Principal Software Engineer - MySQL Internals

Employment Type: Full-Time Location Type: Remote Salary: [Not Specified]

Position Overview

Percona is seeking a Principal Software Engineer with deep expertise in MySQL internals, ideally in one or more of the following areas: the optimizer, InnoDB, or Group Replication. This is a senior individual contributor role for an engineer who thrives on solving complex problems, is motivated by technical ownership, and is passionate about open-source innovation. We are looking for someone with a strong track record of developing new features, the ability to deliver under tight deadlines, and an openness to learning new technologies, including emerging areas like AI/ML integrations with databases.

You will work on Percona Server for MySQL, Percona XtraBackup, Percona XtraDB Cluster, and Oracle MySQL. This is a remote role, allowing you to work from your home office while collaborating with a globally distributed team using modern online tools. You’ll be part of a fast-paced, high-quality engineering environment focused on delivering value to Percona and its worldwide user base. Occasional travel—typically once per year—may be expected for team meetups or company events. A stable, high-speed internet connection is required.

Percona offers flexible working hours and provides the necessary equipment, including a laptop and internet access support.

What You Will Do

• Architect and develop cutting-edge features and improvements.
• Lead key initiatives from concept to delivery with attention to quality, scalability, and performance.
• Diagnose and resolve critical bugs in Percona Server for MySQL, Percona XtraBackup, Percona XtraDB Cluster, and upstream MySQL products.
• Collaborate with other seasoned engineers to push the boundaries of open-source database innovation.
• Perform periodic source code merges from other open-source repositories.
• Stay ahead of the curve on AI, distributed systems, and cloud-native technologies, and help integrate these into Percona’s future roadmap.
• Mentor other engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence.
• Represent Percona in the open-source community by speaking, blogging, and contributing upstream.

What You Have Done

• 10+ years of hands-on C/C++ development experience, with at least 5 years working on database internals.
• Deep understanding of MySQL internals, with specialization in at least one of:
  • Query Optimizer
  • InnoDB Storage Engine
  • Group Replication
• Demonstrated history of shipping complex new features (not just bug fixes or backports).
• Experience delivering projects under tight deadlines while maintaining code quality.
• Solid grasp of DBMS internal algorithms such as those used in query optimizers, B-tree indexing, multiversion concurrency control, ARIES crash recovery, and others.
• Experience with high concurrency threading models, atomics, and locking primitives.
• Knowledge of various programming and scripting languages such as BASH, Perl, and Python.
• Proficiency with tools like gdb and strace.
• Proficiency with git, github, and source code management methodologies.
• Experience with client/server or distributed network communication systems.
• Passion for clean code, performance tuning, and algorithmic efficiency.
• Interest or experience in applying AI/ML concepts to databases or dev workflows (bonus).
• Familiarity with Linux internals, distributed systems, and threading/concurrency challenges.

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience contributing to upstream MySQL or MariaDB.
• Passion for finding and fixing tough issues on multi-threaded cluster solutions.
• Previous experience in contributing to the MySQL codebase.
• Knowledge of high-performance algorithms on modern multicore hardware.
• Established history of driving performance enhancements.
• Experience with Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery tools such as Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis.
• Experience/familiarity with various Linux distribution packaging systems.
• Experience with virtualization and containment tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, etc.
• Experience in Linux systems administration, including suitable expertise with file systems, hardware, and networking.