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

NOTE: this role can be located anywhere ClickHouse has a hiring presence. ClickHouse — Core Analytics Database About the Role: ClickHouse is looking for a Principal Database Performance Engineer to join the team behind our high-performance analytics database service. In this role, you will drive performance and scalability improvements across the stack, taking on ambiguous, high-impact technical challenges most engineers never get to touch. Our performance team owns the core of query execution - filters, aggregation, joins, and the index structures that make them fast. We're looking for a sharp, passionate engineer who wants to own database performance end-to-end on a petabyte-scale cloud database, from initial analysis and implementation, through production rollout. What you will do: - 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 What You'll Bring - 5+ years of experience in database performance engineering, distributed systems - Master 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 PERKS - Flexible work environment - ClickHouse is a globally distributed company and remote-friendly. We currently operate in over 25 countries. - Healthcare - Employer contributions towards your healthcare. - Equity in the company - Every new team member who joins our company receives stock options. - Time off - Flexible time off in the US, generous entitlement in other countries. - A USD$500 Home office setup if you’re a remote employee. - Global Gatherings – We believe in the power of in-person connection and offer opportunities to engage with colleagues at company-wide offsites. CULTURE - WE ALL SHAPE IT As part of a rapidly scaling start-up, you will be instrumental in shaping our culture. Are you interested in finding out more about our culture? Learn more about our values here https://clickhouse.com/company/careers. Check out our blog posts https://clickhouse.com/blog or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/clickhouseinc/life/0c1ee7f4-2129-488d-b413-e7f6270659fd/?viewAsMember=true to…