At a Glance
- Tasks: Build scalable metadata systems and solve real business needs at large scale.
- Company: Join Snowflake, a fast-growing tech company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in the AI Data Cloud and shape the future of technology.
- Qualifications: 14+ years in software engineering with strong problem-solving skills and team collaboration.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth opportunities and a focus on creativity.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
Snowflake is about empowering enterprises to achieve their full potential — and people too. With a culture that’s all in on impact, innovation, and collaboration, Snowflake is the sweet spot for building big, moving fast, and taking technology — and careers — to the next level.
Build the future of the AI Data Cloud. Join the Snowflake team. Snowflake Metadata team builds a scalable metadata system that allows Snowflake to query across petabyte-scale data efficiently. The team develops distributed and multi-layered caches, transaction frameworks, declarative entity management, time travel and other core Snowflake services. It is also responsible for providing the foundation of global features like cross-region replication, data sharing, and data marketplace.
AS A PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER - METADATA, YOU WILL:
- Solve real business needs at large scale by applying your software engineering and analytical problem solving skills.
- Create architecture and design, influence our product roadmap, and take ownership and responsibility over new projects.
- Design, develop, and support a highly-parallel and fault‑tolerant database system including a decentralized caching system of terabytes of metadata with an ever‑growing request rate.
- Design and implement core foundational features including transactions, DDL/DML logs, metadata API as well as advanced features built on top of the metadata, such as declarative entity management and integrations to support developer toolchains.
- Analyze and understand performance and scalability bottlenecks in the system and solve them.
- Ensure operational readiness of the services and meet the commitments to our customers regarding availability and performance.
OUR IDEAL PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER WILL HAVE:
- 14+ years industry experience designing, building and supporting large‑scale systems in production.
- Strong computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems.
- Sharp original thinking to make the right choices and guide teams.
- Systems programming skills including multi‑threading, concurrency, caching, etc.
- Fluency in Java or other similar procedural object‑oriented language is preferred.
- Track record of identifying and implementing creative solutions to complex problems.
- Knowledge of database internals is a big plus.
- Ability to work effectively across engineering teams in multiple locations.
- BS in Computer Science; Masters or PhD Preferred.
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?
Principal Software Engineer - Metadata employer: Snowflake
Contact Detail:
Snowflake Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Metadata
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Snowflake on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost our chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your coding skills. We should practice solving problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Being sharp on algorithms and data structures will definitely impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our projects! If we’ve worked on relevant software engineering projects, let’s have them ready to discuss. Highlighting our experience with large-scale systems and innovative solutions can set us apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through the Snowflake website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets seen. Plus, we can tailor our application to match their values and culture, making it more appealing.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Metadata
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your experience with large-scale systems and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our goals at Snowflake. Let us know what excites you about building the future of the AI Data Cloud.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, don’t just list your skills—show us how you've used them to solve real-world problems. We love seeing examples of your analytical thinking and creativity in action, especially in large-scale environments.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Snowflake
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your computer science fundamentals, especially data structures and algorithms. Given the role's focus on large-scale systems, be ready to discuss your experience with distributed systems and how you've tackled performance bottlenecks in the past.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of complex problems you've solved in previous roles. Highlight your analytical skills and how you've applied them to create innovative solutions, especially in high-pressure situations.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Snowflake values impact, innovation, and collaboration. Familiarise yourself with their mission and think about how your personal values align with theirs. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their culture and help drive their goals forward.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team's current projects, challenges they face, and how they measure success. This not only demonstrates your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.