Sr. Staff Software Engineer - Unity Catalog Data Governance

Databricks Databricks · Data AI · Seattle, WA +1 · Exec Engineering

Databricks is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to lead the technical direction and development of Unity Catalog's enterprise-grade governance capabilities. This role involves driving the roadmap and execution of critical features for governing access to Lakehouse assets at scale, with a focus on security, usability, performance, and scalability. The position requires deep experience in building and operating large-scale distributed systems and a strong understanding of computer science fundamentals.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead the design and delivery of high-impact projects, setting standards for security, usability, performance, and scalability. Mentor senior engineers and elevate development and operational best practices across the organization.
  2. Take full ownership of the Unity Catalog Governance product, driving it from initial concept to robust, scalable solutions with measurable business impact.
  3. Collaborate with product and infrastructure teams to align technical strategy and execution, ensuring seamless integration and adoption of governance features.
  4. Champion the development of high-quality, reliable, and easy-to-operate software. Drive operational processes that deliver a seamless customer experience that is indistinguishable from perfect.

Skills

Required

  • 15+ years of industry experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems
  • Proven track record of driving initiatives focused on customer satisfaction and incremental delivery
  • Deep computer science expertise (algorithms, data structures) with real-world application
  • Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • BS in Computer Science or related fields

Nice to have

  • MS/PhD preferred
  • Experience in data governance, security, privacy, identity management, authentication, or access control

What the JD emphasized

  • 15+ years of industry experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems
  • Deep computer science expertise (algorithms, data structures) with real-world application