Software Engineer, Data Platform (Foundations Lead)

San Francisco · USD 281,000-334,000 / year · Full-time · Hybrid · Posted Sep 21, 2026

At a glance

The Data Foundations team builds and operates the batch and streaming infrastructure supporting Notion's product features, analytics, search, and AI experiences.
This hands-on technical leadership role involves shaping the next generation of the data platform to support larger customers and data-intensive products.
The lead will set strategy, build and develop a high-performing team, and oversee multi-quarter initiatives across data lake, streaming, and distributed-compute systems.

Set the direction for Data Foundations by turning ambiguous needs into a clear multi-quarter strategy.
Build and develop a high-performing team through hiring, setting expectations, and fostering accountability.
Lead complex initiatives from idea to operation, including de-risking architectures and coordinating execution.
Make the data platform enterprise-ready by guiding foundations for external key management, data residency, and access controls.
Raise reliability, simplicity, and cost efficiency by identifying systemic risks and architectural gaps.
Establish reusable abstractions and paved paths to scale engineering expertise.
Partner closely with Data Engineering, Data Product, Search, AI, Infrastructure, and Security teams.

Deep data-platform expertise with experience designing and operating large-scale batch and streaming systems.
Proven leadership experience managing a Data Platform or infrastructure team through multi-quarter work.
Experience attracting strong engineers, growing people across career stages, and developing technical leaders.
Hands-on engineering judgment with the ability to stay close to critical systems and designs.
Platform-product thinking to turn repeated patterns into safe, ergonomic, self-serve capabilities.
Strong organizational influence to create clarity across team boundaries and surface technical risks.

Role can be based in San Francisco or New York City.
Employees work from the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (Anchor Days).