Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineer

As a Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineer at Tink, your primary responsibilities include ensuring the scalability and reliability of our critical operational data store, which is primarily based on Cassandra. You will collaborate with various stakeholders to align database services with their evolving needs and create tools that facilitate this evolution. Additionally, you will play a key role in managing our Cassandra databases, using infrastructure as code (IaC) practices and monitoring tools to ensure seamless operations.

To be considered for the Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineer position at Tink, you should possess at least 5 years of relevant work experience along with a Bachelor’s Degree, or have an Advanced degree with at least 2 years of work experience. Proven experience in managing Cassandra databases at scale is essential, alongside familiarity with tools like Terraform and monitoring software such as Prometheus or Grafana. A strong collaborative mindset and experience in mentoring junior engineers are also desired attributes.

At Tink, the working environment is vibrant and international, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. As a Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineer, you will work closely with stakeholders and cross-functional teams, ensuring that database solutions align with the needs of the organization. This role allows for a hybrid work model, providing flexibility in how and where you accomplish your work, while still benefiting from in-person collaboration in our Warsaw office.

As a Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineer at Tink, you will handle vast amounts of data, contributing significantly to data-driven decision-making. By ensuring the robustness and reliability of our Cassandra databases, you facilitate accurate data collection and transformation, which, in turn, supports analytical processes for both clients and internal stakeholders. Your expertise in deploying tools and services will enable Tink to offer enhanced insights, aiding organizations in their strategic initiatives.

At Tink, growth opportunities for Senior Cassandra Site Reliability Engineers are abundant. You will work in a cutting-edge environment that encourages ongoing learning and professional development. With a focus on team collaboration and mentorship, you'll have the chance to guide junior engineers while also advancing your own skills in advanced technologies such as AWS and infrastructure automation. The dynamic nature of the fintech industry means you'll also have access to unique projects that can enhance your career trajectory.

When answering this question, focus on specific instances where you've successfully managed Cassandra databases, detailing the size of the databases and the challenges you faced. Highlight the tools you used, like monitoring platforms, and explain your methods for ensuring data integrity and reliability, which will demonstrate your expertise to the interviewers.

Discuss your approach to scalability, including how you optimize performance and handle increasing data volumes. Provide examples where you've implemented changes or solutions that resulted in improved efficiency, which will exhibit your proactive approach to maintaining system integrity.

Explain your hands-on experience with IaC tools such as Terraform or Ansible. Describe specific projects where you automated deployments or infrastructure setups, emphasizing how it improved collaboration and consistency in processes, showing your skill in modern development practices.

Detail your strategies for setting up comprehensive monitoring frameworks using tools like Prometheus or Grafana. Discuss specific metrics you track and how you set alerts based on those metrics to ensure uptime and performance, underlining your attention to detail in maintaining system reliability.

Describe your communication style and collaborative strategies when working with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders. Discuss any frameworks or tools you've used to foster team synergy and ensure that database services meet organizational needs, indicating your understanding of team dynamics.

Discuss the various security protocols you implement to safeguard data within Cassandra, including access controls and encryption. Provide examples of how you've handled security incidents in the past, showing your problem-solving capabilities and commitment to data integrity.

When answering this question, provide a thorough overview of the project, including the objectives, challenges faced, and the solutions you devised. Highlight your leadership qualities, decision-making skills, and how your contributions led to successful outcomes.

Detail your experience with cloud services such as AWS or others, explaining how you've utilized these platforms to enhance your Cassandra solutions. Include projects where cloud capabilities improved scalability or performance, showing your knowledge of current industry trends.

Share your strategies for continuous learning, such as attending industry conferences, participating in online forums, or following thought leaders on social media. Discuss any certifications or courses you've completed recently, demonstrating your commitment to professional development.

Your answer should focus on the blend of technical skills and leadership required in this role. Emphasize the importance of mentoring junior staff, driving innovation within team projects, and serving as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams, showcasing your holistic understanding of the position.