Staff Software Engineer, Cloud (Portal)
π Job Overview
- Job Title: Staff Software Engineer, Cloud (Portal)
- Company: Ditto
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States & United Kingdom
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Category: Backend Developer, DevOps Engineer
- Date Posted: August 1, 2025
- Experience Level: 5-10 years
- Remote Status: Remote OK
π Role Summary
- Design, build, and maintain highly available connectors between Ditto and various external storages, ensuring data consistency and system performance.
- Collaborate with the SRE team to monitor, debug, and optimize distributed systems in production environments.
- Drive performance tuning efforts and participate in on-call rotations to meet uptime SLAs.
- Actively mentor teammates and contribute to system architecture designs.
π Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies to succeed in a fast-paced, globally distributed team.
π» Primary Responsibilities
- Connector Development: Design, build, and maintain highly available connectors between Ditto and various external storages, such as MongoDB.
- Data Consistency & System Performance: Ensure data consistency and system performance by implementing correctness and load tests.
- Collaboration with SRE Team: Work with the SRE team to monitor, debug, and optimize distributed systems in production environments.
- Technical Documentation & Architecture Design: Write technical documentation and contribute to system architecture designs.
- Performance Tuning & On-Call Rotations: Drive performance tuning efforts and participate in on-call rotations to meet uptime SLAs.
- Mentoring & Technical Decision Making: Actively mentor teammates and be one of the technical decision-makers, connecting business with technology.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelorβs degree in Computer Science or a related field.
Experience: 7-10 years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on distributed systems and low-level programming languages like Rust and/or modern C/C++.
Required Skills:
- Proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Strong knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and performance optimization techniques
- Experience with a wide range of database technologies (SQL, NoSQL, time-series)
- Excellent communication skills, especially in asynchronous collaboration
- Experience with on-call rotations and incident response tools and procedures
- Ability to work effectively in a globally distributed team
Preferred Skills:
- Familiarity with Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs)
- Experience building data systems at scale
- Proficiency in debugging production systems across different levels of stacks, utilizing observability tooling such as Grafana, Loki, Prometheus, Datadog
π Web Portfolio & Project Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Demonstrate experience in building and maintaining distributed systems with high availability and data consistency.
- Showcase your ability to optimize system performance and implement correctness and load tests.
- Highlight your experience working with cloud platforms, containerization technologies, and various database technologies.
- Include examples of technical documentation and system architecture designs.
Technical Documentation:
- Provide examples of technical documentation for distributed systems, highlighting your ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely.
- Include case studies or examples of system architecture designs, demonstrating your ability to make strategic decisions about system design and architecture.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $220,000 per year (based on experience and location)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- 401(k) and flexible spending accounts (US)
- Private healthcare through Vitality and pension plan (UK)
- Flexible time off
- Competitive salaries and meaningful equity
- Region-specific coverage and benefits for team members elsewhere in the world
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible time off and the option to work from the Atlanta or San Francisco offices.
π Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for software engineers with 7-10 years of experience in distributed systems and cloud platforms. Benefits vary by region to ensure coverage in the ways that matter most.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Ditto operates in the data synchronization and edge computing industry, focusing on real-time applications and resilient data movement.
Company Size: Ditto is a fast-growing startup with a globally distributed team, making it an excellent environment for collaboration and innovation.
Founded: Ditto was founded in 2012, with a mission to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, real-time applications, regardless of network conditions.
Team Structure:
- The team is organized around specific products and features, with each team consisting of software engineers, QA engineers, and product managers.
- The company has a flat hierarchy, encouraging open communication and collaboration across teams.
- The SRE team works closely with development teams to ensure the reliability and performance of Ditto's systems.
Development Methodology:
- Ditto uses Agile methodologies, with a focus on iterative development and continuous improvement.
- The company emphasizes code reviews, testing, and quality assurance to ensure the reliability and performance of its systems.
