The Role
Design and build scalable, fault-tolerant query engines and integrations with modern data lake formats; optimize query execution using vectorized processing, cost-based optimization, and caching; extend or contribute to open-source platforms; collaborate with product, data science, and engineering teams to align solutions with business needs.
Summary Generated by Built In
About zaimler
zaimler is building the next-generation semantic platform that links fragmented enterprise data and extracts meaning with knowledge-distilled models. We’re creating the foundation for AI systems that don’t just generate, but retrieve, link, and reason over enterprise knowledge.
In just over a year, we’ve begun partnering with Fortune 500 design partners in insurance, travel, and technology, deploying our semantic platform into some of the world’s most complex and high-volume data ecosystems. Our platform enables enterprises to make their data AI-ready from the start: automating ontology creation, data mapping, and retrieval-augmented reasoning at scale.
Our team comes from LinkedIn, Visa, Meta, and Branch, and has spent decades solving data and infrastructure challenges at scale. Backed by top VCs, we’re building the next foundational layer for enterprise AI.
What You’ll Do
zaimler's query engine powers graph-native queries across a two-layer system: an internal storage and indexing layer, and a pass-through layer that queries live into customer data platforms like Snowflake and Databricks. You'll work across the engine's coordinator, compiler, and executor, extending language and function support, and helping build queries that reason across multiple data sources at once.
What You'll Own
- Extend the query engine's language and function support over time
- Help build cross-source query capabilities: answering questions that span multiple data sources in a single query
- Work on the storage and indexing layer that the query engine runs against
- Build and maintain the layer that queries live into external systems like Snowflake and Databricks
- Work directly in the engine's core components: coordinator, compiler, executor
Prior Experience
- Strong database fundamentals: you understand consistency models, transactions, and how storage layers actually work under the hood, not just how to query one
- Experience running systems at real production scale, where naive approaches start to break down
- A systems mindset: background in OS, file systems, distributed systems, or database internals, from industry or research
- Ability to work from ambiguous, evolving problems rather than fully scoped tickets
- A bias toward hands-on execution over pure architecture or process ownership
Nice to Have
- Experience with graph query languages (e.g. Cypher)
- API development experience
- Background at a data intensive company or research lab
- Prior experience at an early-stage startup, developing systems and processes from scratch.
Why Join Us?
We’re a fast-moving, well-funded startup based in San Mateo, working onsite with flexible hours because the best ideas happen when smart people collaborate in person. We take ownership of our work, move with urgency while maintaining quality, and focus on delivering real results—not just effort. We offer competitive compensation, equity, full benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k), and a workspace built for collaboration, transparency, and deep technical problem-solving.
We sponsor H-1B visas and assist with immigration processes to bring the best minds together!
Skills Required
- Proficiency in Java, Scala, Rust, or C++
- Deep understanding of query engine internals and parallel query processing
- Strong distributed systems architecture experience
- Experience with modern big data technologies such as Apache Spark, Presto, or Trino
- Experience with data formats Parquet, ORC, or Avro
- Proven ability to build and optimize scalable systems for petabyte-scale datasets
- Strong grasp of SQL semantics, execution plans, and query optimization techniques
- Experience building AI/ML infrastructure and ML production systems at scale
- Hands-on experience with Linux, Docker, and containerization
- Prior experience at an early-stage startup (building systems and processes from scratch)
- Ability to lead and mentor engineering teams and work cross-functionally
- Comfort working onsite in San Mateo and adapting to fast-paced, ambiguous environments
Am I A Good Fit?
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The Company
What We Do
Zaimler is an AI infrastructure company that provides a platform for enterprise AI agents. It focuses on discovering domain knowledge, mapping relationships, and providing semantic understanding to enable autonomous agents to reason over fragmented enterprise data. Founded by industry veterans, the company aims to build the infrastructure layer for the agentic era, supporting real-time inference and precision at scale for enterprises in sectors like insurance, travel, and technology.
