Staff Software Engineer (Java) - Data Platform

As a Staff Software Engineer (Java) at SentinelOne, your primary responsibilities will include leading the implementation of new features for our Data Platform services, which handle and process vast amounts of data daily. You will spend approximately 70-80% of your time on software development, and you'll be involved in code reviews, testing, and documentation to enhance system stability and security. Additionally, you'll provide technical guidance to team members and support the architecture of ingestion pipelines, ensuring optimal performance in our security solutions.

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer (Java) position at SentinelOne, candidates should have substantial experience in developing and designing distributed systems, particularly in modern Java. You should be comfortable with large-scale data processing and have hands-on experience with technologies like Kafka. A strong foundation in building ingestion pipelines and a deep understanding of technology trade-offs for system stability and scalability are also essential. We value collaboration and leadership, so being able to inspire and guide others will be a significant advantage.

At SentinelOne, we believe in fostering the growth of our employees, especially our Staff Software Engineers. We provide access to resources like the LinkedIn Learning platform for skill enhancement, as well as internal mentoring programs such as 'MentorOne'. Moreover, we encourage participation in further educational activities and trainings, allowing you to continually advance your expertise and stay ahead in the cybersecurity field.

As a Staff Software Engineer (Java) at SentinelOne, you'll primarily work with modern Java, but you might also encounter Go and Python in your daily tasks. You'll utilize cloud platforms like AWS and GCP, along with tools such as Kafka, Redis, S3, Kubernetes, Docker, Jenkins, and GitHub. This diverse technology stack will give you the opportunity to implement robust solutions tailored to our processing needs.

The team culture at SentinelOne is collaborative and driven by our core values of trust, accountability, and ingenuity. As a Staff Software Engineer, you’ll be part of a unified global team where your input matters. We prioritize open communication, regular syncs, and daily stand-ups to ensure that everyone is on the same page and feels supported in their roles. We celebrate achievements and foster a friendly environment that encourages innovation and problem-solving.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you've designed or implemented large-scale systems. Highlight the technologies you used, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Discuss your role in those projects and the impact your contributions had on performance and efficiency.

For this question, talk about best practices you follow for coding, such as writing meaningful tests, conducting thorough code reviews, and maintaining clear documentation. Mention the importance of understanding security principles and how you ensure that those principles are embedded in your coding process.

Explain your systematic approach to diagnosing problems, such as logging, debugging, and leveraging monitoring tools. Mention how you prioritize issues based on their impact and your experience in collaborating with team members to resolve these challenges efficiently.

Share a specific example that highlights your problem-solving skills. Describe the technical challenge in detail, your thought process for finding a solution, and the steps you took to implement it. Be sure to showcase teamwork, if applicable, and the positive outcome of your solution.

Discuss your direct experience with Kafka or similar technologies. Explain the context in which you've used them, including the scale of data you processed, your understanding of data flow, and challenges related to real-time data processing. Providing examples will reinforce your familiarity with the technology.

Express your commitment to professional growth by mentioning how you engage in continuous learning—whether through online courses, attending tech conferences, participating in meetups, or reading relevant literature. Highlight any specific areas where you're currently seeking to expand your knowledge.

Highlight your familiarity with cloud platforms, mentioning specific services and tools you have used and any projects where you implemented cloud solutions. Discuss the advantages these platforms offer for scalability and reliability in your software development work.

Share your experience working with different teams, such as product management, design, and security. Discuss the importance of communication and coordination in achieving common goals, and emphasize your willingness to understand their challenges to create a collaborative environment.

Choose a technology trend relevant to software development and cybersecurity, such as AI in threat detection or advancements in cloud computing. Share why you're excited about this trend and how it influences your work, as well as any projects or research you've done around it.

Reflect on what drives you, whether it's problem-solving, working in a collaborative environment, or the desire to create impactful solutions. Relate your motivations to the mission of SentinelOne and how you envision contributing to the team's success.