At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise database systems, tackling complex challenges in query performance and storage.
- Company: Join SurrealDB, a forward-thinking tech company revolutionising database technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on mentorship and career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on database performance and collaborate with innovative minds.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in database internals and proficiency in Rust or similar languages.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
SurrealDB is seeking a Senior Software Engineer for our core database team. Based in London or US East Coast, you'll work on the hardest problems in database design - query optimization, storage engines, and execution performance - shipping improvements that directly impact production workloads. You'll be essential to making SurrealDB faster, smarter, and more capable.
We’re specifically hiring for core database engineering. This role is for engineers who have built or modified database internals (e.g. storage engine, query execution, indexing, replication/consensus, transactions). If your experience is primarily operating databases (running, tuning, administering, or building applications on top of them), you may be a better fit for our Platform Engineering role.
What you will do:
- Design and implement query planner improvements, index selection algorithms, and storage engine optimizations.
- Profile production workloads, identify bottlenecks, and ship performance fixes that make measurable differences.
- Build new database features - indexing strategies, execution engine refinements, query optimization techniques.
- Collaborate with engineering and product to prioritize features users actually need.
- Make pragmatic architectural decisions when theory meets reality.
- Review code, engage with the open-source community, and mentor engineers.
- Jump into ancillary systems (cloud infrastructure, SDKs) when needed to unblock progress.
About you:
- Deep expertise in database internals—query optimization, indexing, storage engines, or transaction processing.
- Experience shipping production database systems or meaningful time in database research.
- Fluent in Rust, comfortable with systems languages, pragmatic about using the right tool for the job.
- Strong understanding of performance tradeoffs and when to optimize vs. ship.
- Track record of shipping code people depend on, balancing correctness, performance, and maintainability.
- Excited by hard problems: smarter query planners, faster hot paths, index structures that work for real workloads.
- Comfortable making technical decisions with incomplete information in a fast-paced environment.
- Equally at home reading papers and profiling production systems.
- Database experience is valuable but not required - if you're a strong systems engineer who gets excited about optimization problems and wants to go deep on database internals, we would love to hear from you.
We understand that each candidate brings a unique set of skills and experiences, and we encourage applicants to apply even if you do not meet all the qualifications listed in the job description.
Our London team have a hybrid working approach. We enjoy working and collaborating together, and require people to be in our Oxford Street office three days a week on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Senior Database Engineer employer: SurrealDB Ltd
SurrealDB is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly for our Senior Database Engineers. With a hybrid working model based in London, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that encourages professional growth through mentorship and engagement with the open-source community. We prioritise meaningful contributions to database design, offering opportunities to tackle complex challenges while enjoying a supportive team atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Database Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to database engineering. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do beyond your CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on common database problems and solutions. Practice explaining your thought process clearly, as communication is key in technical roles like this one.
✨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 hearing from passionate candidates who are excited about database engineering.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Database Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience with database internals, query optimization, and any relevant projects. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Database Engineer role. Share your passion for database design and any specific challenges you've tackled that relate to our needs.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've approached complex problems in database systems. We love candidates who can think critically and pragmatically, so let us know how you’ve made tough decisions in the past.
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 shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SurrealDB Ltd
✨Know Your Database Internals
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of database internals, especially around query optimization and indexing. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past work where you've tackled similar challenges.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about how you've approached complex problems in database design. Think of a few scenarios where you made pragmatic decisions that led to performance improvements, and be ready to explain your thought process.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Rust
Since fluency in Rust is a key requirement, ensure you're comfortable discussing your experience with it. If you’ve worked with systems languages before, be prepared to compare them and explain why you prefer Rust for certain tasks.
✨Engage with the Open-Source Community
If you've contributed to open-source projects, be ready to share those experiences. Discussing your involvement can demonstrate your passion for database engineering and your ability to collaborate with others in the field.
