Senior Principal Software Engineer, Vertica

Rocket Software

. Serve as a technical leader for the Vertica database platform .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timeRemote • Massachusetts • United StatesSenior💰 $143,000 - $193,050 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsSQLC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a technical leader for the Vertica database platform
Define and drive architecture, design, and implementation of strategic innovations across the core server
Advance foundational database technologies including query optimization, distributed execution, storage, scalability, and performance
Act as subject matter expert across Vertica core server domains
Set technical direction and architecture for critical database engine components
Synthesize customer requirements, market trends, product strategy, and engineering input into technical direction and product requirements
Research and evaluate database algorithms, distributed systems techniques, and emerging technologies for practical application
Identify opportunities for innovation and deliver foundational enhancements improving performance, scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency
Architect complex database features and infrastructure for large-scale analytical workloads across distributed environments
Lead design and implementation of highly concurrent, high-performance C++ software
Guide evolution of the query optimizer, execution engine, distributed architecture, and related core server technologies
Document and communicate technical concepts, architectures, and design decisions
Collaborate across software development groups to address downstream product lifecycle impacts
Propose and implement innovations that improve Vertica’s competitive position and customer value
Drive improvements with significant impact across products, teams, and customer workloads
Participate in strategic planning, roadmap development, feature scoping, estimation, and prioritization
Work with software architects and product owners to align roadmaps and backlogs with architectural objectives
Guide functional, performance, scalability, resiliency, and stress testing strategies
Collaborate with customers, support teams, and field organizations to translate real-world challenges into technical solutions
Mentor engineers and technical leaders across the organization
Communicate with senior leadership and manage competing priorities while maintaining strategic focus

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 12 years of software engineering experience, including significant experience developing complex systems software
Proven track record of successful software innovation, problem solving, and product delivery at increasing scale and complexity
Deep expertise in one or more database engine domains, including query optimization, query execution, storage engines, transaction processing, concurrency control, distributed systems, or database infrastructure
Expert knowledge of C++ and performance-oriented systems programming
Strong understanding of algorithms, data structures, operating systems, and multi-threaded programming
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing large-scale distributed systems
Strong knowledge of SQL and relational database technologies
Ability to evaluate emerging research and translate innovative concepts into production-quality software
Able to take ownership of the design and development of large architectural components and define interactions across subsystems
Able to review designs and anticipate performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability considerations
Proven success leading cross-functional technical initiatives and influencing engineering strategy across multiple teams
Recognized by peers as a superior technical contributor and technical leader
Exemplary at dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity
Proven success mentoring and developing software engineers at all levels
Excellent technical communication and collaboration skills
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline required
Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Database Systems, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline is strongly preferred
Expertise in commercial database internals and database kernel development
Experience designing or implementing cost-based query optimizers
Experience developing distributed query processing or execution frameworks
Experience building highly scalable analytical database systems or massively parallel processing (MPP) database platforms
Experience shaping the architectural direction of a mature enterprise software platform
Record of innovation reflected through patents, publications, significant product contributions, or industry-recognized technical achievements
Prior experience contributing to the Vertica database engine or other large-scale analytical database platforms
Deep familiarity with Vertica core server architecture, query optimization, distributed execution, storage, catalog, transaction management, or related subsystems is highly valued
Demonstrated ability to influence the technical direction of a complex database platform through architectural leadership and long-term innovation

Benefits

Comp & perks

Unlimited Vacation Time
Paid holidays and sick time
Health and Wellness coverage options for Rocketeers and dependents
Life and disability coverage
Fidelity 401(k) and Roth Retirement Savings with matching contributions
Monthly student debt benefit program
Tuition Reimbursement and Certificate Reimbursement Program opportunities
Leadership and skills training opportunities
Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities