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Senior Staff Software Engineer

fivetran

Oakland, California, United States
Development

Job Score

80 pts
On-site model (+70) Development (+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 the Role

Fivetran is building data pipelines to power the modern data stack for thousands of companies.

We’re looking for a brilliant and collaborative individual to join our Performance Engineering Team as a Staff Software Engineer. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure that our product base meets or exceeds performance standards, driving the overall performance of our products. This entails proposing and designing performance-enhancing features and improvements. You will also design and execute performance tests, analyze data to identify performance issues, and resolve these issues proactively. Additionally, you will monitor system performance over time, identify trends, and recommend improvements. Collaboratively with engineers from other teams, you will engage in discussions, debates, and code reviews to refine ideas, designs, and code.

A successful candidate will possess a humble learning attitude, embracing existing realities and approaching challenges from a fundamental perspective. They will contribute fresh perspectives, enabling the team to make optimal design decisions. This candidate will be actively involved in implementation tasks, continuously refining decision-making factors to recalibrate realities and achieve strategic goals. The ideal candidate exhibits exceptional technical skills, meticulous attention to detail, creativity, motivation, and a results-oriented mindset.

This is a Hybrid position based out of our Oakland office.

Technologies You’ll Use

  • Java, JUnit
  • Docker and Kubernetes
  • AWS, GCP
  • Terraform, WireMock, RestAssured
  • Bazel, BuildKite

What You’ll Do

  • Develop and Debug code to identify and fix performance issues
  • Analyze production workloads and system performance metrics to identify performance bottlenecks in our system
  • Build proof of concepts and translate successful ones into solutions to maximize Fivetran product’s performance and efficiency
  • Build and maintain a platform that focuses on improving the performance, resilience and quality of Fivetran products
  • Impact Fivetran business across product verticals through the work you do
  • Develop deep expertise in Fivetran's Product, Infrastructure, and Platform
  • Communicate, coordinate, and align strategy with the engineering team members; make recommendations to improve reliability, performance, best practices, and processes
  • Work with cross-functional teams (Developers, Product, SRE) across the organization
  • Actively engage with fellow engineers in design and code reviews to ensure we deliver performant solutions that improves the product’s efficiency

Skills We’re Looking For

  • 10+ years of hands-on experience in the software industry with a passion for solving complex software engineering problems
  • Experience in architecting reliable distributed systems, with an emphasis on high-volume data management
  • Experience and expertise in building backend services and data systems
  • Experience with use of wide range of algorithms and data structures
  • Strong knowledge and expertise in working with Java and databases
  • Knowledge of observability tools like New Relic, Splunk, DataDog is a plus

Bonus Skills

  • Performance Engineering background is a plus - experience analyzing, troubleshooting and automating performance workloads on large scale systems
  • Hands-on experience working with any cloud technologies(AWS, GCP,Azure) and containerization
    methodologies like docker, K8s
  • Experience with cloud warehouses, such as Snowflake, BigQuery, RedShift and Databricks
  • Familiarity with system level programming (such as process and memory management and inter-process communication)

#LI-HYBRID #LI-EM1

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 Software Development

Software Development is one of the most dynamic and constantly evolving fields in the job market. Professionals in this area are responsible for creating, maintaining, and optimizing web, mobile, and desktop applications that impact millions of users daily.

Key languages and frameworks include JavaScript (React, Node.js, Vue.js), Python (Django, Flask), Java (Spring), PHP (Laravel), and TypeScript. Demand for full-stack developers continues to grow, especially in tech companies and startups.

Salaries range from entry-level to senior positions, with growing opportunities for remote work and international freelancing.

Discover Other Areas

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

About Project Manager

The Project Manager is the professional responsible for planning, executing, and controlling projects end-to-end, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and with the expected quality. With the growing complexity of businesses, project management professionals are fundamental to organizational success.

Key skills include planning and scheduling, scope, cost, risk, quality, and resource management, stakeholder communication, cross-functional team leadership, and use of agile and traditional methodologies. Certifications like PMP, PRINCE2, and Six Sigma are important differentiators.

Project Managers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), tools like Jira and MS Project, and can deliver complex projects efficiently. The field offers opportunities from project analyst to head of PMO, with a focus on execution, governance, and business value.

About Mobile Development

Mobile Development is one of the most dynamic and constantly evolving fields in the technology market. With billions of smartphones worldwide, the demand for qualified mobile developers continues to grow exponentially.

Key stacks include Flutter (Dart), React Native (JavaScript/TypeScript), Kotlin (Android native), Swift (iOS native), and hybrid frameworks like Ionic and Capacitor. Knowledge of mobile architecture (MVVM, Clean Architecture), mobile CI/CD (Fastlane, Bitrise, Codemagic), and App Store/Google Play publishing are essential.

