> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2866680-principal-software-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2866680-principal-software-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Software Engineer - **Company:** Snowflake Inc. - **Location:** Menlo Park, United States - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, ARM Architecture, Big Data, Databases, Data Infrastructure, Data Structures, Query Languages, Logical Data Models, Metadata, Object-Oriented Software Development, Big O, Software Engineering, SQL Databases, Snowflake, Information Technology - **Published:** September 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/principal-software-engineer-semantic-views-snowflake-com-8818003 ## About the Role * 15+ years of industry experience designing, building, and supporting large-scale data or systems software. * Strong computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and complexity analysis. * Deep experience with at least one of: query compilation and optimization, database or query engine internals, semantic/metrics layers, or BI and analytics infrastructure. * A strong grasp of SQL semantics and relational modeling, and an appreciation for why correctness of results is non-negotiable. * Fluency in Java or another similar object-oriented language is preferred. * A track record of identifying and implementing creative solutions to complex, ambiguous problems. * Ability to work effectively across engineering teams in multiple locations. * BS in Computer Science; Masters or PhD preferred. ## Description JobPosting MonetaryAmount USD QuantitativeValue 379500 264000 YEAR 2026-07-29T00:00:00Z At Snowflake, we are powering the era of the agentic enterprise. To usher in this new era, we seek AI-native thinkers across every function who are energized by the opportunity to reinvent how they work. You don't just use tools; you possess an innate curiosity, treating AI as a high-trust collaborator that is core to how you solve problems and accelerate your impact. We look for low-ego individuals who thrive in dynamic and fast-moving environments and move with an experimental mindset - who rapidly test emerging capabilities to discover simpler, more powerful ways to deliver results. At Snowflake, your role isn't just to execute a function, but to help redefine the future of how work gets done. We are the Snowflake Semantic Views team. We build the semantic layer at the core of the Snowflake platform - the system that lets customers define logical data models (tables, dimensions, metrics, and the relationships between them) once, and then query them consistently across BI tools, SQL, and AI agents. Semantic Views turn raw physical schemas into governed, reusable business definitions, so that "revenue," "active customer," or "gross margin" mean the same thing no matter who or what is asking. We own the semantic model itself, compiler elements and query rewriter that expand semantic queries into optimized SQL over petabyte-scale data, and the surfaces that expose this layer to Cortex Analyst and the broader agent ecosystem. Our work sits at the intersection of query language, metadata, and AI-driven analytics, and it is foundational to how Snowflake customers get trustworthy answers from their data. As a Principal Software Engineer at Snowflake you will: * Solve real business needs at large scale by applying your software engineering and analytical problem-solving skills. * Design, develop, and support the semantic modeling layer that translates semantic queries into correct, high-performance SQL. * Create architecture and design, influence the semantic layer roadmap, and take ownership over new capabilities spanning metrics, dimensions, relationships, and governance. * Ensure semantic queries produce correct results while meeting the performance and scale demands of interactive analytics over petabyte-scale data. * Partner with the Cortex and AI teams to make the semantic layer the reliable grounding source for natural-language and agent-driven analytics. * Understand the trade-offs between expressiveness, correctness, performance, and cost, and build solutions that hold up as usage grows. * Mentor and grow engineers, and raise the technical bar across the team. * Ensure operational readiness of the features we ship and meet our commitments to customers on correctness, availability, and performance. ## Related Videos - [Alibaba Big Data and Machine Learning Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/37-alibaba-big-data-and-machine-learning-technology) - [How building an industry DBMS differs from building a research one](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/768-how-building-an-industry-dbms-differs-from-building-a-research-one) - [A Data Mesh needs Open Metadata](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/505-a-data-mesh-needs-open-metadata) - [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data) - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [Crafting Custom Frameworks with Rust: A Deep Dive into Procedural Macros](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/849-crafting-custom-frameworks-with-rust-a-deep-dive-into-procedural-macros) ## Related Articles - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Making Data Warehouses Fast: A Developer’s Story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/107-making-data-warehouses-fast-a-developer-s-story) - [Software Engineer Career: Things You Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/143-software-engineer-career-things-you-should-know) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Best Countries for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/267-best-countries-for-software-engineers)