Senior / Lead Software Engineer - Database/Distributed Storage Engineering

salesforce.com, inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 117,200 - 285,800; Full time

Job summary

Salesforce is seeking a Senior/Lead Software Engineer for the Salesforce Database (SDB) Team in San Francisco. You will design, develop, test and maintain scalable, fault‑tolerant distributed systems for public cloud applications, leveraging AI tools to accelerate development and ensure high-quality code.

You will mentor others and drive continual improvement. The role emphasizes building production-grade software, orchestration of AI-enabled workflows, and rigorous code review in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• AI-first engineering mindset required.
• Advanced prompt engineering to craft reliable, secure AI outputs.
• Experience designing scalable, fault-tolerant distributed systems in enterprise environments.
• Proficiency in Java or C in Unix/Linux with OO design patterns.

Responsibilities

• Build and ship production-grade software using modern engineering practices, incorporating AI.
• Design and orchestrate complex systems where AI integrates into human workflows.
• Contribute to shared system context with designs, constraints, and standards for reliable AI operations.
• Critically evaluate code for correctness, quality, security, and performance.

Skills

AI-first engineering mindset

Prompt engineering

Distributed storage systems

Java/C in Unix/Linux

Telemetry/metrics

Analytical abilities

Testing & code reviews

Agile development

Leadership & mentoring

Creative/incremental delivery

Relational databases & cloud platforms

Education

M.Sc. in a relevant field

Tools

Claude Code

GitHub Copilot

Codex

Cursor

Job description

Senior/Lead Software Engineer – Salesforce Database (SDB) Team

Work on highly available, distributed storage for Salesforce public cloud applications. Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable, resilient and fault‑tolerant transactional and distributed systems. Leverage AI tools and prompt engineering to accelerate development and ensure secure, high‑quality code.

Responsibilities

• Build and ship production‑grade software using modern engineering practices, incorporating AI as a core part of the development workflow.
• Design and orchestrate complex systems where AI agents integrate seamlessly into human workflows, driving efficiency and innovation at scale.
• Contribute to building and maintaining the shared system context, an explicit repository of system designs, constraints, and standards that enables AI to operate accurately and reliably.
• Critically evaluate code – human or AI‑generated – for correctness, quality, security, and performance.

Required Skills

• AI‑first engineering mindset, using AI tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex, Cursor) in development workflows.
• Advanced prompt engineering skills – writing precise, structured prompts and cultivating the system context that makes AI outputs reliable, secure, and production‑ready.
• Experience designing, developing scalable, resilient, and fault‑tolerant transactional and distributed systems in enterprise production environments.
• Proficiency in Java or C in a Unix/Linux environment, with solid knowledge of modern object‑oriented programming techniques and design patterns.
• Experience using telemetry and metrics to drive operational excellence.
• Strong analytical skills, quick learning, and the ability to deliver high‑quality code in a fast‑paced, dynamic team.
• Detail‑oriented, responsible for writing functional and unit tests and reviewing teammates’ code.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodology and a commitment to continual improvement.
• Effective communication, strong leadership, and teamwork; able to mentor and be mentored.
• Inventive and creative; delivers incrementally and on time.
• 5‑9+ years of professional experience, or an M.Sc. in a relevant field plus 3‑7+ years of professional experience; experience with relational databases, distributed storage, and cloud platforms (GCP preferred).

Desired Skills

• Demonstrated AI‑first engineering approach beyond core specialty.
• Expertise in AI tools for development (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex, Cursor).
• Advanced prompt engineering skills to craft reliable, secure, production‑ready AI outputs.

Compensation

Typical base salary ranges from $117,200 to $260,100 annually, with higher ranges of $141,200 to $285,800 in select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan areas. Compensation may include bonus, equity, and benefits as applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salesforce is an equal‑opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non‑discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. Employees are assessed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other protected classifications. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, and promotion.