Software Engineer, Data Platform – Foundations Lead

Notion

. Set the multi-quarter strategy for Data Foundations across the data lake, streaming, distributed compute, governance, and platform reliability .

Posted 9/21/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $281,000 - $334,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates deep expertise in designing and operating large-scale batch and streaming systems, with a focus on improving platform reliability, governance, and cost efficiency. Proven ability to lead engineering teams, foster technical leadership, and create self-serve capabilities across data platforms.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Data Platform LeadershipLarge-Scale Batch and Streaming Systems DesignKafka and Debezium Infrastructure ScalingPlatform-Product ThinkingCoaching and Mentoring Engineers

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Data GovernanceData ResidencyAccess ControlsLifecycle ManagementPrototypingArchitecture De-RiskingWorkload IsolationCost EfficiencyS3 + Iceberg LakehouseDistributed Compute Performance

Soft Skills

Intellectual CuriosityTeam CoordinationFeedback and CoachingClarity Across Team Boundaries

Tools & Technologies

KafkaDebeziumS3IcebergSparkEMRAthena

Industry Keywords

Data FoundationsStreaming InfrastructureEngineering Team DevelopmentSelf-Serve Platform CapabilitiesCross-Team Collaboration

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

KafkaSpark

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Set the multi-quarter strategy for Data Foundations across the data lake, streaming, distributed compute, governance, and platform reliability
Build and develop a high-performing engineering team
Lead complex initiatives from ideation through operation, including prototyping, architecture de-risking, milestone planning, and cross-team coordination
Make Notion’s data platform enterprise-ready through external key management, data residency, access controls, lifecycle management, and governance
Improve reliability, simplicity, and cost efficiency across Kafka, Debezium, S3/Iceberg, Spark, EMR, Athena, and related systems
Establish reusable abstractions and self-serve platform capabilities
Coach engineers and technical leaders through documentation, tooling, design reviews, and direct collaboration
Evolve the data lake toward an S3 + Iceberg lakehouse
Scale Kafka and Debezium-based streaming infrastructure
Improve Spark and distributed-compute performance, workload isolation, developer experience, and cost efficiency
Design EKM, data residency, and compliant processing capabilities
Create platform interfaces and self-serve primitives for Data Engineering, Search, AI, and product teams

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep expertise designing and operating large-scale batch and streaming systems
Experience reasoning across storage, compute, ingestion, orchestration, serving, governance, and production operations
Experience leading a Data Platform or infrastructure team through multi-quarter work
Experience attracting strong engineers, growing people across career stages, and developing technical leaders
Strong hands-on engineering judgment across prototyping, simplification, purchasing, building, and migration decisions
Platform-product thinking and ability to create safe, ergonomic, self-serve capabilities
Ability to create clarity across team boundaries and provide context, delegation, feedback, and coaching
Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for using AI as a collaborator
Ability to work from a Notion office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (Anchor Days)
Ability to work in San Francisco or New York City

Benefits

Comp & perks

Highly competitive equity
Benefits
Reasonable accommodations during the application process