# Principal Engineer, Online Systems

**Company:** [Pinterest](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/pinterest)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA, Palo Alto, CA
**Role:** DevOps / SRE
**Salary:** $285k – $500k/yr
**Experience:** 12+ years
**Skills:** Kubernetes, C++, Java, Python, Distributed Systems, Storage Systems, Caching Systems, Multi-Region Deployment
**Posted:** 2026-04-27

> Leads reliability, scalability, and modernization of Pinterest's critical online systems including storage, caching, and real-time analytics at massive scale. Drives strategic vision, cross-functional initiatives like Kubernetes migration, requiring 12+ years in distributed systems and expertise in C++, Java, or Python.

## Job Description

## What you’ll do:

- Improve reliability, scalability and infra efficiency for Pinterest’s critical online systems across storage and caching, online service and realtime analytics systems to support continued business growth.
- Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives to modernize Pinterest’s online serving stack through multi-region deployment, **Kubernetes** migration, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices.
- Quality champion for online systems and the broad engineering organization, holding a high bar on execution quality and operational excellence.
- Drive the online systems vision and strategy for the next 3 years and beyond, and translate that strategy into cross-functional roadmaps with measurable outcomes.
- Foster a diverse and inclusive engineering culture that makes all feel welcome, and invest in mentorship, critical thinking, and candid feedback to strengthen individual and organizational growth.

## What we’re looking for:

- **12+ years** of software engineering experience with deep expertise in distributed systems, especially online serving, storage, and caching systems: hands-on experience building and operating highly available, reliable, production-grade systems at large scale; strong technical judgment in reliability, scalability, performance, and infrastructure efficiency; proficiency in at least one of **C++**, **Java**, or **Python**.
- Proven track record driving large-scale technical impact: experience leading reliability and scalability improvements, cost efficiency initiatives, and modernization efforts across critical production systems; able to define technical strategy, influence architecture decisions, and drive execution through cross-functional collaboration, strong communication, and operational excellence.
- Strong ownership, quality mindset, and thoughtful use of AI: demonstrates high standards for engineering quality, integrity, and accountability for final outcomes; able to use AI to accelerate analysis, debugging, design exploration, or operational workflows while applying critical thinking, validating correctness, and maintaining sound technical judgment rather than outsourcing ownership to tools.
- Exceptional collaboration skills with cross-functional partners, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, make tradeoffs, and keep stakeholders aligned on priorities and progress.
- **Bachelor’s degree** in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent experience.

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