Staff Software Engineer - Query Processing (Snowtrail)

Snowflake; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 236,000 - 339,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Health savings account

Job summary

Snowflake is seeking a Staff Software Engineer on the Snowtrail team to accelerate the delivery of high‑quality software to production. You will design and build systems to help engineering teams increase development velocity while balancing cost and performance.

The role requires deep experience with SQL/database internals, distributed systems, and strong CS fundamentals. On-site at Bellevue, WA or Menlo Park, CA, you will mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams to stay ahead of

Qualifications

• Experience with SQL or other database technologies including internal design and implementation.
• Experience with query optimization, query execution, compiler design and implementation.
• Experience with MySQL, PostgreSQL internals.
• Experience designing, building, and operating large-scale distributed systems infrastructure.
• Excellent problem solving skills, and strong CS fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems.
• Ability to work in a team environment, collaborate well, and mentor junior engineers.
• Ability to work on-site at our Bellevue, WA or Menlo Park, CA offices.

Responsibilities

• Help Snowflake accelerate the delivery of high-quality software to production.
• Design and build software systems to increase engineering velocity and provide quality validation, optimized for cost and performance.
• Ensure the team serves current customer needs while anticipating future demands.

Skills

SQL

Database internals

Query optimization

Distributed systems

CS fundamentals

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Tools

MySQL

PostgreSQL

Job description

At Snowflake, we are powering the era of the agentic enterprise. To usher in this new era, we seek AI-native thinkers across every function who are energized by the opportunity to reinvent how they work. You don’t just use tools; you possess an innate curiosity, treating AI as a high-trust collaborator that is core to how you solve problems and accelerate your impact. We look for low-ego individuals who thrive in dynamic and fast-moving environments and move with an experimental mindset — who rapidly test emerging capabilities to discover simpler, more powerful ways to deliver results. At Snowflake, your role isn't just to execute a function, but to help redefine the future of how work gets done.

Snowflake is a high-growth, cloud-native data platform company committed to empowering enterprises to achieve their full potential. With a culture built on impact, innovation, and collaboration, we offer an environment where you can build large-scale systems, move fast, and take your technology career to the next level.

As a Staff Software Engineer on the Snowtrail team, you will help Snowflake realize its mission and vision by accelerating the delivery of high quality software to production. You will have the opportunity to design and build software systems to help engineering teams increase their development velocity and provide quality validation, optimized for cost and performance. You will ensure that the team is executing towards serving the current needs of its customers, while also ensuring that we stay ahead of technological trends and future demands.

OUR IDEAL STAFF SOFTWARE ENGINEER WILL HAVE:

• Experience with SQL or other database technologies including internal design and implementation
• Experience with query optimization, query execution, compiler design and implementation
• Experience with MySQL, PostgreSQL internals
• Experience designing, building, and operating large-scale distributed systems infrastructure
• Excellent problem solving skills, and strong CS fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems
• Ability to work in a team environment, collaborate well, and mentor junior engineers
• Ability to work on-site at our Bellevue, WA or Menlo Park, CA offices.

BONUS POINTS FOR EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Experience with Release Validation Pipelines, Test infrastructure in Production.

Snowflake is growing fast, and we’re scaling our team to help enable and accelerate our growth. We are looking for people who share our values, challenge ordinary thinking, and push the pace of innovation while building a future for themselves and Snowflake.

How do you want to make your impact?

For jobs located in the United States, please visit the job posting on the Snowflake Careers Site for salary and benefits information: careers.snowflake.com

The following represents the expected range of compensation for this role:

• The estimated base salary range for this role is $236,000 - $339,200.
• Additionally, this role is eligible to participate in Snowflake’s bonus and equity plan.

The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location. This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending & health savings account; at least 12 paid holidays; paid time off; parental leave; employee assistance program; and other company benefits.

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