Principal Software Engineer – Postgres

Remote from: Netherlands
Annual salary: Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Department: Software Engineering
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 22 May 2026
Apply before: 22 Jun 2026
Experience level: Senior
Views / Applies: 16 / 3

The fastest open-source column-oriented OLAP database to generate analytical reports in real-time.

Computer Software
2021

AI Summary

ClickHouse is seeking a Principal Software Engineer with deep expertise in PostgreSQL internals to lead the design and implementation of advanced database systems features. This high-impact role involves extending Postgres capabilities, optimizing performance, and providing technical leadership. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in systems programming with C/C++ or Rust, strong knowledge of database engine internals, and a proven track record of shipping large-scale systems. ClickHouse offers the opportunity to work on foundational database technologies in a high-autonomy environment.

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

AI Insight This role requires 10+ years of experience, deep expertise in PostgreSQL internals, and the ability to lead complex systems design, making it one of the most challenging positions in software engineering.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The salary range for this role is not specified, but based on market data for a Principal Engineer with Postgres expertise, the median is estimated at $250,000. This is competitive for senior technical roles in the database systems domain.

Key Skills

PostgreSQL C++ Rust Systems Programming Database Internals Performance Optimization Distributed Systems Open Source Technical Leadership Storage Engines

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Principal Software Engineer - Postgres position at ClickHouse. With over 10 years of experience building high-performance database systems in C++ and Rust, I have developed deep expertise in PostgreSQL internals, including storage engines, replication, and query execution. I am particularly excited about ClickHouse's mission to redefine real-time analytics and data infrastructure.

In my previous role at [Company], I led the design and implementation of a distributed replication system that improved throughput by 40% while maintaining strong consistency. I also contributed to open-source PostgreSQL extensions used by thousands of developers. My background in performance optimization and low-level instrumentation aligns perfectly with the challenges described in this role.

I thrive in high-autonomy environments and am passionate about mentoring engineers and setting engineering standards. I am eager to bring my expertise to ClickHouse and help shape the future of Postgres-based systems.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to your team.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Possible Interview Questions

Describe your experience with PostgreSQL internals. Which subsystems (e.g., storage, replication, query execution) have you worked on most extensively?

I have extensive experience with PostgreSQL's storage engine, specifically working on the buffer manager and WAL (Write-Ahead Log) to optimize I/O patterns. I also contributed to the replication subsystem by implementing a custom logical decoding plugin for real-time data streaming. Additionally, I optimized query execution by rewriting parts of the planner for better join order selection.

How would you approach optimizing a slow query that involves complex joins and aggregations on a large dataset?

First, I would use EXPLAIN ANALYZE to identify bottlenecks. Common issues include sequential scans, poor join order, or lack of indexes. I would consider adding composite indexes, rewriting the query to use more efficient joins (e.g., hash join vs. nested loop), or partitioning the table. If the query is still slow, I might look into materialized views or caching strategies. At the system level, I would profile memory usage and I/O to ensure the configuration is optimal.

Explain a time when you had to make a trade-off between performance and simplicity in a database system. How did you decide?

In a project to implement a new indexing method, we had to choose between a B-tree (simple, well-understood) and a custom LSM-tree (higher write throughput but more complex). Since the workload was write-heavy, we opted for the LSM-tree, but we invested in thorough testing and documentation to manage complexity. The trade-off paid off with a 3x improvement in write performance.

How do you stay updated with the latest developments in database technology, and how have you applied new knowledge to your work?

I follow PostgreSQL mailing lists and attend conferences like PGConf. Recently, I learned about the new incremental sorting feature in PostgreSQL 13 and applied it to reduce sort memory usage in our analytics queries. I also experiment with new storage technologies like NVMe and use that knowledge to optimize buffer pool management.

Describe your experience with open-source contributions. How do you balance contributing to upstream projects with proprietary work?

I have contributed patches to PostgreSQL's core for bug fixes and performance improvements. I balance this by allocating 10% of my time to open-source work, which also benefits our proprietary extensions. For example, a patch I upstreamed for parallel query execution reduced our internal query times by 20%.

About ClickHouse

Recognized on the 2025 Forbes Cloud 100 list, ClickHouse is one of the most innovative and fast-growing private cloud companies. With more than 3,000 customers and ARR that has grown over 250 percent year over year, ClickHouse leads the market in real-time analytics, data warehousing, observability, and AI workloads.

The company’s sustained, accelerating momentum was recently validated by a $400M Series D financing round. Over the past three months, customers including Capital One, Lovable, Decagon, Polymarket, and Airwallex have adopted the platform or expanded existing deployments. These customers join an established base of AI innovators and global brands such as Meta, Cursor, Sony, and Tesla.

We’re on a mission to transform how companies use data. Come be a part of our journey!

About the Role

ClickHouse is expanding its capabilities in the database systems domain, building next-generation infrastructure that redefines performance, scalability, and developer experience. We’re looking for a Principal Engineer with deep expertise in systems programming and database internals — particularly Postgres — to help us push boundaries in how databases are built and operated at scale.

This is a strategic and high-impact role for an engineer who can work independently across complex technical areas: from storage and performance optimization to distributed coordination and extension development. You’ll shape critical components of our data platform, mentor other engineers, and drive architectural direction for systems that serve massive workloads.

What You’ll Do

Lead design and implementation of advanced systems features across areas like storage, replication, query execution, and performance optimization.
Contribute to and extend Postgres internals — improving reliability, scalability, and efficiency.
Prototype and build extensions that expand Postgres’s core capabilities and integrate with cloud-native infrastructure.
Collaborate with product, infrastructure, and cloud platform teams to deliver robust, developer-friendly experiences.
Profile and optimize database performance using low-level instrumentation and benchmarking.
Provide technical leadership, set standards for engineering excellence, and mentor senior engineers.
Operate with significant autonomy and ownership — driving projects from concept to production.

About You

10+ years of experience building systems software in C/C++ or Rust (Go experience a plus).
Deep knowledge of PostgreSQL or other database engine internals, including storage, execution, or replication subsystems.
Strong understanding of concurrency, operating systems, and performance engineering.
Proven ability to ship large-scale systems or core infrastructure features end-to-end.
Experience contributing to open-source databases or similar complex systems is highly desirable.
Pragmatic problem solver with a bias for simplicity and measurable impact.
Thrives in a high-autonomy, high-velocity environment.

Why Join Us

Work on foundational database technologies at the intersection of performance, reliability, and usability.
Shape the future of Postgres-based systems and cloud data infrastructure.
Operate with autonomy in a small, high-talent team that values depth, craftsmanship, and impact.
Contribute to an ambitious vision: making data systems faster, simpler, and more powerful for developers everywhere.

#LI-remote

Compensation

For roles based in the United States, the typical starting salary range for this position is listed above. In certain locations, such as the San Francisco Bay Area and the New York City Metro Area, a premium market range may apply, as listed.

These salary ranges reflect what we reasonably and in good faith believe to be the minimum and maximum pay for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation may be higher or lower than the amounts listed, and the ranges may be subject to future adjustments.

An individual’s placement within the range will depend on various factors, including (but not limited to) education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, location, performance, and the needs of the business or organization.

If you have any questions or comments about compensation as a candidate, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Perks

Flexible work environment – ClickHouse is a globally distributed company and remote-friendly. We currently operate in over 20 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 $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. Check out our blog posts or follow us on LinkedIn to find out more about what’s happening at ClickHouse.

Equal Opportunity & Privacy

ClickHouse provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on factors such as race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Please see here for our Privacy Statement.

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