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Senior Staff Systems Engineer

fivetran

Oakland, California, United States
Uncategorized Systems Analyst

Job Score

80 pts
On-site model (+70) Systems Analyst (+10)

From Fivetran’s founding until now, our mission has remained the same: to make access to data as simple and reliable as electricity. With Fivetran, customer data arrives in their warehouses, canonical and ready to query, with no engineering or maintenance required. We’re proud that more organizations continue to leverage our technology every day to become truly data-driven.

About Us

Fivetran and dbt Labs are bringing together two industry-leading companies with a shared mission: helping organizations unlock the full value of their data.

Together, we’re delivering the data infrastructure layer that helps organizations move, transform, and trust their data — from the moment data moves, through every transformation, to the context teams and AI systems rely on.

Fivetran helps organizations automate data movement across the systems, clouds, engines, and tools they rely on. dbt Labs pioneered analytics engineering, helping teams transform data into reliable, governed insights. Together, we support thousands of organizations as they build a trusted foundation for analytics, AI, and better business decisions.

As we bring our teams and technology together, we’re building on the strengths of both companies while continuing to deliver the products and experiences our customers know and trust. It’s an exciting time to join us: we’re creating a company with the scale, talent, and technology to help more organizations put their data to work with greater speed, confidence, and impact.

During this transition period, you may see references to both Fivetran and dbt Labs throughout our recruiting process as we integrate our teams, systems, and career sites.

About The Role

Fivetran is building data pipelines to power the modern data stack for thousands of companies. We're looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join our Systems Engineering team and lead the engineering behind our internal AI-powered application ecosystem.

This is a high-leverage, high-visibility role with three interlocking mandates. First, you will own the development and governance of a code library and set of agent rules that will serve as the architectural foundation for multiple internal AI-enabled webapps at Fivetran.  Second, you will work with stakeholders to develop, productionalize, and enhance custom apps built on this foundation.  Third, you will act as a trusted advisor to engineering leadership, shaping policy and governance for how non-engineers should use AI to safely develop, productionalize, and deploy apps.

This position sits at the crossroads of software engineering, platform architecture, and AI-assisted development. You will partner closely with business stakeholders and engineering platform teams across the company, translating a fast-moving, experimental "everyone builds" culture into production software held to a high standard of security, reliability, and maintainability.

This is a full-time position based out of our Oakland, CA office. Our hybrid work model offers a blend of remote flexibility and in-person collaboration, including two days in the office each week to connect and build as a team.

Technologies You’ll Use

  • Python, TypeScript/React
  • Kubernetes, GCP Cloud SQL (PostgreSQL)
  • BigQuery data sources, Claude API, Agent SDK
  • GTM systems -  Salesforce, Outreach, Gong, and Zendesk

What You’ll Do

  • Independently design and implement features and performance improvements to create highly scalable distributed data pipelines on the cloud
  • Develop, maintain, and test code
  • Conduct design and code reviews 
  • Collaborate with peers, product managers, customer support, and other stakeholders to deliver the best product with high quality, performance, and scalability
  • Understand and fix challenges related to performance and scalability. 
  • Participate periodically in on-call rotation
  • Participate in the hiring process
  • Mentor Junior developers 
  • Make Fivetran the most reliable and secure component of our customers’ data infrastructure

Skills We’re Looking For

  • 10+ years of experience in the software industry with a passion for solving complex software engineering problems - experience designing and developing reusable libraries and experimentation platforms for backend and frontend from scratch leveraging industry best practices
  • Experience working with distributed systems and cloud security concepts 
  • Demonstrated ability to write well-structured and performant code
  • Ability to independently lead software and infrastructure design to satisfy project requirements
  • Can identify design flaws in existing systems and come up with improvements
  • Experience in code reviews, design, troubleshooting and testing 
  • Experience programming in an object oriented / systems language such as Java, C++, C# etc
  • Hands-on experience working with any cloud technologies(AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization methodologies like Docker, K8s
  • Experience interacting with continuous integration tools like BuildKite
  • Knowledge of observability tools like New Relic/Grafana is a plus 
  • Understand how to use AI code assist and coding agents to automatically generate code for features, bugs, testing, and investigation
  • Ability to use conversational AI systems (like Claude, ChatGPT, and internal chatbots) to support researching, authoring, reviewing, and synthesizing various SDLC artifacts such as TDDs, PRDs, Postmortems, Test Plans, and Proposals

Bonus Skills​

  • Experience in data processing (ETL, ELT) and/or cloud-based platforms

 

#LI-HYBRID #LI-VA1

The compensation range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire compensation for the target position and level, and may include sales incentives or target bonuses depending on the role.  Our compensation ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Our job titles may span more than one career level. Within the range, individual compensation is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, business need, market demands. The compensation range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your location during the hiring process.

