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Senior Staff Software Engineer

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92% of candidates apply because they are a Most Loved Workplace®
New York, New York, USA
Dev Eng
This position may no longer be active.View all open positions at Datadog

About the Role

At Datadog, a Most Loved Workplace® certified employer in the Technology space, Observe, Secure, and Optimize Modern Cloud Infrastructure at Scale.

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true" data-pm-slice="0 0 []"><strong data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong">About Datadog:</strong></p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">We're on a mission to build the best platform in the world for engineers to understand and scale their systems, applications, and teams. We operate at high scale—trillions of data points per day—providing always-on alerting, metrics visualization, logs, and application tracing for tens of thousands of companies. Our engineering culture values pragmatism, honesty, and simplicity to solve hard problems the right way.</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"> </p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><strong data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong">The Opportunity:</strong></p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Datadog’s Senior Staff Engineers are technical leaders operating at the forefront of large-scale systems design, building the infrastructure that will support our next five years of growth and beyond. They do this in three major ways:</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">As individual contributors, they bring world-class technical depth to build industry-leading systems in areas such as observability data platforms, distributed query engines, and real-time event streaming at global scale.</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">As technical leaders, they apply broad architectural perspective and deep systems thinking to align design decisions across teams and domains. They work across complex, multi-team problem spaces to define long-term technical direction, drive large-scale initiatives forward, and ensure consistent execution.</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">As engineering stewards, they play a key role in evolving our systems and engineering culture. They actively participate in Datadog’s senior technical community, bringing external insights and internal experience to elevate engineering standards and mentor the next generation of technical leaders.</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Examples of projects a Senior Staff Engineer may lead include designing and launching a new distributed data storage engine capable of handling hundreds of millions of records per second, building the real-time infrastructure behind a new observability product, or re-architecting a core service to support exponential growth in throughput and complexity.</p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"> </p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><strong data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong">What You’ll Do:</strong></p>

<ul>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Be the technical owner of multiple critical systems or architecture areas, often spanning several teams or product lines.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Drive the design and delivery of high-scale, high-impact projects, from vision to execution in production.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Build consensus and alignment across stakeholders on key architectural decisions and long-term strategy.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Deeply investigate and optimize performance, reliability, and efficiency in large-scale distributed systems.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Collaborate with Staff Engineers, Directors, and VPs across Datadog to shape Datadog’s technical roadmap.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Guide teams through ambiguity, scaling challenges, and evolving requirements with clear technical direction.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Actively mentor engineers and influence engineering culture through leadership in design reviews, technical talks, and working groups.<br data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="hardBreak" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true"><br></li>

</ul>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><strong data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong">Who You Are:</strong></p>

<ul>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have a BS/MS/PhD in a scientific field or equivalent practical experience.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have 10+ years of backend, infrastructure, or distributed systems engineering experience.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have 4+ years of experience leading complex technical initiatives and cross-team projects.<br data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="hardBreak" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true">You have designed and delivered systems that are deeply technical, highly reliable, and serve critical business needs.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You can navigate and make progress in ambiguous problem spaces, identifying the right problems to solve.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have exceptional communication skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared technical vision.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have deep expertise in one or more core systems domains—such as distributed storage, event streaming, networking, data infrastructure, or large-scale observability—and broad awareness of adjacent areas.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You care about getting things right, not just getting them done, and you raise the bar for engineering quality around you.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">You have demonstrated ability to use AI coding tools in day-to-day workflows and validate, critique, and refine AI-generated output</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Bonus: You’re motivated to push the boundaries of how AI can improve software engineering best practices and contribute to building AI-enabled products</li>

</ul>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><em data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="em">Datadog values people from all walks of life. We understand not everyone will meet all the above qualifications on day one. That's okay. If you’re passionate about technology and want to grow your skills, we encourage you to apply.</em></p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"> </p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><strong data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="strong">Benefits and Growth:</strong></p>