- Ditto uses CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to streamline the development process.
Company Website: Ditto Music
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's company culture emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a strong focus on technical excellence. The company values diversity and is committed to building a team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the worldβs hardest connectivity problems.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Web Technology Career Level: This role is suitable for a senior software engineer with extensive experience in distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies. The role offers the opportunity to drive technical decisions, mentor teammates, and contribute to system architecture designs.
Reporting Structure: The staff software engineer reports directly to the engineering manager and works closely with the SRE team and other development teams.
Technical Impact: The role has a significant impact on Ditto's cloud database technology, aggregating data from the edge platform with a custom, scalable, high-performance distributed system. The role requires a strong understanding of data consistency, system performance, and distributed systems to ensure the reliability and performance of Ditto's systems.
Growth Opportunities:
- Technical Leadership: As a senior member of the team, there is the opportunity to take on more significant technical responsibilities and drive technical decisions.
- Mentoring: The role offers the opportunity to mentor junior team members and help them develop their skills and careers.
- Architecture Decisions: The role involves contributing to system architecture designs, providing the opportunity to gain experience in architecture and decision-making.
π Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for a senior software engineer looking to take on more responsibility, mentor teammates, and contribute to system architecture designs.
π Work Environment
Office Type: Ditto has offices in Atlanta and San Francisco, but the company is globally distributed, with team members working remotely from various locations around the world.
Office Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, United States & United Kingdom
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Workspace: Ditto's remote work environment encourages collaboration and communication across teams, with regular check-ins and team meetings.
- Development Tools: Ditto provides team members with access to the tools and resources they need to succeed, including multiple monitors and testing devices.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ditto's teams work closely with other departments, such as product management and design, to ensure that the company's products meet the needs of its users.
Work Schedule: Ditto offers flexible time off, allowing team members to manage their own time and work from home or the office as needed. The company also has maintenance windows and deployment windows that may require team members to be available at specific times.
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's remote work environment offers a high degree of flexibility and autonomy, with the opportunity to work from home or the office as needed. The company's collaborative culture and focus on technical excellence make it an excellent environment for software engineers looking to grow their careers in distributed systems and cloud platforms.
π Application & Technical Interview Process
Interview Process:
- Technical Phone Screen: A 45-minute phone or video call to assess your technical skills and understanding of distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies.
- On-Site Technical Assessment: A half-day on-site assessment, consisting of a system design exercise, coding challenge, and architecture discussion.
- Behavioral Interview: A 45-minute behavioral interview to assess your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit with Ditto.
- Final Review: A final review with the hiring manager and other team members to discuss your qualifications and fit for the role.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Highlight your experience in building and maintaining distributed systems with high availability and data consistency.
- Showcase your ability to optimize system performance and implement correctness and load tests.
- Include examples of technical documentation and system architecture designs that demonstrate your ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely.
- Tailor your portfolio to the specific requirements of the role, highlighting your experience with cloud platforms, containerization technologies, and various database technologies.
Technical Challenge Preparation:
- Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies.
- Familiarize yourself with Ditto's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission and values.
- Practice your problem-solving skills and be prepared to explain your thought process and decision-making strategies.
ATS Keywords: [Provide a comprehensive list of web development and server administration-relevant keywords for resume optimization, organized by category: programming languages, web frameworks, server technologies, databases, tools, methodologies, soft skills, industry terms]
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's interview process is designed to assess your technical skills and cultural fit with the company. The process involves a combination of technical assessments, behavioral interviews, and final reviews to ensure that you are the best fit for the role.
π Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure
Frontend Technologies: N/A (This role is focused on backend and infrastructure development)
Backend & Server Technologies:
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure
- Containerization Technologies: Docker, Kubernetes
- Database Technologies: MongoDB, SQL, NoSQL, time-series databases
- Programming Languages: Rust, modern C/C++, Go, Python
- Infrastructure Tools: Terraform, Ansible, Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Datadog
Development & DevOps Tools:
- Version Control: Git
- CI/CD Pipelines: Jenkins, GitHub Actions
- Monitoring Tools: Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Datadog
- Container Orchestration: Kubernetes
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, Ansible
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's technology stack is focused on distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies. The company uses a combination of open-source and proprietary tools to ensure the reliability and performance of its systems.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Web Development Values:
- Technical Excellence: Ditto values technical excellence and encourages its team members to continuously learn and improve their skills.
- Collaboration: Ditto emphasizes collaboration and open communication, with a focus on working together to solve complex problems.
- Innovation: Ditto encourages innovation and values team members who think outside the box and challenge the status quo.
- User Focus: Ditto is committed to building products that meet the needs of its users and values team members who prioritize user experience and user impact.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Ditto's teams work closely with other departments, such as product management and design, to ensure that the company's products meet the needs of its users.
- Code Review Culture: Ditto places a strong emphasis on code reviews, with a focus on ensuring the quality and maintainability of its codebase.
- Knowledge Sharing: Ditto encourages knowledge sharing and values team members who are willing to help others learn and grow.
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's team culture is focused on technical excellence, collaboration, and innovation. The company values team members who are committed to learning and growing, and who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of the team.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Technical Challenges:
- Data Consistency: Ensure data consistency and system performance by implementing correctness and load tests.
- System Performance: Drive performance tuning efforts to ensure systems meet the demands of large-scale, distributed environments.
- Incident Response: Participate in on-call rotations and partner with the SRE team to manage production systems and meet uptime SLAs.
- Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and be prepared to adapt to changes in the industry.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Technical Skill Development: Ditto offers opportunities for technical skill development, with a focus on emerging technologies and best practices in distributed systems and cloud platforms.
- Mentoring: The role offers the opportunity to mentor junior team members and help them develop their skills and careers.
- Architecture Decisions: The role involves contributing to system architecture designs, providing the opportunity to gain experience in architecture and decision-making.
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's technical challenges and learning opportunities are focused on distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies. The company offers a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to drive technical decisions and contribute to system architecture designs.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Technical Questions:
- System Design: Prepare for system design questions that focus on distributed systems, data consistency, and system performance.
- Coding Challenges: Brush up on your coding skills and be prepared to solve problems related to distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies.
- Problem-Solving: Practice your problem-solving skills and be prepared to explain your thought process and decision-making strategies.
Company & Culture Questions:
- Company Mission: Familiarize yourself with Ditto's mission and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's goals.
- Team Dynamics: Research Ditto's team dynamics and be prepared to discuss how you would fit into the company's collaborative and innovative culture.
- User Impact: Prepare to discuss how you prioritize user experience and user impact in your work.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Live Demonstration: Prepare a live demonstration of your portfolio, highlighting your experience in building and maintaining distributed systems with high availability and data consistency.
- Code Explanation: Be prepared to explain your code and architecture decisions, demonstrating your ability to think critically and make strategic decisions about system design.
- User Experience Showcase: Include examples of user experience design and user impact metrics in your portfolio to demonstrate your ability to prioritize user experience and user impact.
π Enhancement Note: Ditto's interview process is designed to assess your technical skills and cultural fit with the company. The process involves a combination of technical assessments, behavioral interviews, and final reviews to ensure that you are the best fit for the role.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Staff Software Engineer, Cloud (Portal) position at Ditto:
- Submit your application through the application link.
- Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in distributed systems, cloud platforms, and database technologies.
- Prepare a portfolio that demonstrates your experience in building and maintaining distributed systems with high availability and data consistency.
- Research Ditto's company culture and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission and values.
- Practice your problem-solving skills and be prepared to explain your thought process and decision-making strategies.
β οΈ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field and 7-10 years of experience in software engineering. Experience with distributed systems, cloud platforms, and a variety of database technologies is essential.