Databricks
About this role
This is the highest experience bar on today's board, at 12 or more years of production level experience in Python, Java, Scala, C++ or a similar language. Databricks builds and runs the data and AI infrastructure platform used by more than 10,000 organisations including over half the Fortune 500, and describes its own operating environment honestly: a fleet of millions of virtual machines generating terabytes of logs and processing exabytes of data per day, where cloud hardware, network and operating system faults are routine and the software has to shield customers from all of them. A staff backend seat at that scale is about designing systems that stay correct under conditions you cannot control, and about the judgement to know which failure modes matter. Databricks is still standing up new teams in Bengaluru, so expect early formation rather than a settled codebase.
Who this is for
What the posting requires:
- 12+ years of production level experience in one of Python, Java, Scala, C++ or a similar language.
- Experience developing large scale distributed systems from scratch.
- Hands on experience developing and operating backend systems.
- The ability to contribute effectively throughout all project phases, from initial design and development through implementation and ongoing operations.
What the work actually looks like at this level, based on how Databricks describes its staff engineering:
- Deliver highly scalable, available and fault tolerant systems processing very large data volumes across thousands of customers.
- Low level systems debugging, performance measurement and optimisation on large production clusters.
- Build architecture designs, influence the product roadmap, and take ownership of new projects.
- Help prevent and investigate production issues.
- Plan and lead complex technical projects spanning several teams within the company.
- Break complex problems quickly into potential solutions, knowns and unknowns, and de risk them through prototyping and validation.
The scale you would be working at, in the company's own terms: millions of virtual machines, terabytes of logs and exabytes of data processed daily, with hardware, network and operating system faults treated as expected conditions rather than emergencies.
Location and working pattern: Bengaluru. Databricks says it is in the process of setting up new teams from scratch at this site, so expect an in office or hybrid arrangement. The number of days is not stated in the posting.
Compliance note in the posting: the standard Databricks export controlled technology clause applies. Where access to export controlled technology or source code is required, applying for a US government licence is at the employer's discretion, and it may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone.
Honest fit guidance: twelve years is the real bar and it is the highest on this edition. What distinguishes an application at this level is not more of the same experience but evidence of having led complex, multi team technical projects and having made architectural calls that survived contact with production. If you are at eight to ten years, Databricks has several roles on this board at that level, and stretching for this one is unlikely to clear the filter.
- 12+ years of production level experience in one of Python, Java, Scala, C++ or a similar language.
- Experience developing large scale distributed systems from scratch.
- Hands on experience developing and operating backend systems.
- The ability to contribute effectively throughout all project phases, from initial design and development through implementation and ongoing operations.
What the work actually looks like at this level, based on how Databricks describes its staff engineering:
- Deliver highly scalable, available and fault tolerant systems processing very large data volumes across thousands of customers.
- Low level systems debugging, performance measurement and optimisation on large production clusters.
- Build architecture designs, influence the product roadmap, and take ownership of new projects.
- Help prevent and investigate production issues.
- Plan and lead complex technical projects spanning several teams within the company.
- Break complex problems quickly into potential solutions, knowns and unknowns, and de risk them through prototyping and validation.
The scale you would be working at, in the company's own terms: millions of virtual machines, terabytes of logs and exabytes of data processed daily, with hardware, network and operating system faults treated as expected conditions rather than emergencies.
Location and working pattern: Bengaluru. Databricks says it is in the process of setting up new teams from scratch at this site, so expect an in office or hybrid arrangement. The number of days is not stated in the posting.
Compliance note in the posting: the standard Databricks export controlled technology clause applies. Where access to export controlled technology or source code is required, applying for a US government licence is at the employer's discretion, and it may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone.
Honest fit guidance: twelve years is the real bar and it is the highest on this edition. What distinguishes an application at this level is not more of the same experience but evidence of having led complex, multi team technical projects and having made architectural calls that survived contact with production. If you are at eight to ten years, Databricks has several roles on this board at that level, and stretching for this one is unlikely to clear the filter.
Apply on company site
Opens databricks.com, the employer's own application page. Applying is always free.