Staff Software Engineer - Query Execution

Join the MongoDB Server Query Execution team, and help us build a world-class distributed open-source database. Our team plays a crucial role in the performance and efficiency of MongoDB's data processing. We are responsible for building and improving the core execution engine that powers all queries, taking a logical query plan produced by the optimizer and turning it into reality. This includes developing the physical operators for data retrieval and manipulation, improving the runtime for complex analytical and transactional workloads, and owning critical components such as our new execution engine. In addition to the core server, we support the query execution needs of other major products like Atlas Streams, Atlas Search and Vector Search, and mongosync, making our work vital to the entire MongoDB ecosystem.

You will be joining a globally distributed team with a significant presence in both North America and Europe. While this role is based in the NAMER region, you will regularly collaborate closely with colleagues across different time zones. We support both office-based work in our North America hubs like New York, as well as remote work.

We have tons of interesting problems to solve with a direct impact on users for transactional, time-series, and analytical workloads. To meet the ever-increasing data demands of modern applications, we are actively evolving our query system; this includes strategically re-architecting and improving key components of our query execution engine. We need your help to design and build the core of a distributed, flexible schema document database.

This role can be based out of one of our North America offices, such as NYC or Palo Alto, or remotely across North America.

Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of hands-on, professional experience in query engine development or database internals


• Experience with building production-level code with a large user base, robust design structure and rigorous code quality


• Degree in Computer Science or similar field, or equivalent practical experience, with strong competencies in data structures, algorithms, and software design/architecture


• Experience with large code bases written in C++ or another systems programming language. You'll need to trace down defects, estimate work complexity, and design evolution and integration strategies as we rewrite different components of the system


• Proven track record of technical leadership: demonstrated ability to define and drive roadmaps for a component over the medium term


• Passion for the theory and practice of database query engines, as well as hands-on or academic experience in the database domain

Position Expectations

• Play a key role in defining the 12-month roadmap for Query Execution by researching state-of-the-art systems and leveraging your deep knowledge of industry trends to provide technical vision and direction


• Take direct responsibility for delivering on long-term (6-18 month) goals to innovate in high-performance query execution and other areas of responsibility, co-ordinating initiative-level strategy and personally writing well-tested, production-ready C++ code


• Advise management on key decisions related to our architecture and processes, and collaborate with stakeholders across the company on large initiatives


• Influence and grow team members through active mentoring, coaching, and leading by example, helping to cultivate a strong talent bench through interviewing and knowledge sharing

Success Measures

• In three months you’ll have contributed to the development of a project slated for the next major version, as well as fixed a few bugs in a minor version of our latest stable release series; You'll have learned about MongoDB's project lifecycle, and our long-term goals for the system


• In six months, you’ll have taken on code review responsibilities and are playing an active role in drafting and reviewing the design for new features. You have expanded the team's horizons by presenting a favorite paper or system architecture related to query systems


• In twelve months, on the basis of your extensive past experience in the query space, you have contributed to the long-term technical roadmap of the MongoDB Query team by directly owning and driving a component level roadmap

About MongoDB

MongoDB is built for change, empowering our customers and our people to innovate at the speed of the market. We have redefined the database for the AI era, enabling innovators to create, transform, and disrupt industries with software. MongoDB’s unified database platform, the most widely available, globally distributed database on the market, helps organizations modernize legacy workloads, embrace innovation, and unleash AI. Our cloud-native platform, MongoDB Atlas, is the only globally distributed, multi-cloud database and is available across AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

With offices worldwide and over 60,000 customers, including 75% of the Fortune 100 and AI-native startups, relying on MongoDB for their most important applications, we’re powering the next era of software.

Our compass at MongoDB is our Leadership Commitment, guiding how and why we make decisions, show up for each other, and win. It’s what makes us MongoDB. 

To drive the personal growth and business impact of our employees, we’re committed to developing a supportive and enriching culture for everyone. From employee affinity groups, to fertility assistance and a generous parental leave policy, we value our employees’ wellbeing and want to support them along every step of their professional and personal journeys. Learn more about what it’s like to work at MongoDB, and help us make an impact on the world!

MongoDB is committed to providing any necessary accommodations for individuals with disabilities within our application and interview process. To request an accommodation due to a disability, please inform your recruiter.

MongoDB, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and makes all hiring decisions without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Req. ID: 2273440785