Principal Data System Architect, Data Engineering

GitLab is an open-core software company that develops the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps Platform, used by more than 100,000 organizations. Our mission is to enable everyone to contribute to and co-create the software that powers our world. When everyone can contribute, consumers become contributors, significantly accelerating human progress. Our platform unites teams and organizations, breaking down barriers and redefining what's possible in software development. Thanks to products like Duo Enterprise and Duo Agent Platform, customers get AI benefits at every stage of the SDLC. 

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

Join GitLab as Data System Architect to drive our strategic data platform evolution. You'll architect scalable, distributed solutions that transform how we manage and leverage data across our SaaS and self-managed deployments, supporting enterprise-scale growth and innovation.

What You'll Do  

• Drive architectural vision for scalable, distributed data systems across SaaS and self-managed deployments, designing database stack solutions that optimize OLTP/OLAP performance and scalability requirements
• Define enterprise data product standards and governance frameworks including data lineage, SDLC, versioning, and compliance practices for regulated environments
• Build governed, monetizable data services and APIs that support both internal operations/analytics and external SaaS product offerings with semantic structure
• Partner with product and engineering teams to embed modern agentic and AI-driven patterns into data infrastructure and customer-facing solutions
• Architect event-driven systems and cross-stack orchestration supporting hybrid transformations through tools like Argo, Airflow, and Kubernetes with unified metadata-rich telemetry
• Design end-to-end data lifecycle architecture covering integration, pipelines, transformation workflows, and consolidated metadata systems across multiple platforms
• Establish CI/CD best practices for data systems ensuring reliable deployment, monitoring, and maintenance across diverse deployment models
• Transform ambiguity into strategic roadmaps and lead complex technical engagements where data architecture creates competitive differentiation

What You'll Bring 

• Experience architecting large-scale distributed data systems in complex, regulated domains with unified platforms integrating cloud-native compute, orchestration, and semantic modeling
• Demonstrated leadership building multi-modal data services with strong developer experience principles, focusing on monetization, governance, and data product lifecycle management
• Hands-on expertise with modern data stack technologies including Python, Docker, Airflow, Trino, Postgres, distributed query engines, and graph-based metadata systems, integrating them into the GitLab ecosystem comprised of Ruby on Rails and Go services.
• Advanced knowledge bridging cloud and on-premises deployments with automation, developer self-service focus, and data integration through connector marketplaces
• Deep understanding of data processing paradigms and standards including synchronous vs. asynchronous processing, schema management, logical data modeling, and formats like OpenTelemetry, OpenMetadata, and OpenLineage
• Experience with AI-driven architectures and emerging technologies including model orchestration, agentic patterns, and standards like MCP (Model Context Protocol)
• Strong architectural opinions on cost-aware, resilient solutions that optimize entire data lifecycle decisions with focus on scalability and performance trade-offs
• Passion for open source platforms, team mentorship, and collaborative values with ability to build scalable solutions that align with organizational culture and technical excellence

About the team

Data Engineering and Monetization is a newly formed function within the Engineering Org with a mission to build a comprehensive foundation of data platforms with responsible data architecture that scales. 

The base salary range for this role's listed level is currently for residents of listed locations only. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.

California/Colorado/Hawaii/New Jersey/New York/Washington/DC/Illinois/Minnesota pay range

$157,900 - $236,900 USD

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave 
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.  

Privacy Policy: Please review our Recruitment Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us.

GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab's policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.