Software Engineer, Database Internals, Kirkland

About Us

Firebolt is a cloud data warehouse built for the speed, scale, and flexibility required by modern Data & AI applications. By delivering ultra-low latency, high concurrency, and multi-dimensional elasticity, Firebolt enables teams to build data-intensive AI products that perform at scale. Backed by over $270M in funding and led by a world-class engineering team and experienced leadership, Firebolt is redefining AI data infrastructure and helping companies unlock the full potential of their data.

About the team

We are the Firebolt Storage team, responsible for managing customer data at petabyte scale. Our mission is to ensure sub-second query latencies by optimizing data retrieval, ingestion, and caching. We enable customers to bring data to Firebolt from various data sources, including data lakes, and ensure the performance of all operations to achieve sub-second query execution speeds.

About the role

We're looking for a new grad to join our Kirkland database internals team In this role, you'll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional engineers and become an expert in modern analytical database systems.

Much of our work sits at the intersection of query processing and storage. We're powering efficient data access for sub-second analytics over petabytes of data. You'll work on challenges related to Iceberg, indexing, compression, caching, and more.

About the day to day

• Design, develop and deliver high-quality features that enhance the performance, scalability, and efficiency of our product and cutting-edge database engine.
• Develop the highly distributed, multi-threaded, low-latency core engine, build automated coverage for your features, and ensure the robustness and reliability of our product.
• Share knowledge, encourage collaboration, and mentor junior engineers, fostering a positive learning environment and guiding and supporting their professional development.
• Actively participate in architectural discussions and code reviews, supporting informed decision-making aligned with business and engineering objectives.
• Provide exceptional support for our customers, ensuring their success and satisfaction with our product and services.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, such as data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
• Proficiency in an object-oriented programming language — experience with C++, Go, or Python is a plus.
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn about large-scale, distributed systems and how they run in production.
• Hands-on project or internship experience building or contributing to real software systems, whether in class, open source, or personal work.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with modern C++ (C++20 preferred) or other systems programming languages.
• Exposure to cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Interest in systems programming, OS internals, or performance optimization.
• Curiosity about how databases and large-scale data systems work under the hood.

At Firebolt, we are dedicated to fostering an environment of transparency and fairness in all aspects of our operations, including compensation practices. As part of this commitment, we provide clear visibility into the pay range for each role within our organization.

The pay range listed below reflects the base salary for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. As part of our compensation philosophy, the total compensation is tailored to each candidate and influenced by factors such as job-related skills, level of experience, relevant certifications, and geographical location, to name a few.

Local Pay Range - 150,000-220,000 per year USD

Local Benefits:

• 4 weeks PTO
• 12 paid holidays per year
• 7 sick days
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• FSA Plan
• 401k Plan
• Eligibility to enroll in additional optional insurances
• Bereavement, Parental, Disability, and Medical Leave
• Stock Options
• Internet Reimbursement