code in C, with some C++
• Analyze, develop and optimize algorithms and data structures for efficiency in memory and/or modern storage devices
• Analyze and understand concurrency control and memory ordering issues around access to shared memory structures
• Learn, maintain and extend the embedded database programming language (ObjectScript) that comprises the application interface to the database
• Enhance interactions with modern operating systems and hardware devices
• Develop and maintain database management APIs
• Debug complex problems; develop and run test code
• Compose internal design documentation and guide external documentation
• Stay up to date with operating system, storage and database technology

Experience Required

• 10+ years developing low‑level system code for mission‑critical software
• Experience in C or C++; assembly is a plus
• Strong technical knowledge of computer architecture, operating systems, concurrency control, compiler and interpreter methods, and software engineering techniques
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Commitment to creating robust code to run for decades in high‑stakes deployments
• Experience using AI‑assisted tools (e.g., copilots, summarisation tools, or chatbots) with an ability to critically evaluate and verify AI‑generated outputs
• Demonstrated ability to learn, evaluate, adapt to, propose and implement AI‑augmented workflows in order to continually enhance your own, and the team’s productivity
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and do not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression or any other legally protected category. InterSystems is an E‑Verify Employer in the United States.

InterSystems is providing a current good‑faith estimate of the anticipated base salary range for this position depending on a variety of factors including experience, education, skills, and performance.

Other compensation may include a discretionary annual variable target incentive.

The company also provides generous employee benefits including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Short‑term and long‑term disability, and life insurance
• 401(k) Profit Sharing Contribution
• Paid Time Off and Holidays

The estimated base compensation range for this role is:

$144,000 - $205,000 USD

About InterSystems

InterSystems, a creative data technology provider, delivers a unified foundation for next‑generation applications for healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and supply chain customers in more than 80 countries. Our data platforms solve interoperability, speed, and scalability problems for large organizations around the globe to unlock the power of data and allow people to perceive data in imaginative ways. Established in 1978, InterSystems is committed to excellence through its 24×7 support for customers and partners around the world. Privately held and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, InterSystems has 38 offices in 28 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit InterSystems.com.

AI Disclaimer

InterSystems may use AI tools for its internal operations including administrative tasks during recruitment (e.g., organizing candidate information). InterSystems’ approach to AI is guided by the InterSystems Responsible AI Guidelines. AI is not used to make or influence hiring decisions. All decisions are made by InterSystems employees.

Candidates may use AI for CV or interview preparation, provided materials are truthful and reflect their own experience. AI tools and third‑party transcription services must not be used during interviews or assessments.