Oakland Pay Range
$232,338$290,422 USD

 

Perks and Benefits

  • 100% employer-paid medical insurance*
  • Generous paid time-off policy (PTO), plus paid sick time, inclusive parental leave policy, holidays (including a year end Global Week of Rest), and volunteer days off
  • RSU stock grants*
  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Company virtual happy hours, free food, and fun team-building activities
  • Monthly cell phone stipend
  • Access to an innovative mental health support platform that offers personalized care and resources in areas such as: therapy, coaching, and self-guided mindfulness exercises for all covered employees and their covered dependents.

*May vary by country and worker type - please reach out to your recruiter for more information

Click here to learn more about Fivetran's Benefits by Region.


We’re honored to be valued at over $5.6 billion, but more importantly, we’re proud of our core values of Get Stuck In, Do the Right Thing, and One Team, One Dream. Read about us in Forbes.     

Fivetran brings together high-quality talent across the globe to make data access as easy and reliable as electricity for our customers. We value and recognize that our customers benefit from having innovative teams made of people from many backgrounds, experiences, and identities. Fivetran promotes diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging through attracting, recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us build a world-class company to better serve our customers, our people and our communities.

To learn more about Fivetran’s culture and what it’s like to be part of the team, click here and enjoy our video.

To learn more about our candidate privacy policy, you can read our statement here.


We are committed to ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to participate in our interview process. If you require accommodations at any stage of the process due to a disability, medical condition, or any other circumstance, please don't hesitate to submit your request by filling out this form. We will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate your participation and ensure a fair and accessible interview experience. Your request and any information provided will be kept confidential and will not impact your candidacy. We look forward to hearing from you and accommodating your needs to the best of our ability.

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About Systems Analyst

The Systems Analyst is the professional responsible for analyzing, designing, and implementing technology solutions that meet business needs. They act as a bridge between business areas and the development team, ensuring that systems deliver real value to the organization.

Key skills include requirements gathering and analysis, process modeling (BPMN), data modeling, technical and functional documentation, system integration (APIs, microservices), and knowledge of ERPs and CRMs. Tools like Jira, Confluence, Visio, and project management platforms are essential.

Systems Analysts in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master agile requirements analysis (user stories, backlog), system integration, and solution architecture. The field offers opportunities from junior analyst to solution architect, with a focus on efficiency, quality, and technological innovation.

Discover Other Areas

Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.

About Graphic Designer

The Graphic Designer is the professional responsible for creating visual pieces for print and digital communication, from visual identity and logos to marketing materials and packaging. They combine creativity with technique to convey messages visually and impactfully.

Key skills include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, CorelDRAW, visual identity design, typography, color theory, packaging design, and motion graphics. Knowledge of vector illustration, offset/digital printing, and print production is a differentiator.

Graphic Designers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master social media design, infographics, and can create materials that strengthen brand visual identity. The field offers opportunities from junior graphic designer to art director and design director.

About People Analyst

The People Analyst is the professional responsible for transforming people data into strategic insights for HR decision-making. They combine data analysis knowledge with people management vision to help organizations understand workforce metrics, turnover, engagement, and diversity.

Key skills include people analytics, workforce analytics, turnover and retention analysis, HR metrics (time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, e-NPS), data visualization (Power BI, Tableau, Visier), workforce planning, and compensation analysis. Knowledge of statistics, SQL, and people analytics tools is a differentiator.

People Analysts in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who can translate complex people data into actionable insights for retention, diversity, and growth strategies. The field offers opportunities from HR analyst to head of people analytics, with a focus on data-driven people management.

