Staff Software Engineer (Platform)

We’re a global team of over 400 people, working together to push the boundaries of open-source technology and multi-cloud solutions. Our vision is to become the trusted Data & AI Platform for everyone, leveraging the most popular open-source technologies like Apache Kafka®, Aiven for PostgreSQL®, Aiven for Clickhouse®, and Aiven for OpenSearch®. to help companies accelerate time-to-market, drive efficiency, and build innovative solutions across any cloud. 

Who we are:

So, how do we become the trusted open-source data platform for everyone? By listening closely to our customers and taking action to ensure they achieve their business goals. You see, the software we create is merely a means of delivering value. Our thinking is customer-first. That’s why our customers are at the front and center of all we do. And in the spirit of sideways thinking, we’re by their side as well. Actively helping them solve their challenges. Collaborating. Sharing. And innovating. In other words, it really isn’t just about who we are. It’s about who our customers are – and where they want to be.

About this Team:

In our Product team at Aiven, we believe engineers can drive significant impact through coding and problem solving. Here, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to challenging projects that transcend the cloud provider limitations, work alongside exceptional engineers, and continuously expand your technical expertise. We strive to create an environment that encourages problem solving and results over following directions, so we make better decisions for our customers, our products and our employees.

The Role:

We are looking for an experienced Staff Software Engineer take on a key technical role within our platform domain. This is a critical role contributing to and shaping Aiven’s platform strategy which defines the evolution of our platform architecture both as an individual contributor as well as a technical leader. 

You will report to the Head of Platform, working closely with the engineering and product team. 

What You'll Do:

• Strategic Planning: Partner with the Domain Head and other engineering leaders to influence the domain’s roadmap, balancing business growth with the long term platform evolution which shapes the platform’s architecture. Ability to identify technical debt, and balance innovation with stability is vital.
• Leadership & Delivery: Identify gaps in efficiency, blockers and need for team enablement. Zoom out to improve our ways of working systemically.
• Team Enablement: Empower your teams to act as "product custodians" by consistently addressing foundational and production issues.
• Culture Building: Help to foster a psychologically safe, high-trust environment where curiosity and healthy debate are encouraged.
• Collaboration: Practise effective communication and collaboration both within the team and across the wider organization and act as a role model in transparency for your peers.
• Implementation: Hands on implementation of key platform features in Python. 

What We’re Looking For: 

As a leading engineer within the platform domain you are expected to be a key driver to our platform evolution and contributing to the technical strategy.
This includes shaping the future architecture as well as design and review of individual features.

You bring a passion not only for coding but actively sharing your knowledge and experience with your peers as well. 
With your experience as an individual contributor you are able to write and review RFCs, PoCs and features that raise the bar.

Leadership skills:

• Product Thinking: A strong product sense that enables you to design innovative, cloud-native products with our customers in mind.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills in English, with the ability to effectively share complex design concepts within engineering teams as well as to less technical audiences.
• influencing: The ability to bring the right group of people together and align them on the approach towards the best possible solution.
• Mentoring: Becoming a multiplier by mentoring the engineers you are working with.

Technical skills:

• Distributed Systems: Experience in building and designing distributed systems in a cloud environment.
• Database Concepts: Strong knowledge of database fundamentals, including OLAP vs. OLTP, persistence, replication, and clustering.
• Observability: A good grasp of monitoring and observability tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry.
• SQL Proficiency: The ability to work with SQL to interact with our platform's master database.
• Release & Quality: Deep understanding of release management and testing best practices to own the delivery pipeline.
• Problem-Solving: A genuine interest in solving complex technical challenges with customer-focused solutions.

Our Offer:

If you ask us what’s the best thing about working for Aiven, many will probably say it’s the high concentration of talent from around the world that we have here. Enjoy the agile environment of a hyperscale scale-up where you can truly make an impact and have fun while at it.

We invest in you:

• Participate in Aiven’s equity plan.
• With Aiven locations spanning the globe, we want all of our crabs to find the right balance with our hybrid work policy.
• Get the equipment you need to set yourself up for success.
• Step up your career game with real employer support (use one of our learning platforms, annual learning budget, and more).
• Get holistic wellbeing support through our global Employee Assistance Program.

Make a difference at Aiven:

• Contribute to open-source projects that you find meaningful outside of work - and get paid for it! Our Plankton program recognizes extra work to the open-source ecosystem for developers and non-developers alike.
• Use up to 5 days per year to volunteer for a good cause of your choice.
• Join one of our team member resource groups - empower yourself and others in missions that resonate with you.

What else:

• Your wellbeing matters: we provide extensive Occupational Health Care, Dental Care, as well as sports, culture, massage, commute and lunch benefits
• Love breakfast? So do we! Join us at our weekly office breakfast
• We also have you covered by statutory accident insurance

Amazing! What’s next:

Once applying you should hear from our Talent Experience team within 5 days regarding the status of your application. If you are selected to move forward you can generally expect 4 stages with us 

1. 30/45-minute call with one of our Talent Experience Partners 
2. 60-minute Depth of Expertise Interview with the hiring manager
3. 90-minute System Design Interview
4. 60-minute Team Interview
5. 60-minute Values Interview 

How to Recognise and Avoid Employment Scams:

There has been a rise in fake job postings used by scammers to get personal information. Please familiarise yourself with the red flags of a potential scam.

Here at Aiven, all of our emails relating to recruitment come from an @aiven.io, @greenhouse.io or @eu.greenhouse.io domain and all of our interviews are conducted over video call or in person, our interviews will never occur over text or chat. If you’re unsure of the legitimacy of a job opportunity/offer pertaining to Aiven, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at recruitment@aiven.io.

Equal Opportunities:

Aiven provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, marital and family status or without regard to any other similar personal attributes. Aiven complies with applicable local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training and any other terms and conditions related to employment.

At Aiven, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities or special needs in our working environment and job application procedures. We make all reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or who otherwise need support to thrive in the workplace. We are committed to continuously improving workplace accessibility. There is an option to request a discussion in the application process but if you have any questions before applying please write to us at recruitment@aiven.io.