Staff Software Engineer

Realm; United States; Remote; USD 200,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Senior Software Engineer focusing on query optimization. You'll tackle complex challenges, transforming intricate SQL queries into efficient dataflow graphs. This fully remote role allows you to work flexibly while collaborating with a senior team dedicated to building innovative solutions. Enjoy a culture that values autonomy and ownership, with competitive compensation, equity options, and generous parental leave. If you're passionate about making a real impact in data infrastructure, this opportunity is perfect for you!

Benefits

Unlimited PTO

Paid Parental Leave

401(k)

Medical Insurance

Equity Options

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in SQL query optimization and database internals.
• Strong understanding of relational algebra and performance tuning concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design and build core components of the query planner and optimizer.
• Write production-grade systems code primarily in Rust.

Skills

SQL Query Optimization

Relational Algebra

Compiler Concepts

Performance Tuning

Rust

C/C++

Go

Distributed Systems

Streaming

Caching

Job description

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This range is provided by Realm. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$200,000.00/yr - $275,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Realm

Building World-Class Software Engineering Teams in the USA????

We're hiring: Senior–Senior Staff Software Engineer (Query Optimization)

We’re working with a venture-backed startup that’s rethinking how SQL performance should work at scale. Their product is a drop-in SQL cache that dramatically reduces query latency — no code changes required. It's built for developers who care about speed, efficiency, and simplicity.

They’re looking for experienced engineers with a strong background in query optimization to join their small, senior team. You’d be working on challenging problems at the core of their SQL engine — turning complex queries into efficient, maintainable dataflow graphs, and helping build out a truly novel caching layer for modern applications.

This is a fully remote role (North America only), with flexible hours and a collaborative, engineering-driven culture.

What you’ll be doing:

• Designing and building core components of the query planner and optimizer.
• Writing production-grade systems code (mostly in Rust).
• Representing parameterized SQL queries as dataflows and optimizing them for performance.
• Collaborating with other experienced engineers on architecture, product direction, and design decisions.
• Balancing research-driven work with practical engineering.

What they’re looking for:

• 3+ years of hands-on work with SQL query optimization, query planning, or database internals.
• Strong understanding of relational algebra, compiler concepts, and performance tuning.
• Comfortable working in systems languages like Rust, C/C++, or Go.
• Experience with distributed systems, streaming, or caching is a plus.
• Someone who enjoys working on deep technical challenges and building clean, scalable systems.

Why this team?

• You’ll work on real query optimization problems with production impact — not just theoretical research.
• The engineering culture values autonomy, learning, and real ownership.
• They offer strong comp, equity, unlimited PTO, and 90 days of parental leave.
• You’ll join a sharp, low-ego team solving meaningful problems in data infrastructure.

If this sounds interesting, feel free to DM or reach out directly — happy to share more about the team and what they’re building.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Industries

  Data Infrastructure and Analytics

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Inferred from the description for this job

Paid paternity leave

Paid maternity leave

401(k)

Medical insurance

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