Estuary is a real-time data integration platform built for both fast-moving developers and large-scale enterprises. We combine change data capture (CDC), stream processing, and declarative configuration into a unified system that simplifies complex data movement. With Estuary, teams build reliable, low-latency pipelines—without the overhead of managing data infrastructure.

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Systems Engineer to join our Capture or Materialization teams. These teams are the bridge between Estuary and the rest of the data ecosystem. You will be responsible for building the high-performance connectors that extract data from diverse sources and reliably load it into downstream destinations.

Success in this role requires a blend of low-level systems engineering and high-level product intuition. You won't just be connecting endpoints; you’ll be deeply investigating how different SaaS platforms and databases behave, uncovering their unique constraints, and architecting robust ways to move their data in real time. This is a polyglot engineering environment. While much of our connector ecosystem is built in Go, we also leverage Python and Rust where they are the best tool for the job.

What You’ll Do

• Master SaaS & Protocol Internals: Deeply research and understand the "behavior" of SaaS APIs (e.g., Salesforce, Stripe, NetSuite) and database protocols. You’ll determine the most robust ways to interact with them, considering rate limits, consistency models, and hidden edge cases.
• Build Polyglot Integrations: Design and maintain robust, scalable connectors written primarily in Go, while also contributing to or maintaining components in Python and Rust.
• Architect for Reliability: Build systems that handle distributed state, "exactly-once" delivery guarantees, and sophisticated backpressure management to ensure data is never lost or duplicated.
• Navigate Technical Entropy: Bridge the gap between the "messy" reality of external APIs and the high-performance requirements of the Estuary core engine.
• Collaborate & Mentor: Participate in technical design docs and code reviews, helping the team maintain high standards for performance, correctness, and developer experience.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of backend engineering experience: You have a track record of building and operating production-grade systems at scale.
• Pragmatic Polyglot: You are highly proficient in Go, but you are also comfortable working in (or learning) Python and Rust. You care about using the right tool for the specific integration challenge.
• Systems Thinking: You enjoy "detective work"—digging into third-party documentation and API behavior to understand how to build a truly reliable integration.
• Data Fluency: You understand the nuances of data movement—including checkpointing, schema drift, and the trade-offs between different consistency models.
• Strong Fundamentals: A deep understanding of concurrency, memory management, and networking (gRPC, TCP/IP).
• Clear Communication: Ability to explain complex technical trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Practical Experience: While a degree can be helpful, we value equivalent practical experience and your demonstrated ability to solve hard problems at scale.

We know that excellence comes in many forms. If you don’t meet 100% of these qualifications but have a strong systems background and are excited about what we’re building, we encourage you to apply.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with Rust: We use Rust in our core engine, so familiarity with it (or a strong desire to learn) is a plus.
• Data Infrastructure Background: Experience with Change Data Capture (CDC), Kafka, Flink, or similar streaming technologies.
• Open Source Contributions: Experience contributing to or maintaining data-centric open-source projects.
• Startup Grit: Experience in fast-paced environments where you’ve balanced rapid iteration with long-term system stability.

Why Estuary?

Estuary is VC-backed and led by experienced, repeat founders. We are building a diverse, low-ego team that values ownership, fast iteration, and mutual respect.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation, equity, and full benefits.
• Flexible remote work with a culture that respects work-life boundaries.
• A high-autonomy environment where your contributions have a direct impact on the product.
• Quarterly team offsites in cities like Miami, Austin, Boulder, and New Orleans to build community and connection.