Staff Platform Engineer – Database Systems 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

Strong software engineering foundation — write production-quality code, design scalable systems, and reason about distributed systems tradeoffs
5–8 years of hands-on database engineering experience in production environments handling significant scale (thousands of RPS or more)
Deep MySQL expertise (replication, sharding, query optimization, connection management); PlanetScale experience a plus
Multi-database proficiency with Cloud Spanner, Postgres, and/or BigQuery
Production experience with in-memory caches (Redis, Memcached, or Valkey)
Kubernetes (GKE preferred) and Terraform experience for infrastructure as code
Strong coding skills in Python or Go for automation, tooling, and platform services
Hands-on experience with GCP database services (Cloud Spanner, Cloud SQL, Memorystore, BigQuery) and monitoring platforms like Datadog
Strong understanding of backup/recovery, HA patterns, and incident response
Bonus: Experience with Vitess or PlanetScale

Responsibilities

Develop, test, and implement infrastructure automation and tooling to maintain 99.95% availability under peak load; build self-healing capabilities and optimize resource utilization across Kubernetes clusters (GKE); contribute to platform-wide resilience initiatives
Serve as the team’s database expert, diagnosing and resolving performance issues across Cloud Spanner, PlanetScale MySQL, and BigQuery; conduct query analysis, implement indexing strategies, and optimize connection pooling to maintain sub-100ms p99 latency
Design and implement caching strategies using Memorystore (Redis/Memcached); build high-volume connection management systems (in Go or Python) that efficiently handle database and cache access patterns under sustained load
Manage platform infrastructure using Terraform and Kubernetes; build automation that improves developer velocity, reduces MTTR, and enables safe, self-service infrastructure operations
Design and deploy instrumentation within Datadog for monitoring databases, caches, and platform services; use post-incident analyses (e.g., Jeli) to reduce operational toil and improve service reliability
Partner with Product Engineering teams to review designs, define SLOs, optimize data access patterns, and ensure new services are resilient and operable before production deployment

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

KubernetesGKECloud SpannerPlanetScale MySQLBigQueryquery analysisindexingconnection poolingperformance optimizationinfrastructure automationplatform reliability

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this a remote position or does it require office attendance?

This is an onsite position in the San Francisco office, requiring employees to be in the office a minimum of three days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and as needed by your manager or the company.

What database systems will I be working with in this role?

You will work with Cloud Spanner, PlanetScale MySQL, and BigQuery, serving as the team’s database expert for diagnosing performance issues, query analysis, indexing, and connection pooling.

What programming languages or tools are used for this position?

The role involves building high-volume connection management systems in Go or Python, managing infrastructure with Terraform and Kubernetes, and using Datadog for observability.

What is the salary or compensation for this Staff Platform Engineer role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What kind of expertise makes a strong candidate for this role?

A strong candidate brings deep expertise in database systems, performance optimization, data reliability, infrastructure automation, Kubernetes (GKE), caching with Redis/Memcached, and architectural consulting for resilient services.

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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