Staff Engineer, Dell Spark

As a Staff Engineer at Starburst, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and supporting the Dell Data Lakehouse platform. This involves working collaboratively with a global team to implement improvements in the engineering processes, ensuring the codebase remains scalable and maintainable. You'll also provide exceptional customer support that enhances both internal team dynamics and external stakeholder experiences.

To be considered for the Staff Engineer role at Starburst, candidates should possess over 7 years of software development experience, particularly in building distributed systems. Proficiency in Java is critical, and having a familiarity with cloud network infrastructure and security technologies will set you apart. Knowledge of Kubernetes, Apache Spark, and an appreciation for best practices in software engineering are highly desirable.

Starburst is dedicated to fostering an intentional and inclusive company culture for all employees, including Staff Engineers. By promoting values such as Diversity, Engagement, and Belonging, we ensure that every team member can voice their perspectives and experiences. We support remote work options, competitive salaries, and flexible time off, believing that happy employees contribute significantly to our innovative atmosphere.

As a Staff Engineer at Starburst, you will engage in fascinating projects that involve the enhancement of the Dell Data Lakehouse platform and contribute to the advancement of Trino. You'll have the opportunity to tackle unique challenges associated with a fully managed data platform, leveraging your technical skills to innovate and solve complex problems that empower our users to make data-driven decisions.

At Starburst, Staff Engineers have unparalleled learning opportunities, from hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies to collaborative problem-solving with talented colleagues. Our environment encourages you to expand your knowledge through ongoing professional development, contribution to open-source initiatives, and involvement in impactful projects that shape the future of data analytics.

In answering this, focus on specific projects you've worked on that required knowledge of distributed systems. Discuss the challenges you faced, the technologies you utilized, and how you contributed to the system’s overall architecture and performance. Highlight your understanding of potential pitfalls and how you overcame them.

Best practices in software development include adhering to coding standards, conducting thorough code reviews, and prioritizing maintainability and scalability. When responding, share personal anecdotes demonstrating your commitment to these practices and how they contributed to successful outcomes in past projects.

Describe your systematic approach to debugging, such as reproducing the issue, isolating the root cause, and employing logging and monitoring tools to gain insights. Include examples where your debugging skills led to significant problem resolution in your previous roles.

Clearly articulate your proficiency in Java, including the projects where you implemented it most effectively. Highlight libraries, frameworks, or coding techniques you employed, demonstrating your depth of knowledge and ability to leverage Java for creating robust applications.

Discuss your previous exposure to cloud technologies, emphasizing specific platforms such as AWS or Azure. Highlight projects where you utilized cloud resources for scalability and performance and how this experience aligns with Starburst’s focus on cloud-based solutions.

In answering this question, focus on processes like Agile methodologies, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines. Discuss how you've promoted these practices in teams to enhance the overall quality and delivery of software products.

If you have experience with Kubernetes, talk about specific responsibilities you had, such as deploying applications, managing clusters, and optimizing resource allocation. Reference any challenges you encountered and how you improved operational efficiency through Kubernetes.

Express your enthusiasm for Starburst's mission to dismantle data silos and promote open-source solutions. Relate this back to your passion for data platforms and your desire to contribute to a company that values innovation, inclusivity, and teamwork.

Share your involvement in any open-source projects, including your role and contributions. Discuss the impact your efforts had on the project and how working within the open-source community has shaped your development practices and skills.

Demonstrate your organizational strategies for managing multiple projects, such as using project management tools and setting explicit priorities. Highlight an example of a high-pressure situation where your planning and communication skills led to successful project deliveries.