Fast Facts
Join Quizlet as a Principal Engineer leading the architecture and operation of data systems to enhance our learning platform. You'll focus on database scaling, performance optimization, and reliability engineering in a collaborative environment.
Responsibilities: Oversee database architecture scaling, performance optimization, and ensure high availability and cost efficiency in data systems operations.
Skills: Expertise in distributed database architecture, performance optimization, and cloud-native system design, especially with technologies like Cloud Spanner, MySQL, and BigQuery.
Qualifications: Deep hands-on experience with globally distributed data systems and analytical data warehousing; proven ability to lead architectural strategies and operational excellence.
Location: This position is onsite in San Francisco, CA, requiring a minimum of three days in the office each week.
Compensation: $276000 - $320000 / Annually
About Quizlet:
At Quizlet, our mission is to help every learner achieve their outcomes in the most effective and delightful way. Our $1B+ learning platform serves tens of millions of students every month, including two-thirds of U.S. high schoolers and half of U.S. college students, powering over 2 billion learning interactions monthly.
We blend cognitive science with machine learning to personalize and enhance the learning experience for students, professionals, and lifelong learners alike. We’re energized by the potential to power more learners through multiple approaches and various tools.
Let’s Build the Future of Learning
Join us to design and deliver AI-powered learning tools that scale across the world and unlock human potential.
About the Role:
We're hiring a Principal Engineer to serve as the Lead Architect for Data Systems, overseeing the architecture, operations, and performance of our foundational database infrastructure. This high-leverage role works in partnership with the other Principal Engineer roles to establish industry-leading standards for reliability and cost-efficiency. The role reports to the Senior Director of Technical Infrastructure.
We’re happy to share that this is an onsite position in our San Francisco office. To help foster team collaboration, we require that employees be in the office a minimum of three days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and as needed by your manager or the company. We believe that this working environment facilitates increased work efficiency, team partnership, and supports growth as an employee and organization.
In this role, you will:
- Database Architecture & Scaling: Lead the architectural plan for scaling and evolving our core database systems (Cloud Spanner, PlanetScale MySQL, and BigQuery). This includes driving critical decisions on sharding, data topology evolution, and global data distribution strategies
- Deep Performance Optimization: Act as the organization's primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) for data performance. You will actively guide teams on everything from high-level schema design and query optimization to low-level deep-dive analysis (e.g., "why is my query slow?") across all three database systems
- Technical Leadership & Influence: Lead, mentor, and guide the team of SRE/Platform engineers focused on database systems. You will also partner closely with product engineering, data engineering, and AI/ML teams to influence schema design, operational excellence, and ensure the database layer supports their requirements
- Data Lifecycle & Operational Excellence: Own the resilience of the data tier, including the definition and implementation of comprehensive backup, recovery, and business continuity strategies. Regularly audit and test these mechanisms to ensure high availability for critical data storage
- Reliability Engineering & Availability (The Core Mandate): Architect and implement solutions to meet and maintain an internal 99.99% availability target for critical data access, supporting the overall platform's 99.95% SLO. This includes designing connection management, capacity planning, and automation to handle peak load and ensure data consistency
- Cost Efficiency & Governance: Act as the technical owner for data-related cost optimization. Balance performance and reliability needs while implementing strategies for efficient storage, indexing, and throughput to minimize expenditure
What you bring to the table:
- Distributed Database Expertise: Deep, hands-on experience architecting and operating globally distributed transactional systems. Expert knowledge of Cloud Spanner internals, advanced MySQL sharding and scaling (e.g., PlanetScale), and production optimization under heavy load
- Analytical Data Systems: Deep experience with large-scale analytical data warehousing (BigQuery) and designing resilient data ingestion/ELT plumbing
- Architectural Influence: Proven ability to define global data strategies and drive cross-functional change, effectively partnering with product engineering and data science teams to guide schema design and data access patterns
- Scale and Operational Discipline: A history of leading the design and implementation of highly available data systems (targeting four-nines or higher), with proven experience in operational fundamentals like backup, recovery, and data integrity assurance
- Cloud Architecture: Extensive experience in designing and optimizing large-scale cloud-native architecture on GCP (or equivalent), including database networking, security policies, and cost governance
Compensation, Benefits & Perks:
- Quizlet is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Salary transparency helps to mitigate unfair hiring practices when it comes to discrimination and pay gaps. Total compensation for this role is market competitive, including a starting base salary of $276,000 - $320,000, depending on location and experience, as well as company stock options
- Collaborate with your manager and team to create a healthy work-life balance
- 20 vacation days that we expect you to take!
- Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance (100% employee and 75% dependent PPO, Dental, VSP Choice)
- Employer-sponsored 401k plan with company match
- Access to LinkedIn Learning and other resources to support professional growth
- Paid Family Leave, FSA, HSA, Commuter benefits, and Wellness benefits
- 40 hours of annual paid time off to participate in volunteer programs of choice
Why Join Quizlet?
🌎 Massive reach: 60M+ users, 1B+ interactions per week
🧠 Cutting-edge tech: Generative AI, adaptive learning, cognitive science
📈 Strong momentum: Top-tier investors, sustainable business, real traction
🎯 Mission-first: Work that makes a difference in people’s lives
🤝 Inclusive culture: Committed to equity, diversity, and belonging
We strive to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome!
We work to create a holistic interview process, where both Quizlet and candidates have an opportunity to view what it would be like to work together, in exploring a mutually beneficial partnership.
We provide a transparent setting that gives a comprehensive view of who we are!
In Closing:
At Quizlet, we’re excited about passionate people joining our team—even if you don’t check every box on the requirements list. We value unique perspectives and believe everyone has something meaningful to contribute. Our culture is all about taking initiative, learning through challenges, and striving for high-quality work while staying curious and open to new ideas. We believe in honest, respectful communication, thoughtful collaboration, and creating a supportive space where everyone can grow and succeed together.”
Quizlet’s success as an online learning community depends on a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As an equal opportunity employer and a tech company committed to societal change, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Come join us!
To All Recruiters and Placement Agencies:
At this time, Quizlet does not accept unsolicited agency resumes and/or profiles.
Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our website or to any Quizlet employee. Quizlet will not pay fees to any third-party agency or firm nor will it be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. All unsolicited resumes received will be considered the property of Quizlet.
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