About QA and Testing

QA and Software Testing are fundamental to ensure the quality and reliability of applications. QA professionals ensure that the delivered product meets requirements and is free of critical defects.

Key skills include manual and automated testing, Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Postman, JMeter, and CI/CD pipeline knowledge. Performance and security testing are differentiators.

With the adoption of DevOps and continuous deployment, the demand for automation QAs and SDETs continues to grow.

About UI Design

The User Interface (UI) Design area focuses on creating and designing all the visual elements that users interact with in a digital product. This includes screens, buttons, icons, typography, color palettes, and responsive layouts, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing, consistent, and easy-to-use interface. Skills in tools like Figma and knowledge of design systems are essential.

About Marketing

The Marketing area is strategic for the growth and positioning of any company. It encompasses traditional marketing, brand management, market research, trade marketing, product marketing, and market intelligence. Marketing professionals are responsible for planning and executing strategies that connect brands to their target audience.

Key skills include brand management, market research, competitive analysis, product marketing, trade marketing, pricing, relationship marketing, and channel development. Knowledge of research tools (Nielsen, Kantar, Ipsos), BI, and advanced spreadsheets is a differentiator.

Marketing professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master product marketing, go-to-market strategy, and data-driven marketing. The field offers opportunities from analyst to CMO, with a focus on growth, brand positioning, and return on investment.

Career Guides

Technology Career Guide

Planning, skills, interviews, and professional growth in IT, Data Science, DevOps, and Product.

Read full guide →

Design Career Guide

UX/UI, Graphic Design, Product Design. Portfolio, tools, interviews, and growth in the Design field.

Read full guide →

Marketing Career Guide

SEO, Paid Media, Growth, Content Marketing. Certifications, tools, and strategies to grow in Digital Marketing.

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Finance Career Guide

Financial market, investments, corporate finance, certifications, and strategies to grow in the financial field.

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Communication Career Guide

Journalism, PR, Corporate Communication, Content Marketing, and Multimedia Production.

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Administration Career Guide

Business Management, HR, Logistics, Consulting, Project Management, and Entrepreneurship.

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Data Career Guide

Data Science, Data Engineering, BI, Machine Learning, and AI. From training to the job market.

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Product Career Guide

Product Management, Product Ownership, Agile, Scrum, and OKRs. From strategy to execution.

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Tech & Remote Glossary

Stop getting lost in interviews and job descriptions

The job market, especially within tech and global companies, has developed its own dialect. Not understanding these acronyms can make you lose valuable opportunities or poorly negotiate your contract. To end this problem, we created the Definitive Glossary for the Remote Professional.

🏢 Work Models & Routine

Async (Asynchronous Work)
A communication model where responses don't need to be immediate. Instead of back-to-back meetings, the team relies on well-structured documents, threads, and messages. It's the gold standard for global companies spanning multiple time zones.
Sync (Synchronous Work)
The opposite of Async. It requires the team to be online and available at the same time for meetings, live chats, and real-time collaboration.
Daily / Stand-up
A quick daily meeting (usually 15 minutes) common in Agile (Scrum) methodologies. The team answers three questions: What did I do yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any blockers?
All-Hands / Town Hall
A company-wide meeting involving all employees. Usually led by the founders (C-Levels) to present results, new goals, and answer team questions.
1:1 (One-on-One)
A recurring individual meeting between a professional and their direct manager. It is used for career alignment, feedback, and problem-solving, not just for project status updates.

💰 Contracts, Benefits & Compensation

PTO (Paid Time Off)
Instead of strict, categorized leave policies, modern US companies usually offer a flexible pool of days (e.g., 20 days of PTO, or even "Unlimited PTO") that you can use for vacations, sick days, or personal matters, while receiving your regular compensation.
Equity / Stock Options
Company ownership. The startup offers you the right to buy shares at a heavily discounted strike price in the future. If the company grows, goes public, or is acquired, these shares can be highly lucrative.
Vesting (Vesting Schedule)
The rule that controls your Equity. It usually lasts 4 years. You don't get all the shares on day one; you "earn" them gradually as you stay with the company. A "1-year Cliff" means you must stay for at least one year to receive your first batch of shares.
RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)
Unlike Stock Options (where you have the right to buy the stock), RSUs are actual shares the company grants you as a bonus or part of your compensation package, following a strict Vesting schedule.
Independent Contractor (1099 / B2B)
The most common international hiring model for global talent working for US companies. You act as a service provider (business-to-business), receiving the gross salary (often six-figure compensation) without standard local payroll tax deductions at the source.