Senior mobile developers are highly valued professionals, with competitive salaries and many remote work opportunities at international companies. Specializing in cross-platform or native is a strategic career decision.

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.

About Web3

The Web3 area represents the new phase of the decentralized internet, built on blockchain technology. Web3 professionals create decentralized applications (dApps), interact with smart contracts, manage digital assets (cryptocurrencies and NFTs), and utilize DeFi (Decentralized Finance) protocols, revolutionizing how data, ownership, and finance are managed online.

About Content Writer

The Content Writer is the professional responsible for creating quality written content for websites, blogs, social media, and other digital platforms. They combine writing skills with content strategy and SEO to attract, engage, and convert audiences.

Key skills include blog content creation, landing pages, newsletters, social media content, keyword research, content strategy, editorial calendar, and SEO writing. Knowledge of WordPress, Surfer SEO, Ahrefs, and analytics tools is a differentiator.

Content Writers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who can create accessible technical content, evergreen content, and content that generates organic traffic. The field offers opportunities from junior content writer to head of content, with a focus on quality, strategy, and content performance.

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 Evolution of Support and Customer Success

The Evolution of Support and Customer Success: Opportunities, Tools, and the New Professional Profile

Discover how customer service evolved from a cost center into the ultimate growth and retention engine for the world's leading tech and SaaS companies.

The Current Landscape: From Cost Center to Revenue Engine

Historically, customer support was viewed by companies merely as a reactive department, focused on troubleshooting technical issues and closing tickets. However, with the consolidation of the SaaS (Software as a Service) business model and the subscription economy, the game has drastically changed.

Today, Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Success (CS) are the pillars of a company's financial sustainability. The logic is simple: in a highly competitive market, the Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is incredibly high. Losing a customer (Churn) means bleeding money. The modern support professional is, in reality, a strategist focused on retention, account expansion (Upsell/Cross-sell), and ensuring that the client achieves their desired outcomes using the product.

"Acquiring a new customer is anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one." — Harvard Business Review

Customer Support vs. Customer Success: Understanding the Difference

Although both areas walk hand-in-hand, their roles and success metrics in the job market are distinct. Understanding this difference is crucial for anyone looking to enter or advance in this career:

  • Customer Support: Predominantly reactive and transactional. The focus is on the speed and efficiency of issue resolution. Common metrics include First Response Time (FRT), Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR), and Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT).
  • Customer Success: A proactive and long-term function. The goal is to ensure the customer extracts maximum value from the product. CS professionals analyze the Health Score, conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), and directly target Net Retention Revenue (NRR) while combating Churn.

Market Opportunities and Global Remote Work

The global market for B2B Support and CS professionals is hotter than ever. Startups and major international corporations are massively hiring talent worldwide to provide 24/7 coverage across different time zones.

Opportunities range from entry-level roles, such as Customer Support Representative (CSR), to high-level executive positions like Key Account Manager, Implementation Specialist, Customer Success Manager (CSM), and Head of CX. For professionals with native or fluent English, "Global Remote" and "US Remote" positions offer highly competitive six-figure compensation packages, equity, and aggressive benefits.

Tech Stack: The Tools You Must Master

To pass through the rigorous ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems, like Greenhouse or Ashby) used by top-tier tech companies, your resume must showcase familiarity with the platforms that orchestrate the customer journey. The most demanded tools include:

  • Zendesk and Intercom: The global leaders in ticket management, asynchronous chat, and omnichannel support automation.
  • Salesforce and HubSpot: Essential CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) to maintain data history and alignment between Sales and Support teams.
  • Jira and Confluence: Atlassian tools crucial for escalating frontline bugs directly to the Engineering and Product teams.
  • Gainsight and Totango: Enterprise-grade platforms specifically built for Customer Success, used to monitor portfolio health predictively.

The Profile of the Modern CX Professional

The stereotype of the agent reading from a rigid script is a thing of the past. Tech recruiters are looking for a profile that blends emotional intelligence with analytical (data-driven) capabilities. The most valued competencies today are:

  1. Empathy and Resilience: The ability to de-escalate frustrated clients and turn crises into loyalty-building opportunities.
  2. Flawless Asynchronous Communication: Especially in remote work environments, clarity in writing emails, documentation, and chat threads is non-negotiable.
  3. Data Literacy: Knowing how to read dashboards, spot where users are getting stuck in the product, and suggest improvements based on hard data.
  4. Product Vision: Modern support acts as the primary feedback loop between the end-user and the Engineering and UX Design teams.