Software Engineer Database at MotherDuck

About MotherDuck

Don’t let the quirky name fool you! We’re on a mission to radically transform the data analyst user experience. We empower and delight analysts using a novel cloud architecture built on top of DuckDB, an open source foundation with a vibrant community. Our team is a diverse mix of passionate, collaborative and empathetic data industry veterans from Google, Amazon, Meta, Snowflake, Looker, SingleStore, Databricks, and the like.

What you will do

We’re looking for a Software Engineer to join our Database Team and lead substantial pieces of this system. This is a high-impact role: you’ll architect and build hybrid execution paths, ensure performance at scale, and guide the evolution of how users interact with MotherDuck. You’ll join a small team with big ambitions and the agency to pursue bold ideas.

This role is based in our Amsterdam office. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Own major projects in our dual execution stack, enabling seamless local/cloud query processing with DuckDB.

• Help build a Cloud platform that dynamically assigns resources, making DuckDB efficient both for small use cases and a 1 TB RAM instances.

• Lead cross-functional work across our frontend, platform, and infrastructure teams to ensure a coherent user experience.

• Advance the state of the art in embedded database performance, distributed execution, and system reliability.

• Deepen your expertise in DuckDB and share knowledge across the company through mentorship and documentation.

• Engage with our support team directly to debug, learn from usage patterns, and prioritize impactful improvements.

• Improve systems holistically, anticipating architectural challenges and proactively addressing bottlenecks.

• Mentor teammates and raise the bar for engineering practices across the team.

• Tight collaboration with the academia, specifically the Databases Architecture group at the CWI, where vectorized execution and DuckDB were born (among other things).

What you bring

• You’ve built and shipped complex backend systems, and you know what great looks like.

• Are fluent in C++, Rust, or similar systems languages, and comfortable working close to the metal.

• A foundational understanding of query engines, execution plans, indexing, and performance optimization techniques is essential.

• Are experienced with cloud infrastructure, networking, and building low-latency distributed systems.

• Can scope and lead projects with multiple collaborators and cross-functional dependencies.

• Take pride in clear thinking, careful design, and thoughtful tradeoffs.

• Are comfortable mentoring peers and creating a collaborative, high-agency environment.

What we provide

• Competitive salary and stock options so you have a stake in our flock’s success.

• Flexible time off – take the time you need to recharge, explore, or just have a lazy day by the pond.

• A good pension plan

• Legendary company events – we bring the whole flock together twice a year for unforgettable summits in fun locations, plus 1-2 team gatherings a year to keep our bonds strong.

• Hybrid work environment – Spend three days a week in the office collaborating with the flock, and work from wherever you’re most productive the rest of the time—whether that’s your home office, a coffee shop, or a peaceful lakeside retreat. We have to warn you though, most of us like the office so much we come anyway. It’s on the river Ij, with a great lunch every day.

Please Apply

Does this role sound appealing to you, but you’re missing some of the requirements or don’t quite think you’re qualified?  Please apply anyway. Research has shown that underrepresented groups in technology often shy away from roles which aren’t a 100% match. We aim to build a diverse team and will strongly consider applicants who bring many of the requirements plus have other experiences which round out their qualifications.

MotherDuck is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. MotherDuck is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and mental disabilities.