# Principal Research Scientist, Database Systems

**Company:** [MongoDB](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/mongodb)
**Location:** Remote
**Role:** AI Research
**Salary:** $168k – $330k/yr
**Experience:** 12+ years
**Skills:** Query Optimization, Storage Engines, Indexing, Database Architecture, Multicore Processing, Simd, Gpu Acceleration, Performance Engineering, Distributed Systems, Data Structures
**Posted:** 2026-02-11

> Leads research in database systems, focusing on query optimization, storage engines, indexing, and hardware-accelerated architectures. Collaborates with engineering to productize innovations and builds a research team. Requires PhD and 12+ years experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Conduct innovative research in query optimization, indexing methods, storage engines, and performance optimization
- Design, prototype, and empirically evaluate novel database systems and architectures leveraging modern hardware (SIMD parallelism, GPU acceleration, multicore processing)
- Collaborate with Engineering teams to translate research into commercial database products
- Publish in top-tier conferences/journals (e.g., VLDB, SIGMOD)
- Build a Database Systems research group of 2-3 researchers in 1-2 years
- Mentor junior researchers

## Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field specializing in database systems
- 12+ years experience applying CS concepts to large-scale software, databases, and distributed systems
- Proven track record of impactful publications in top database/systems venues
- Expertise in query optimization, efficient data structures, high-performance database architectures
- Strong background in performance engineering, hardware-aware optimizations, database engine internals
- Experience building research prototypes and rigorous empirical studies
- Excellent analytical, communication, and collaboration skills

## Compensation
Base salary range: $168,000 - $330,000 USD (U.S. candidates). Additional benefits include equity, ESPP, flexible PTO, parental leave, 401(k), and health offerings.

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