Senior Software Engineer, Compute Infrastructure

Databricks; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks is seeking an engineer for the Serverless compute team to design and build a next-generation, highly available platform that scales across AWS, Azure, and GCP. You will tackle sub-second startup times, multi-tenant security isolation, and a unified orchestration layer across clouds.

You’ll work on a single compute stack that supports AI training workloads, stateful execution for Lakebase, and a host-level optimization of networking and orchestration, collaborating with leaders from

Qualifications

• 5+ years of production-level experience in programming languages such as Python, Java, Scala, or C++.
• 4+ years building large-scale distributed systems from scratch.
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, or MicroVMs and understanding cloud provider internals.
• Able to build tools/platforms at scale when existing solutions fail.

Responsibilities

• Design and build the next generation of our Serverless platform with high availability and low latency.
• Create a unified compute stack supporting heterogeneous workloads including AI training.
• Develop platform-level abstractions for multi-cloud deployment across AWS/Azure/GCP.
• Optimize APIs, networking, and container orchestration from top to bottom.
• Collaborate with experts who built systems like Borg, Kubernetes, and Uber’s infra.

Skills

Python/Java/Scala/C++

Distributed systems

Kubernetes/Docker/MicroVM

Cloud internals (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Job description

RDQ427R198

The Opportunity

Multi-cloud is core to Databricks product strategy. Compute serves as the layer that abstracts the cloud from the rest of the company. Building unified infrastructure on top of heterogeneous clouds is a challenge that few companies experience.

As an engineer on this team, you won't just manage infrastructure; you will build it as a product. You will tackle the hard problems of distributed systems: sub-second container/MicroVM startup times, multi-tenant security isolation, and building a unified orchestration layer that scales across AWS, Azure, and GCP.

What You'll Do

• Design and build the next generation of our Serverless platform, focusing on high availability, low latency, and scale-to-zero efficiency.
• Build a single compute stack that supports heterogeneous workloads, including GPU instance qualification for AI training and stateful execution for Lakebase.
• Solve Multi-Cloud Complexity: Develop platform-level abstractions that allow Databricks to run seamlessly across all major cloud providers.
• Optimize everything from the API gateway down to the host-level networking and container orchestration.
• Work alongside industry experts who have built world-class systems like Borg, Kubernetes, and Uber's infrastructure.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of production-level experience in one of: Python, Java, Scala, C++, or a similar language
• 4+ years of experience developing large-scale distributed systems from scratch
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, or MicroVM technologies (e.g., Firecracker) and a strong grasp of cloud provider internals (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• You aren't just a user of tools; you understand how to build them from the ground up when existing solutions fail at our scale.

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Local Pay Range

$164,200—$205,200 USD

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to build and scale data and AI apps, analytics and agents. Headquartered in San Francisco with 30+ offices around the globe, Databricks offers a unified platform that includes Genie, Lakebase, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.