<ul>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Get to build tools for software engineers, just like yourself. And use the tools we build to accelerate our development.</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Have a lot of influence on product direction and impact on the business .</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Work with skilled, knowledgeable, and kind teammates who are happy to teach and learn</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Competitive global benefits</li>

<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Continuous professional development</li>

</ul>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"><em data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="em">Benefits and Growth listed above may vary based on the country of your employment and the nature of your employment with Datadog.</em></p>

<p data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true"> </p>

<p style="color: white;">#LI-Hybrid</p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p>Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan.</p></div><div class="title">The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is:</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$272,000</span><span class="divider">—</span><span>$340,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><hr>

<p><strong>About Datadog: </strong></p>

<p>Datadog is the leading observability and security platform for the AI era, providing businesses with unified visibility across the technology stack to manage complexity at scale. It brings applications, infrastructure, data, models, and security into one place, using AI to detect and resolve issues before they impact customers. Trusted globally by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth AI leaders, Datadog enables businesses to move faster with clarity and confidence. Learn more about #DatadogLife on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/datadoghq/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/Datadog" target="_blank">LinkedIn,</a> and <a href="https://learn.datadoghq.com/" target="_blank">Datadog Learning Center. </a></p>

<hr>

<p data-renderer-start-pos="215"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">Equal Opportunity at Datadog:</strong></p>

<p>Datadog is proud to offer <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf" target="_blank">equal employment opportunity</a> to everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, and other characteristics protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Here are our <a href="https://www.datadoghq.com/legal/candidate-legal-notices/" target="_blank">Candidate Legal Notices</a> for your reference. </p>

<p>Datadog endeavors to make our Careers Page accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please complete <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoJeduEZ2NdZF_65uZmWUrCM-zee7yADXX1s6Xr9zAGq8iKA/viewform" target="_blank">this form</a>. This form is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. </p>

<p data-renderer-start-pos="662"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">Privacy and AI Guidelines:</strong></p>

<p data-renderer-start-pos="662">Any information you submit to Datadog as part of your application will be processed in accordance with Datadog’s <a class="c-link" href="https://www.datadoghq.com/legal/applicant-candidate-privacy/" target="_blank" data-stringify-link="https://www.datadoghq.com/legal/applicant-candidate-privacy/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice</a>. For information on our AI policy, please visit <a href="https://www.datadoghq.com/legal/interviewing-at-Datadog-ai-guidelines/" target="_blank">Interviewing at Datadog AI Guidelines</a>.</p></div>

Want to learn more about what it's like to work at Datadog? View our full profile.

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What It's Like to Work Here

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Frequently Asked Questions About Working at Datadog

Common questions candidates ask about this role and Datadog's workplace

Datadog is a leading Cloud company that provides monitoring and analytics solutions. The company operates a global presence with headquarters in New York serving as the primary operational base for key executive leadership and corporate functions including engineering, product, sales, and executive leadership. Datadog maintains additional offices across the Americas in Boston, Denver, San Francisco, and throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, and South America.

Please review the specific job listing or contact Datadog's recruiting team for details on remote or hybrid work options for this role.

Salary information may vary by role and location. Please check the specific job listing or discuss compensation during the interview process.

Datadog is an established organization in its industry. The company focuses on maintaining a supportive workplace culture for all employees.

Key benefit categories include: Financial Benefits, Health & Wellness, Work-Life Balance, Community & Growth. You can view more details on their CertCheck profile.

The day-to-day environment is guided by core values such as Collaborative Problem-Solving and Ownership Mentality and Continuous Learning Culture.

The company has committed to inclusive practices including: Empower Ownership and Accountability and Champion Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Datadog has a supportive and collaborative culture, recognized as a loved place to work by its team members.

Datadog currently has 406 open positions. They are hiring across departments like Dev Eng, Corporate Marketing & Comms, Enterprise Sales. You can view all current openings at certcheck.mostlovedworkplace.com/companies/datadog/jobs.

The interview process typically involves an initial recruiter screen followed by team interviews. Please contact Datadog's recruiting team for specific details on this role's process.

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