Principal Engineer - Data & Database Systems Architecture at Quizlet

San Francisco, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

EdTech, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

Deep, hands-on experience architecting and operating globally distributed transactional systems
Expert knowledge of Cloud Spanner internals, advanced MySQL sharding and scaling (e.g., PlanetScale), and production optimization under heavy load
Deep experience with large-scale analytical data warehousing (BigQuery) and designing resilient data ingestion/ELT plumbing
Proven ability to define global data strategies and drive cross-team architectural influence

Responsibilities

Lead the architectural plan for scaling and evolving core database systems (Cloud Spanner, PlanetScale MySQL, and BigQuery), including decisions on sharding, data topology evolution, and global data distribution strategies
Act as the organization's primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for data performance, guiding teams on schema design, query optimization, and low-level deep-dive analysis across all three database systems
Lead, mentor, and guide the team of SRE/Platform engineers focused on database systems; partner closely with product engineering, data engineering, and AI/ML teams to influence schema design, operational excellence, and support their requirements
Own the resilience of the data tier, including definition and implementation of comprehensive backup, recovery, and business continuity strategies; regularly audit and test these mechanisms for high availability
Architect and implement solutions to meet and maintain an internal 99.99% availability target for critical data access, supporting the platform's 99.95% SLO, including connection management, capacity planning, and automation for peak load and data consistency
Act as the technical owner for data-related cost optimization, balancing performance and reliability with strategies for efficient storage, indexing, and throughput to minimize expenditure

Skills

Cloud Spanner

PlanetScale MySQL

BigQuery

Database Architecture

Sharding

Data Topology

Global Data Distribution

Performance Optimization

Quizlet

Develops educational tools for students and teachers

About Quizlet

Quizlet develops educational tools designed to inspire and empower students and teachers. It serves over 60 million active users each month and is recognized as one of the top education apps available on iOS and Android. Quizlet's products include various learning tools that help users study and retain information effectively. The platform offers both free and premium subscription services, allowing users to access additional features and resources. Unlike many competitors, Quizlet has a large user base and a strong presence in the education technology market, which enhances its community and resource sharing. The company's goal is to create a significant global impact in education by providing accessible and effective learning solutions.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2005Year Founded

$60.3MTotal Funding

SERIES_CCompany Stage

Consumer Software, EducationIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Shared financial success: Competitive salaries, stock options and a 401k that makes saving for retirement easy.

Competitive healthcare: Comprehensive health, dental, vision and disability plans for you and your family.

PTO and family benefits: Everyone gets four weeks of PTO. Our generous family leave plan has you covered when you welcome a new, little learner into your family.

Professional development: Learning never stops. Get reimbursed each year for professional development, and learn from the best with regular tech talks.

A welcoming workplace: Enjoy free lunch and dinner with great company. Benefit from adjustable desks and employee lounges while taking in amazing views of the Bay.

Commuter benefits: We don’t have a school bus, but we'll help cover your public transportation and parking. If you decide to work late, your ride home is on us as well.

Risks

Increased competition from AI-driven platforms like Khan Academy and Duolingo.

Recent U.S. outage may decrease user trust and retention.

New CEO's strategic shifts could disrupt operations or alienate existing users.

Differentiation

Quizlet offers AI-powered features like Magic Notes and Memory Score for personalized learning.

The platform's gamification strategy includes features like Quizlet Challenge and Quizlet Learn.

Quizlet's Q-Chat beta feature aligns with the trend of conversational AI in education.

Upsides

Quizlet's new CEO, Beidler, may drive fresh strategic direction and innovation.

Intentional slowing of AI adoption focuses on quality, ensuring sustainable long-term growth.

AI-powered features enhance user engagement, potentially increasing retention and user base.

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