Principal Database Performance Engineer - Core Engineering (C++)

About the role

ClickHouse is looking for a Principal Database Performance Engineer to join the team behind its high‑performance analytics database service. In this role you will drive performance and scalability improvements across the stack, tackling ambiguous, high‑impact technical challenges.

Key responsibilities

• Identify impactful performance and scalability opportunities in customer or benchmark workloads.
• Architect and implement optimized database algorithms and data structures across core relational operators, indexes, query processing, memory management and scheduling.
• Drive the performance roadmap for latency, throughput, memory efficiency and hardware utilization improvements.
• Participate in the development of a complex, high‑performance database system, including meticulous testing and safe production rollout.
• Represent the company externally through presentations, blog posts, and community contributions.
• Mentor and support junior engineers on the team.

Required profile

• 5+ years of experience in database performance engineering and distributed systems.
• Master’s or PhD in databases or a related field.
• Strong fluency in C++ and a background in performance‑critical software or systems programming.
• A track record of driving complex performance improvements end‑to‑end.
• Deep understanding of computer‑science fundamentals, data structures, and algorithms.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a proactive, goal‑driven mindset.

Required skills

• C++
• Performance‑critical software development
• Distributed systems
• Database algorithms
• Data structures
• Query processing
• Memory management
• Scheduling

What we offer

• Flexible, remote‑friendly work environment across more than 25 countries.
• Employer contributions toward healthcare.
• Equity in the company through stock options.
• Flexible time off and generous entitlement in various regions.
• USD 500 home‑office setup allowance for remote employees.
• Global gatherings and company‑wide offsites.
• Opportunity to shape culture in a rapidly scaling start‑up.