Staff Software Engineer - Online Storage

Plaid · Fintech · San Francisco, CA · All Cost Centers

Staff Software Engineer focused on building and scaling the online storage layer for Plaid's Core Data Models. The role involves designing, deploying, and optimizing storage systems for reliability, scalability, and performance, including query optimization, infrastructure cost management, and partnering with stakeholder teams. Requires deep expertise in backend/platform systems, storage technologies, database orchestration, and infrastructure tools like Terraform and AWS.

What you'd actually do

  1. Build and scale systems to support large datasets and high-throughput workloads with strong performance and reliability guarantees
  2. Design and evolve resilient, distributed storage systems that operate reliably
  3. Navigate ambiguity and drive clarity across complex storage and infrastructure challenges
  4. Diagnose and resolve deeply technical issues within storage engines, including analyzing internal behavior and, when necessary, diving into source code
  5. Lead careful, reliability-focused migrations that minimize risk and ensure seamless transitions for dependent systems
  6. Build foundational storage capabilities that significantly reduce friction for product engineers, enabling teams to move faster and more confidently

Skills

Required

  • Strong software engineering experience with deep focus on backend and/or platform systems
  • Deep expertise in storage technologies
  • Experience deploying and orchestrating databases at scale
  • Strong background in database performance optimization, preferably with SQL databases
  • Experience designing and evolving storage platforms
  • Infrastructure experience with tools such as Terraform and AWS
  • Hands-on experience with databases such as TiDB, MySQL, or MongoDB
  • Experience building internal tooling and automation to improve reliability and developer efficiency

Nice to have

  • Demonstrated curiosity about evolving storage technologies and performance optimization techniques
  • Production experience with Go and TypeScript
  • Experience applying security best practices in storage or infrastructure systems