Staff Software Engineer LRT at Yugabyte

At Yugabyte, we are on a mission to become the default transactional database for enterprises building cloud-native applications. YugabyteDB is our PostgreSQL-compatible distributed database for cloud-native apps. Resilient, scalable, and flexible, it runs on any cloud and enables developers to become instantly productive using well-known APIs.We are looking for talented and driven people to join us on our ambitious mission and help us build a lasting and impactful company.The transactional database market is estimated to grow to $64B by 2025. YugabyteDB is cloud-native by design, has on-demand horizontal scalability, and supports geographical distribution of data using built-in replication. This means that we are well-positioned to meet market demand for geo-distributed, high-scale, high-performance workloads. Join the Database Revolution at Yugabyte. Modern applications need a cloud-native database that eliminates tradeoffs and silos. YugabyteDB retains the power and familiarity of PostgreSQL by pairing its trusted API with a precision-engineered, distributed, cloud-native architecture. Even better, it’s 100% open source. Many of the world's leading enterprises are migrating from legacy RDBMSs (like Oracle, SQL Server, and DB2) to YugabyteDB, to meet their mission-critical app demands. The LRT group is responsible for the language layer and relational execution engine powering YugabyteDB. We care deeply about correctness, performance, and usability of the system we are building. We are always looking for innovative solutions to these challenges, be it from other industry applications, academic research or original contributions, as our team’s work powers a broad range of components. The team's work areas include query planning and optimization, consistent online schema changes, as well as a broad set of SQL features including stored procedures, triggers, geo-partitioned tables, or GIN indexes for text search. Roles and Responsibilities • Lead the design, implementation, and evolution of the distributed SQL query execution engine in YugabyteDB, ensuring correctness, efficiency, and horizontal scalability. • Own and enhance execution-layer components including distributed scans, joins, aggregations, sorting, batching, parallel execution, RPC coordination, and runtime memory management. • Optimize distributed execution paths by minimizing cross-node communication, reducing data movement, improving pushdown to storage layer, and enhancing execution pipelining. • Improve runtime observability by enhancing execution metrics, tracing, profiling, and debugging capabilities to support production-grade workloads. • Mentor engineers on distributed systems design principles, execution-engine architecture, and performance engineering best practices. • Write high-quality C/C++ code with comprehensive unit, integration, and performance test coverage; actively participate in and drive high-quality code and design reviews. • Collaborate cross-functionally with storage, transaction, and infrastructure teams to ensure execution-layer scalability as cluster sizes and transactional throughput grow. • Contribute strategically to the roadmap and technical direction of YugabyteDB’s distributed SQL execution subsystem and the broader ecosystem. Required Experience • 8-25 years experience with compiled languages, e.g. C/C++. • BS/MS/PhD in CS (or related field) or equivalent experience. • Systems engineering fundamentals (e.g.: distributed systems, operating systems, databases) is a must. • Experience with compiled languages, e.g. C/C++ (preferred), Java, Go, Rust. • Knowledge of database internals, compilers, query planning/optimization is a plus. #LI-Remote Due to the Proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, which went into effect on September 21, 2025, at this time we are no longer able to sponsor new H-1B visa petitions filed after September 21, 2025 for new hires. We are still able to consider candidates who require H-1B extensions, changes of employer, or other types of work authorization. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: As an equal opportunity employer, Yugabyte is committed to a diverse workforce. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. To review Yugabyte's Privacy Policy please visit Yugabyte Privacy Notice.