🤖 Recruitment & Hiring Process

ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
The "robot" that reads your resume. Software like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday are used to filter candidates by keywords before a human even looks at the document. (Pro tip: this is why your resume must be clean, semantic, and have the right keywords).
JD (Job Description)
The document that lists the responsibilities, technical requirements, and benefits of the open position.
Cultural Fit
The interview stage that evaluates if your core values, communication style, and worldview align with the company's culture. This is the ultimate test of your Soft Skills.
Onboarding
The integration process. It's the period of your first few weeks at the company, where you get your access credentials, learn about the culture, study the internal documentation, and understand how the product works.

🚀 How to use this to your advantage?

The secret isn't just knowing what these acronyms mean, but using them actively. If during an interview for a premium tech role you ask, "How does your PTO policy and Vesting schedule work?", the recruiter will immediately perceive you as a high-level professional, familiar with the global market standards.

The remote job market requires preparation. And having the right vocabulary is the first big step to securing six-figure proposals and standing out among thousands of applicants.

Expert Tip

How n8n and Automation Open Doors to Premium Jobs

The Paradigm Shift in Web Development

The web development market has matured. A few years ago, mastering a traditional stack (like MERN or LAMP) was enough to secure a highly sought-after role. Today, the corporate landscape — especially in US startups hiring globally and offering six-figure compensation — demands speed and operational efficiency. It's no longer just about building from scratch, but knowing how to integrate complex ecosystems rapidly.

According to Gartner, hyperautomation is one of the top strategic technology trends of the decade. The modern developer must be an integration architect, capable of connecting CRMs, databases, AI APIs, and payment gateways in a matter of hours, not weeks. This is exactly where n8n becomes an indispensable tool in your portfolio.

Why n8n? The Power of "Fair-Code"

n8n is a node-based workflow automation tool. Unlike competitors aimed at non-technical users (such as Zapier or Make), n8n was designed with the developer in mind first. It allows raw JavaScript injection for complex data manipulation, custom HTTP requests, and, most importantly, features a fair-code licensing model that allows it to be self-hosted on a company's own infrastructure.

For technical recruiters and CTOs, a candidate who masters n8n demonstrates maturity. It proves that you understand SaaS cost reduction and value the security and sovereignty of the company's data.

Practical Tips to Land Your Next Role

If you want your resume to pass rigorous ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screening — like Greenhouse or Ashby — and reach the hands of Tech Leads, here are the core skills you should highlight when associating Web Development with n8n:

  • Mastery of Webhooks and RESTful APIs: The foundation of automation is system communication. Demonstrate your ability to create n8n workflows that listen to native Webhooks from your application (e.g., a checkout event in a Next.js e-commerce app) and trigger subsequent actions with low latency.
  • Hosting and Docker: n8n's biggest differentiator is self-hosting. In your resume, mention your ability to package and orchestrate n8n instances using Docker and Docker Compose. Familiarity with Cloud providers (AWS, GCP, or DigitalOcean) to deploy these instances is a massive bonus.
  • Advanced JSON and JavaScript Manipulation: Show that you don't rely solely on pre-built integrations. Using the "Code" node in n8n to transform large JSON payloads using raw JavaScript or TypeScript is what separates a regular user from an automation engineer.
  • Error Handling and Resilience: Systems fail. APIs go down. An amateur automation will break a company's process. In your portfolio, document how you use Error Trigger nodes to build automated retries and send alerts to Slack/Discord when an integration fails.

Your Portfolio is the Ultimate Proof

Just listing "n8n" in the skills section of your resume isn't enough. Create a repository on GitHub containing a real-world use case. For example: export the JSON file of an n8n workflow that reads new leads from a PostgreSQL database, enriches the data using the OpenAI API, and sends them to a CRM. Add a detailed README.md explaining the architecture. This is the ultimate bait for Senior roles.

References and Further Reading