At a Glance
- Tasks: Automate and maintain production databases, troubleshoot issues, and drive improvements.
- Company: Join Palantir, a world-changing company revolutionising data-driven decisions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work options, and a collaborative environment.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture focused on learning and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by working on critical systems that save lives.
- Qualifications: Engineering background with coding experience in Java, Python, or Go.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
A World-Changing Company Palantir builds the world’s leading software for data-driven decisions and operations. By bringing the right data to the people who need it, our platforms empower our partners to develop lifesaving drugs, forecast supply chain disruptions, locate missing children, and more.
The Role Database Operations is responsible for the deployment and maintenance of the database layer that Palantir’s products depend on. As an engineer on the Database Operations team, you will design how databases are deployed and operated across a wide variety of environments, build the automation and observability that keep them healthy, and respond to the critical production issues that affect some of the world's most impactful use cases.
Core Responsibilities
- Build software that automates the routine work of deploying and running production databases
- Participate in regular on‑call rotations
- Troubleshoot, diagnose, and remediate stability and reliability issues in production database systems
- Participate in post‑incident reviews and take ownership of follow up actions
- Identify patterns across incidents, support tickets, and alerts, and translate those observations into proposals for systemic improvements to our fleet
- Manage and execute large scale migrations of the fleet of databases we run
- Partner with customer‑facing teams during incidents and when setting up new database installations
- Work with database engineering teams and infrastructure teams to build resilient and highly available database systems
- Continuously invest in documentation, metrics, monitors and other troubleshooting tools
- Hold the bar on engineering and operational standards through code reviews, design reviews, and feedback on operating procedures
- Build deep expertise and experience in production systems (Kubernetes, cloud environments, Cassandra, Elasticsearch, etc.) and share that knowledge amongst the team
What We Value
- Strong sense of ownership in ambiguous environments. You step in to drive important outcomes when lines of responsibility are unclear.
- Ability to collaborate and empathize under pressure. You stay calm and work effectively during high‑stakes incidents.
- Curiosity and motivation to learn. The systems and technologies you work on will change often, and you can quickly build the understanding to be effective through the changes.
- Ability to operate with autonomy in a rapidly changing environment where priorities shift.
- First‑principles thinking. You want to thoroughly understand the systems you work on rather than applying band‑aid fixes, and you ask questions to get there.
- Investment in the team around you. You share what you learn, give thoughtful feedback in reviews, and treat raising the team’s overall capability as part of the job.
What We Require
- Engineering background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics or similar field.
- Experience writing code in a variety of programming languages such as Java, Python, and Go, as part of a past role or personal projects.
- Experience with cloud and orchestration technologies such as Kubernetes, Helm, AWS, GCP, Azure, and OpenShift.
- Experience with database technologies such as Cassandra, Elasticsearch and Kafka.
- A solid foundation in Linux and how distributed web services work.
- Familiarity with observability tools such as Grafana and Prometheus.
- Strong written and verbal communication and the ability to iterate quickly with teammates and incorporate feedback.
Work Environment
In keeping consistent with Palantir’s values and culture, we believe employees are “better together” and in‑person work affords the opportunity for more creative outcomes. Therefore, we encourage employees to work from our offices to foster connectivity and innovation. Many teams do offer hybrid options (WFH a day or two a week), allowing our employees to strike the right trade‑off for their personal productivity. Based on business need, there are a few roles that allow for “Remote” work on an exceptional basis. If you are applying for one of these roles, you must work from the city and or country in which you are employed. If the posting is specified as Onsite, you are required to work from an office.
We are committed to making the application and hiring process accessible to everyone and will provide a reasonable accommodation for those living with a disability. Please note that you will never be asked to submit a payment or share financial information to participate in our interview process. If you suspect that you've been contacted by a scammer, we recommend you cease all communication with the individual and consider reporting them to the relevant authorities.
Production Engineer - Database Operations employer: Palantir Technologies
Palantir is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where employees are encouraged to work together in person to drive creative outcomes. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, Palantir offers opportunities to develop expertise in cutting-edge technologies while participating in meaningful projects that have a real-world impact. The company also supports a flexible work environment, allowing for hybrid options that cater to individual productivity needs, making it an attractive place for those seeking rewarding and impactful careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Engineer - Database Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects, especially those related to database operations. It’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios. Think about how you’d troubleshoot a database issue or automate a deployment – they love real-world examples!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Production Engineer - Database Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Production Engineer role. Highlight your experience with database technologies and cloud environments, as these are key to what we do at Palantir.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Include specific examples of projects where you’ve used programming languages like Java or Python, and how you tackled challenges in database operations.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We want to see your communication skills shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Palantir Technologies
✨Know Your Databases
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of database technologies like Cassandra and Elasticsearch. Be ready to discuss how you've used these in past projects or roles, and think about specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
✨Show Off Your Coding Skills
Since you'll be writing code in languages like Java, Python, and Go, prepare to talk about your experience with these. Bring examples of your work, whether from previous jobs or personal projects, and be ready to explain your thought process behind your coding decisions.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Palantir values first-principles thinking, so be prepared to tackle hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think through how you would approach troubleshooting a production issue or managing a large-scale database migration, and articulate your reasoning clearly.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Highlight your ability to work under pressure and collaborate with others, especially during high-stakes incidents. Share examples of how you've contributed to team success in the past, and express your commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting your colleagues.
