Sr. Staff Software Engineer - Unity Catalog Data Governance

Databricks; United States; Remote; USD 217,000 - 312,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to lead the technical direction and development of Unity Catalog’s governance capabilities. You will drive the roadmap and deliver enterprise-grade features at scale, collaborating with product and infra teams to ensure secure, scalable access controls across Lakehouse assets.

You will mentor engineers, set coding and security standards, and own critical governance initiatives from concept to production, delivering measurable business impact

Qualifications

• 15+ years of industry experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems.
• Proven track record of driving initiatives focused on customer satisfaction and incremental delivery.
• Deep computer science expertise (algorithms, data structures) with real-world application.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• BS in Computer Science (MS/PhD preferred).
• (Preferred) Experience in data governance, security, privacy, identity management, authentication, or access control.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Lead the design and delivery of high-impact projects, setting standards for security, usability, performance, and scalability.
• Product Ownership: Own the Unity Catalog Governance product from concept to scalable solutions with measurable impact.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate with product and infrastructure teams to align strategy and execution.
• Operational Excellence: Drive high-quality, reliable software and seamless operational processes.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Algorithms & Data structures

Education

BS in Computer Science

MS/PhD preferred

Job description

RDQ126R47

At Databricks, we are passionate about enabling data teams to solve the world’s toughest problems — from making the next mode of transportation a reality to accelerating the development of medical breakthroughs. We do this by building and running the world’s best data and AI infrastructure platform so our customers can use deep data insights to improve their business.

Databricks Unity Catalog is the industry’s only unified and open governance solution for data and AI, built into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. It enables data scientists, analysts, and engineers to securely discover, access, and collaborate on trusted data and AI assets across platforms. Unity Catalog enhances productivity through AI-powered governance, simplifying compliance while maximizing interoperability.

We are seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to lead the technical direction and development of Unity Catalog’s enterprise‑grade governance capabilities. In this role, you will drive the roadmap and execution of critical features that empower organizations to govern access to their Lakehouse assets at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership : Lead the design and delivery of high‑impact projects, setting standards for security, usability, performance, and scalability. Mentor senior engineers and elevate development and operational best practices across the organization.
• Product Ownership: Take full ownership of the Unity Catalog Governance product, driving it from initial concept to robust, scalable solutions with measurable business impact.
• Cross‑Functional Influence: Collaborate with product and infrastructure teams to align technical strategy and execution, ensuring seamless integration and adoption of governance features.
• Operational Excellence: Champion the development of high‑quality, reliable, and easy‑to‑operate software. Drive operational processes that deliver a seamless customer experience that is indistinguishable from perfect.

What We Look For

• 15+ years of industry experience building and operating large‑scale distributed systems.
• Proven track record of driving initiatives focused on customer satisfaction and incremental delivery.
• Deep computer science expertise (algorithms, data structures) with real‑world application.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• BS in Computer Science or related fields (MS/PhD preferred)
• (Preferred) Experience in data governance, security, privacy, identity management, authentication, or access control.

Why Join Us?

• Influence the direction of industry‑leading data and AI governance solutions.
• Work with world‑class engineers and thought leaders in a collaborative, high‑impact environment.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.

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

$217,000—$312,200 USD

About Databricks

Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark™, Delta Lake and MLflow. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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.