Staff Software Engineer - RUM Platform

About the Role

In this role, you will be working hands-on to bring clarity to complex systems and contribute to a broader ecosystem through open standards in observability. The position is remote, with preferred locations including Paris, Madrid, and other EMEA locations with strong alignment.

What You Will Do

• Design and evolve platform infrastructure for frontend observability products across DEM, including RUM, session replay, feature flags, and product analytics.
• Build and scale data pipelines and reducers using technologies such as Kafka and Redis to ingest, transform, and serve real-time user experience data.
• Partner with SDK, FE, and OpenTelemetry contributors to support a growing number of data platforms and open standards in frontend instrumentation.
• Guide cross-functional collaboration by identifying shared patterns and unifying backend infrastructure across multiple product lines.
• Solve ambiguous, high-impact technical problems by applying deep systems knowledge and delivering clear architectural direction.
• Serve as a technical leader and mentor within the RUM organization and broader engineering community at Datadog.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive the adoption of new technologies and standards.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for platform infrastructure and data pipelines.
• Participate in on-call rotations to ensure the reliability and performance of the RUM platform.

What We Are Looking For

• Experienced in building scalable, distributed backend systems using technologies such as Kafka, Redis, and Java.
• Comfortable managing complex data pipelines and translating diverse data sources into semantically aligned, actionable insights.
• Skilled at navigating ambiguity and driving clarity across multiple teams and product surfaces.
• Familiar with open standards in observability, such as OpenTelemetry, and excited to contribute to a broader ecosystem.
• Proactive and hands-on, ready to dive into unclear problem spaces and turn them into reliable, performant systems.
• Strong ability to use AI coding tools in day-to-day workflows and validate, critique, and refine AI-generated output.
• Motivated to push the boundaries of how AI can improve software engineering best practices and contribute to building AI-enabled products.

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud-based technologies and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platforms.
• Knowledge of frontend development frameworks and technologies.
• Participation in open-source projects related to observability and backend systems.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git.

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, ability to join our Community Guilds (Datadog employee resource groups).
• Competitive global benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Flexible working hours and remote work options to support work-life balance.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools to support professional growth.

• Ensure you have hands-on experience with scalable backend systems and technologies like Kafka and Redis, as this is crucial for the role.
• Develop a strong understanding of open standards in observability, such as OpenTelemetry, to contribute to the broader ecosystem.
• Showcase your ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity across multiple teams, highlighting specific examples from your past experience.
• Prepare to discuss how you leverage AI coding tools in your workflow and how you validate AI-generated output.
• Be ready to talk about your experience with cross-functional collaboration and how you have unified backend infrastructure across multiple product lines in the past.
• Consider creating a portfolio that demonstrates your technical leadership and mentorship skills, as well as your ability to drive architectural convergence and innovation.