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Principal Software Engineer

Fivetran· Engineering Department
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Hybrid (Oakland, CA)$225.8k - $282.3kfull-timePosted 6mo ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer at Fivetran (in collaboration with dbt Labs) focusing on building and evolving core platform systems that power the data movement platform. Define long-term technical vision, lead complex distributed system design, and influence engineering direction across multiple teams. Hybrid in Oakland, CA with two days in the office weekly.

Responsibilities

  • Define Technical Strategy: Set the long-term architectural vision for core platform systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and efficiency.
  • Lead Complex System Design: Drive the design and evolution of large-scale distributed systems that power Fivetran’s data movement platform.
  • Drive Cross-Team Initiatives: Lead high-impact projects spanning multiple teams, align stakeholders, and ensure successful execution.
  • Raise the Engineering Bar: Establish best practices for system design, code quality, and operational excellence across the organization.
  • Mentor and Influence: Guide and mentor senior and staff engineers, shaping technical decision-making beyond your immediate team.
  • Improve Platform Performance: Identify and lead efforts to optimize system performance, reliability, and cost at scale.
  • Champion Innovation: Evaluate and introduce new technologies and approaches to improve developer experience and platform capabilities

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of software engineering experience, with deep expertise in building and operating large-scale distributed systems.
  • Proven ability to design and evolve complex, scalable, and reliable platform architectures.
  • Demonstrated experience leading cross-team technical initiatives and influencing engineering direction.
  • Expertise in backend development (Java preferred) with a solid foundation in data structures and system fundamentals.
  • Experience optimizing system performance, scalability, and cost in high-throughput systems.
  • Strong ability to communicate complex technical ideas and influence senior stakeholders.
  • Track record of driving ambiguous, high-impact problems from definition to execution.

Skills

Required:Java backend developmentSystem designCross-team leadership

Benefits

  • 100% employer-paid medical insurance
  • Generous paid time off with vacation flexibility, sick time, inclusive parental leave, paid holidays, and year-end Global Week of Rest, plus volunteer days off
  • RSU stock grants
  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Company virtual happy hours, free food, and team-building activities
  • Monthly cell phone stipend
  • Access to mental health support platform for employees and dependents
Last updated Oct 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Fivetran

Moving data. Powering innovation.

Effortlessly centralize all the data you need so your team can deliver better insights, faster.

data movementconnectorsETLELTdata integrationanalytics
Company profileWebsite

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