Staff+ Software Engineer (Databases)

TL;DR

Staff+ Software Engineer (Databases): Building and scaling critical database infrastructure that powers both the Claude product and AI research initiatives with an accent on distributed architectures, high-load OLTP systems, and multi-cloud reliability. Focus on architecting storage solutions for 100x+ scale and driving database strategy across product and research teams.

Location: Must be based in San Francisco, CA, New York City, NY, or Seattle, WA (Hybrid: expected in-office at least 25% of the time).

Salary: $320,000 - $485,000 USD

Company

hirify.global is an AI safety and research company building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems like Claude.

What you will do

• Drive the technical strategy for database solutions across product and research workstreams.
• Design and implement database systems capable of supporting millions of users and massive scaling.
• Architect storage solutions that function seamlessly across AWS, GCP, and third-party deployments.
• Optimize database performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency at scale.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify data infrastructure needs and accelerate experimentation.
• Make critical build-vs-buy decisions for database technologies.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in Software Engineering, specifically building and scaling database systems.
• 3+ years of experience leading large-scale, complex projects or engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in distributed database architectures and OLTP systems.
• Proven track record of scaling databases through massive growth phases.
• Strong technical leadership and ability to balance startup speed with production reliability.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to have

• Deep expertise scaling PostgreSQL, MySQL, or DynamoDB.
• Experience with Redis, Temporal, vector databases, or async job processing.
• Experience building multi-cloud or hybrid cloud database solutions.
• Knowledge of database orchestration and automation at scale.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• Generous vacation and parental leave policies.
• Optional equity donation matching.
• Flexible working hours and a collaborative, research-driven environment.
• Office space designed for team collaboration and engagement.