Architect – Object Storage & Database Systems

Role Description: Architect – Object Storage & Database Systems – US and Canada.

Role Overview:

Position: Principal Architect Object Storage & Database Systems.

Role Purpose 

Wasabi's Engineering organization is scaling its S3 and Database functions independently to support new product tiers and AI-driven usage growth. The Principal Architect – Object Storage & Database Systems is a senior hands-on technical leader responsible for shaping the architecture of Wasabi's storage platform. This role will predominantly focus on S3 core services and the Database roadmap, with a strategic architectural lens on their future direction. This role requires deep expertise in AWS S3-compatible object storage, database technologies, and distributed systems, combined with the ability to write code, build proofs of concept, and validate architectural ideas. 

 This is not a traditional architecture-only role. The ideal candidate will be comfortable moving between system design, database internals, performance analysis, prototyping, and hands-on engineering. This person will work closely with senior engineers and technical leaders to solve complex problems around storage, metadata, scalability, reliability, and performance. 

 *Principals only. No recruiters. 

 Responsibilities: 

• Drive detailed technical solutioning and analysis for Wasabi's forward-looking initiatives on the core roadmap, shaping the strategic architectural vision to meet growing and evolving business needs - particularly the demands of AI-related customers with read-heavy access patterns. 

• Design and influence the architecture of large-scale object storage, database, metadata, and distributed systems supporting Wasabi’s cloud platform. 

• Serve as a technical expert in AWS S3 and S3-compatible object storage, including APIs, metadata design, consistency, scalability, durability, and performance. 

• Build hands-on proofs of concept to validate new architectural ideas, then hand off the PoC code along with supporting technical analysis to the respective engineering teams, who own the path to production. 

• Evaluate and improve database architectures across relational, NoSQL, distributed, and metadata-focused systems, including indexing, replication, transactions, partitioning, locking, and caching. 

• Troubleshoot complex performance, reliability, scalability, and data consistency issues across storage, database, Linux, networking, and distributed systems. 

• Research and evaluate new database and storage technologies, identify technical tradeoffs, and recommend solutions based on performance, scalability, reliability, and operational needs. 

• Partner with senior engineers and architects to define long-term technical direction, review system designs, and move new ideas from concept through proof of concept and into production. 

• Communicate complex technical ideas clearly, mentor engineers, challenge existing approaches when needed, and introduce new ideas that improve the architecture and engineering organization. 

 Requirements: 

• 10+ years of hands-on software engineering, database engineering, storage engineering, or distributed systems experience, including experience at a Principal, Staff, Architect, or similar senior technical level. 

• Deep hands-on experience with AWS S3, S3-compatible object storage, or large-scale object storage platforms, with a strong understanding of how object storage works internally. 

• Expert-level knowledge of database architecture and internals, including relational, NoSQL, and distributed databases, as well as transactions, indexing, replication, sharding, partitioning, locking, caching, and consistency models. 

• Strong understanding of distributed systems concepts, including replication, consensus, fault tolerance, high availability, distributed coordination, eventual consistency, and strong consistency. 

• Strong hands-on programming experience in languages such as C, C++, Go, Java, Python, or similar languages, with the ability to build working prototypes and production-quality solutions. 

• Proven experience designing, troubleshooting, and improving highly scalable systems that process large amounts of data and operate in high-performance production environments. 

• Strong understanding of Linux, networking, storage I/O, CPU, memory, caching, and system performance, with experience diagnosing complex problems across multiple layers of the technology stack. 

• Excellent communication and technical leadership skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts, influence technical direction, collaborate across teams, mentor engineers, and bring forward new ideas backed by hands-on testing and technical evidence. 

• Strong understanding of AI technologies and modern AI architecture, with hands-on experience evaluating how AI, LLMs, and automation can be applied to storage, database, and distributed systems. 

Base Salary – $200,000 - 250,000
The base salary range reflects the full range for this position at Wasabi Technologies. At Wasabi, we believe in paying fairly and competitively, and individual compensation is determined based on factors such as job-related experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Base pay is just one part of our total rewards approach. Depending on role eligibility, Wasabi team members may also receive additional compensation and benefits, including bonus or variable compensation, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both professional growth and personal well-being.