Senior Staff Software Engineer, Indexing & Retrieval Platform

About the Role

The ML Indexing & Retrieval Platform team at Reddit is committed to delivering high-quality experiences for users, and the Senior Staff Software Engineer will play a key role in achieving this goal. By leading the technical strategy, architecture, and implementation of Reddit's next-generation ML Indexing & Retrieval engine, the successful candidate will have a significant impact on the company's ability to provide efficient and scalable systems.

Reddit is a community of communities, built on shared interests, passion, and trust, and is home to the most open and authentic conversations on the internet. With 100,000+ active communities and approximately 121 million daily active unique visitors, Reddit is one of the internet's largest sources of information.

What You Will Do

• Lead the technical strategy, architecture, and implementation of Reddit's next-generation ML Indexing & Retrieval engine, integrating capabilities across lexical and vector indexing, low-latency retrieval, and emerging GenAI applications.
• Partner closely with product engineers across Content Understanding, Search, Feeds, Ads, Growth, and Safety to deliver high-quality experiences.
• Define best practices for observability, reliability, and operational excellence in large-scale distributed systems.
• Mentor and guide engineers in designing scalable infrastructure and adopting robust DevOps and SRE principles.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, and ML teams to ensure the platform evolves to meet the needs of Reddit's growing user base and diverse content ecosystem.
• Develop and maintain large-scale distributed systems, with a focus on performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Design and implement data ingestion, processing, and storage systems that support real-time data access.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize project requirements.
• Participate in code reviews and ensure that the codebase is maintainable, efficient, and well-documented.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues, and develop strategies for preventing similar issues in the future.

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in software development, with a focus on building and scaling large-scale distributed systems.
• Expertise in one or more programming languages, such as Go, Java, Python, or any object-oriented programming language.
• Experience with frameworks such as Flink, Airflow, or Spark for large-scale batch and stream processing.
• Familiarity with databases such as Vector, Lexical, and Key-Value Databases.
• Knowledge of tools such as Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, and GCP.
• Experience with designing and implementing scalable infrastructure and adopting robust DevOps and SRE principles.
• Strong understanding of machine learning concepts and experience with ML-driven recommendations.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience with GenAI applications and emerging technologies.
• Familiarity with Reddit's technology stack and architecture.
• Participation in open-source projects or contributions to the software development community.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git.
• Knowledge of cloud-based infrastructure and experience with cloud providers such as AWS or GCP.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible PTO and holiday schedule.
• Remote work stipend and equipment budget.
• Professional development opportunities and conference sponsorship.
• Access to Reddit's internal communities and networks.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact projects and contribute to the company's mission.

• Showcase your expertise in designing and maintaining large-scale distributed systems, and be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience.
• Highlight your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, and emphasize your excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarize yourself with Reddit's technology stack and architecture, and be prepared to discuss your experience with similar technologies.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with machine learning concepts and ML-driven recommendations, and highlight your understanding of the company's goals and objectives.
• Research the company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with Reddit's mission and vision.
• Prepare to discuss your experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems, and be ready to provide examples of your experience with cloud-based infrastructure.
• Be prepared to negotiate your salary and benefits package, and do your research on the market rate for similar positions.