# Staff Software Engineer - Query Processing

**Company:** [Snowflake](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/snowflake)
**Location:** Menlo Park, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $236k – $339k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** SQL, Query Optimization, Query Execution, Compiler Design, MySQL, Postgres, Distributed Systems, Data Structures, Algorithms, Release Validation Pipelines, Test Infrastructure
**Posted:** 2026-09-01

> Staff Software Engineer on Snowflake’s Snowtrail team, designing and operating query-processing and distributed infrastructure that improves engineering velocity and production quality. Requires expertise in databases, query optimization, compiler implementation, and large-scale systems.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Design and build software systems that increase engineering development velocity.
- Provide quality validation optimized for cost and performance.
- Ensure the team meets current customer needs while anticipating future technological demands.
- Design, build, and operate large-scale distributed systems infrastructure.
- Collaborate effectively with the team and mentor junior engineers.

## Requirements
- Experience with SQL or other database technologies, including internal design and implementation.
- Experience with query optimization, query execution, and compiler design and implementation.
- Experience with MySQL and PostgreSQL internals.
- Experience designing, building, and operating large-scale distributed systems infrastructure.
- Strong problem-solving skills and computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and distributed systems.
- Ability to work on-site at the Bellevue, Washington or Menlo Park, California offices.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience with release validation pipelines.
- Experience with test infrastructure in production.

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