Staff Software Engineer - Infinia Data Engine

Job title: Staff Software Engineer - Infinia Data Engine in USA at DataDirect Networks

Company: DataDirect Networks

Job description: This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing."DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." – IDC“The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments” - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIADDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence.Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management.Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage.Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join the Infinia Data Engine team — the group responsible for powering high-performance, AI-native data workflows on DDN’s next-generation distributed data platform.In this role, you will lead the design and optimization of data execution engines, data format handling, and query-layer integration with industry-standard open-source frameworks including Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake, Apache Spark, and others. You’ll play a key role in bridging proprietary high-performance systems with open ecosystems — enabling large-scale, real-time data access, transformation, and analytics.This is a hands-on, high-impact position ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of distributed systems, open-source data technologies, and performance optimization.Key ResponsibilitiesCore System Design & Development

• Design and implement optimized execution layers and data query engines that leverage Infinia’s distributed infrastructure.


• Develop internal systems for high-throughput data access and transformation using formats such as Parquet, ORC, and Avro.


• Engineer integration layers that support open interfaces like HDFS, Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake, and Hive Metastore, enabling seamless compatibility with open-source clients.

Performance Optimization & Scaling

• Build and tune execution plans that leverage Infinia’s high-throughput I/O and compute capabilities for large-scale AI and analytics workloads.


• Analyze and optimize performance of distributed query execution, data storage, caching, and memory usage.

Open-Source Collaboration & Innovation

• Contribute to relevant open-source ecosystems, where appropriate, through collaboration, feature integration, or direct code contributions.


• Stay up to date with the evolving open data lake and query engine landscape to guide architectural decisions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner with Data Scientists, Platform Engineers, and Product Managers to deliver integrated, end-to-end solutions.


• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and design direction to other engineers on the team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.


• 8+ years of experience in software development, with 5+ years in distributed systems, data platforms, or big data technologies.


• Expert-level knowledge of Java, Python, and SQL.


• Deep understanding of file formats including Parquet, ORC, Avro, and their performance characteristics.


• Experience working with Apache Spark, distributed query engines, or distributed databases.


• Strong familiarity with HDFS, Hive Metastore, and data partitioning strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Apache Iceberg and/or Delta Lake.


• Background in real-time data streaming using tools such as Apache Kafka.


• Prior contributions to open-source projects; committer status is a plus.


• Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives and mentor junior engineers.

This position requires participation in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours support as needed.Success Metrics – First 30 DaysTechnical Integration

• Ramp up on Infinia’s architecture, codebase, and core data processing capabilities.


• Shadow key design and development efforts across integration points and open-source connectors.

Early Impact

• Deliver a performance benchmark or prototype showcasing data access or query layer improvement.


• Identify 2–3 areas in the codebase or architecture where optimization or architectural refactoring would drive meaningful performance gains.

Team Engagement

• Begin providing technical guidance and mentorship within the Data Engine team.


• Partner with product and architecture teams to scope out upcoming integration initiatives.

Success Metrics – Beyond 30 Days

• Delivery of performant, production-ready connectors and execution engines integrated into Infinia.


• Measurable improvements in query throughput, latency, and data ingestion time across large-scale workloads.


• Positive feedback from peers and partners on technical leadership, code quality, and collaboration.


• Contributions to open-source ecosystems that reflect DDN’s thought leadership and technical depth.

Join us to help shape the data engine behind the most advanced AI and analytics infrastructure — where open standards meet high performance, and distributed scale meets elegant execution.Apply now to engineer the core of intelligent data access with DDN Infinia.DDNJoin our dynamic and driven team, where engineering excellence is at the heart of everything we do. We seek individuals who love to challenge themselves and are fueled by curiosity. Here, you'll have the opportunity to work across various areas of the company, thanks to our flat organizational structure that encourages hands-on involvement and direct contributions to our mission. Leadership is earned by those who take initiative and consistently deliver outstanding results, both in their work ethic and deliverables, making strong prioritization skills essential. Additionally, we value strong communication skills in all our engineers and researchers, as they are crucial for the success of our teams and the company as a whole.Interview Process: After submitting your application, one of our recruiters will review your resume. If your application passes this stage, you will be invited to a 30-minute interview during which a member of our team will ask some basic questions. If you clear the interview, you will enter the main process, which can consist of up to four interviews in total:

• Coding assessment: Often in a language of your choice.


• Systems design: Translate high-level requirements into a scalable, fault-tolerant service (depending on role).


• Real-time problem-solving: Demonstrate practical skills in a live problem-solving session.


• Meet and greet with the wider team.


• Our goal is to finish the main process in 2-3 weeks at most.

DataDirect Networks (DDN) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.#LI-Remote

Expected salary:

Location: USA

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