At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive customer success by partnering with sales and delivering technical presentations.
- Company: Join VAST Data, a revolutionary AI infrastructure start-up valued at $9.1 billion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-based compensation, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with global impact and opportunities to work with Fortune 100 companies.
- Why this job: Work with cutting-edge AI technology and influence product development.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in pre-sales or systems engineering with deep database expertise.
Location: London/South East England
About VAST Data
VAST Data is revolutionising AI infrastructure with the world's first AI Operating System. Having reached $2 billion in cumulative software bookings and valued at $9.1 billion, we're the fastest-selling data infrastructure start-up in history. Trusted by over 25% of the Fortune 100 and leading global GPU Cloud service providers, our platform unifies storage, database, and compute to power the AI era.
The VAST Database is a next-generation transactional and analytical database built on disaggregated architecture, designed for AI/ML workloads, real-time analytics, and vector search capabilities.
The Role
We're seeking a highly technical Systems Engineer to partner with our Database Sales team across the UK and EMEA. You'll be the technical authority on VAST Database, driving customer success from initial engagement through proof-of-concept and post-sales expansion. This is a customer-facing pre-sales role where you'll translate complex technical requirements into compelling solutions, conduct technical presentations and demonstrations, and establish yourself as a trusted technical adviser to CDOs, CTOs, and data platform leaders.
What You'll Do
- Partner with Account Executives to develop and execute technical sales strategies for VAST Database solutions
- Deliver compelling technical presentations and architecture blueprints to C-level executives and technical decision-makers
- Design and lead proof-of-concept implementations, including performance benchmarking and system configuration
- Articulate VAST's value proposition for transactional databases, data warehouses, data lakes, and vector search workloads
- Conduct competitive analysis and position VAST Database against solutions from Snowflake, Databricks, MongoDB, and other database vendors
- Collaborate with Product Management and R&D to influence product roadmap based on customer requirements
- Create repeatable solution architectures and technical documentation for the UK/EMEA market
- Build relationships with systems integrators and technology partners to drive joint solutions
- Support post-sales technical success to enable account growth and expansion opportunities
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- 7+ years in pre-sales or systems engineering supporting enterprise software sales
- Deep technical expertise in database technologies (SQL, NoSQL, data warehouses, vector databases)
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, database architectures, and data platform design
- Experience with AI/ML data pipelines, analytics workloads, and real-time data processing
- Proven ability to design and execute technical proof-of-concepts with enterprise customers
- Excellent presentation and communication skills with technical and business audiences
- Knowledge of storage systems, distributed architectures, and high-performance computing
- Experience selling into UK enterprise accounts (FTSE 250/350, large enterprises >1,000 employees)
Highly Desirable:
- Experience with UK public sector (NHS, central government, higher education)
- Understanding of life sciences, financial services, or media/entertainment data workflows
- Knowledge of containerisation (Kubernetes, Docker), high-performance networking, and enterprise security
- Hands-on experience with Spark, Trino, or other query engines
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and hybrid architectures
- Understanding of UK GDPR, data sovereignty, and compliance requirements
- Experience working with systems integrators and technology partners
- Ability to work across EMEA time zones and support regional opportunities
Technical Skills
- Database technologies: SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse, or similar
- Data platforms: Snowflake, Databricks, or cloud data warehouse experience
- Storage architectures: NAS, object storage, distributed file systems
- Analytics tools: Understanding of BI platforms, data science workflows, and ML pipelines
- Performance analysis: Benchmarking tools (FIO, etc.) and system tuning
- Infrastructure: Linux/Unix administration, networking fundamentals, virtualisation
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI infrastructure technology
- Competitive salary and performance-based compensation
- Partner with world-class sales professionals on transformational deals
- Direct influence on product development and customer success
- Collaborative, innovation-driven culture with global impact
- Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
- Work with Fortune 100 companies and leading GPU cloud providers
Join us in building the data platform for the AI era. To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your technical expertise and pre-sales success in enterprise environments. VAST Data is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Systems Engineer- Database in London employer: VAST Data
VAST Data is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture in the heart of London. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring that our team members thrive in their roles. Our commitment to maintaining a high-quality customer experience is matched by our dedication to creating a supportive environment where every employee can contribute meaningfully and advance their career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Systems Engineer- Database in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at VAST Data or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to VAST Data.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like VAST Data.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like VAST Data that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Systems Engineer- Database in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at VAST Data.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at VAST Data and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at VAST Data
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If VAST Data uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
