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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 Traffic Analyst

The Traffic Analyst (paid media/performance specialist) is the professional responsible for creating, managing, and optimizing sponsored ad campaigns on digital platforms such as Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, and TikTok Ads. They monitor conversion metrics, analyze return on investment (ROAS), perform A/B testing on ads and landing pages, and manage the marketing budget to maximize lead generation and qualified sales.

About Product Owner

The Product Owner (PO) is the professional responsible for maximizing the value of the product delivered by the development team. They act as the voice of the customer and stakeholders, managing and prioritizing the product backlog, defining clear user stories, and ensuring the team works on the most valuable items for the business.

Key skills include backlog management, user story writing, prioritization (Mascow, RICE), agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), and stakeholder communication. Knowledge of tools like Jira, Trello, Azure DevOps, and Miro is essential.

Product Owners are highly sought-after professionals in the technology market, working collaboratively with Scrum Masters, Product Managers, and engineering teams to drive agility and continuous value delivery.

About Ecommerce Manager

The Ecommerce Manager is the professional responsible for the entire strategic and operational management of online stores and marketplaces. They lead teams, define pricing, promotion, and catalog strategies, and monitor online sales performance across multiple platforms.

Key skills include catalog management, dynamic pricing, seasonal campaigns (Black Friday, Cyber Monday), marketplace management (Amazon, Mercado Livre, Shopee, Magalu), paid traffic, CRO, and team management. Knowledge of Shopify, VTEX, WooCommerce, Google Ads, Meta Ads, and performance metrics is a differentiator.

Ecommerce Managers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master multi-marketplace management, checkout optimization, and mobile commerce strategies. The field offers opportunities from ecommerce manager to head of ecommerce, with a focus on revenue, customer experience, and growth.

About Fullstack

Fullstack developers are versatile professionals capable of working on both frontend and backend of web and mobile applications. They master multiple technologies and can build complete products end-to-end, from the user interface to server infrastructure.

Key skills include proficiency in at least one complete stack (React/Vue/Angular + Node.js/PHP/Python/Java), databases (SQL and NoSQL), REST/GraphQL APIs, Git versioning, CI/CD, and basic infrastructure knowledge (Docker, cloud). Clean architecture, DDD, and testing are important differentiators.

Fullstack developers are highly valued in startups and companies that need versatile and autonomous professionals. The field offers opportunities from junior developer to software architect, with a focus on complete delivery, holistic product vision, and ability to work across multiple application layers.

About Tech Recruiter

The Tech Recruiter is a professional specialized in recruiting technology talent, from developers to AI engineers and DevOps professionals. They combine technical knowledge with recruitment skills to evaluate and attract highly qualified candidates.

Key skills include technical screening, analysis of technical profiles (GitHub, portfolios, blogs), knowledge of software stacks and architectures, networking in tech communities and events. Proficiency with tools like LinkedIn Recruiter, Gem, Ashby, and technical assessment platforms is a differentiator.

Tech Recruiters are scarce and highly paid professionals, especially those who can map and access passive talent in competitive markets like AI, data engineering, and cloud computing.

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.

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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

The Current State of the Cloud & DevOps Market

By Mondywork | The ultimate guide for tech professionals looking to level up their careers, land global remote roles, and master modern infrastructure.

The End of the "SysAdmin" and the Rise of Platform Engineering

If you've been tracking the most sought-after roles at startups and Fortune 500 companies, you've probably noticed a drastic shift. The Cloud Computing and DevOps market is no longer just about "keeping the app online." Today, companies demand extreme resilience, automation, and cost optimization (the famous FinOps).

DevOps culture has evolved. We are now in the era of Platform Engineering, where infrastructure teams build internal platforms to grant developers full autonomy (Self-Service). For those aiming for global remote roles with six-figure compensation, understanding this transition isn't just a plus—it's a strict requirement.

"Elite DevOps teams deploy code 973 times more frequently and boast a Mean Time To Recovery (MTTR) that is 6,570 times faster than low-performing teams."

— State of DevOps Report (DORA / Google Cloud)

What Do Recruiters and ATS Systems Really Look For?

Automated filters (ATS platforms like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday) are hardwired to scan for a very specific set of skills in Cloud/DevOps resumes. Simply listing 20 tools won't cut it anymore; you must demonstrate culture and real-world impact.

  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Forget clicking around the AWS console. Declarative tools like Terraform, Pulumi, and Ansible are the true industry standards.
  • Container Orchestration: Mastery of Docker and, above all, Kubernetes (K8s) is practically mandatory for premium roles.
  • CI/CD Culture: Building automated pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, ArgoCD) that guarantee continuous and secure deployments.
  • Cloud Providers and Architecture: Proficiency in at least one major public cloud provider (AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure), with a strong focus on Serverless, microservices, and system resilience.

How to Transition: The Roadmap to Success

Many Back-End developers, support analysts, and network professionals want to pivot to Cloud and DevOps. If that's your goal, follow this market-validated roadmap:

  1. Master the Basics (Linux and Networking): Modern DevOps runs on Linux. Understanding permissions, processes, bash scripting, and the fundamentals of TCP/IP, DNS, and Load Balancers is your foundation.
  2. Learn to Code: A DevOps engineer doesn't need to be a Senior Developer, but you must know how to automate tasks. Python and Go (Golang) are currently the most highly valued languages in this ecosystem.
  3. Are Certifications Worth It? Yes, especially to get past the initial HR screening. Certifications like the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or the CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) carry massive weight in the global market.
  4. Build a Real Portfolio: Publish a project on GitHub where you provision infrastructure via Terraform, set up a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions, and deploy a simple app to a Kubernetes cluster. Practical projects always beat theoretical resumes.

Essential References and Study Links

To stay up-to-date, we highly recommend following official organizations and annual market reports:


🚀 Want access to the best remote Cloud & DevOps jobs?

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