Staff Software Engineer - Product Analytics
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled software engineers in product analytics has seen a significant surge, with a 25% increase in job postings over the past year. As companies strive to better understand user behavior, the need for experts who can develop and implement scalable analytics solutions has never been more pressing. Datadog, a leader in the field, is seeking a talented Staff Software Engineer to drive the technical direction of their product analytics platform. With a strong background in distributed systems and large-scale data processing, candidates can expect to work on complex projects that push the boundaries of what's possible in product analytics. Before applying, candidates should be aware that this role requires not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of customer needs and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.
Job Description
About the Role
The Staff Software Engineer - Product Analytics role at Datadog is a critical position that will lead the technical direction of the company's product analytics platform. This platform is designed to help customers understand user behavior, including when they return, where they drop off, and how product changes affect retention and growth. As a key member of the Product Analytics team, the successful candidate will work closely with engineering, product, and design teams to architect and deliver a backend platform purpose-built for product analytics workloads.The Product Analytics team is a young and fast-growing product area for Datadog, bringing new types of users into the platform and extending its reach beyond the traditional engineering audience. To support this growth, the team needs to push its backend further, adapting storage patterns and designing systems optimized for analytics rather than technical telemetry.
What You Will Do
- Partner closely with engineering, product, and design to architect and deliver a backend platform purpose-built for product analytics workloads
- Lead high-visibility technical initiatives, including defining the technical roadmap for Product Analytics and aligning multiple engineering teams around shared goals and architectural principles
- Work across organizations to bridge product needs with the right internal or external technologies
- Provide technical mentorship and help grow the next generation of senior engineers within the team
- Drive the architecture, evaluation, and delivery of systems that allow customers to explore over a year of behavioral data, run complex funnel and retention queries at scale, and do so with low latency and high reliability
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize project requirements
- Develop and maintain technical documentation to ensure knowledge sharing across the team
- Participate in code reviews to ensure high-quality code and adherence to best practices
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies, applying this knowledge to continuously improve the product analytics platform
What We Are Looking For
- A BS/MS/PhD in a scientific field or equivalent experience
- 10+ years of backend engineering experience
- Strong background in distributed systems and large-scale data processing
- Deep experience with SQL, query optimization, and large analytical datasets
- Comfortable leading build/buy evaluations and integrating open-source or third-party systems when needed
- Effective communicator able to explain technical tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical partners
- Product-minded with strong judgment about customer value, even when solving highly technical problems
- Passionate about mentoring, raising the bar, and shaping a growing product area
- Experience with AI coding tools and the ability to validate, critique, and refine AI-generated output
- Strong understanding of software engineering best practices and the ability to contribute to building AI-enabled products
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based technologies and scalable architectures
- Knowledge of data visualization tools and techniques
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems
- Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment
Benefits and Perks
- New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
- Continuous professional development, product training, and career pathing
- Intradepartmental mentor and buddy program for in-house networking
- An inclusive company culture, with the ability to join Community Guilds (Datadog employee resource groups)
- Competitive global benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans
- Generous paid time off and holiday policy
- Remote work stipend and support for home office setup
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the company
How to Stand Out
- When applying, make sure to highlight your experience with distributed systems and large-scale data processing, as these are key requirements for the role.
- Showcase your ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-technical stakeholders, as this is a critical aspect of the position.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with SQL, query optimization, and large analytical datasets, and how you've applied these skills in previous roles.
- Demonstrate your passion for mentoring and growing the next generation of engineers, as this is an important part of the Staff Software Engineer role.
- Research Datadog's product analytics platform and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to its growth and development.
- Emphasize your ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and your experience with agile development methodologies.
- Prepare examples of how you've driven technical initiatives and led cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.