Principal Research Scientist, Database Systems

The mission of MongoDB Research is to advance the state of the art in database systems by conducting fundamental and applied research that directly impacts MongoDB's products. Our goal is to foster innovation that benefits MongoDB by addressing critical challenges in data management, performance optimization, security, scalability, and usability. Through collaboration, publication, and active engagement with leading research institutions, we strive to shape the future of database technology and ensure MongoDB remains at the forefront of innovation. We seek an exceptional researcher specializing in database systems with particular expertise in database architecture, including query optimization, storage engines, indexing, and multicore processing. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong track record in designing and implementing highly performant database systems. This role can be in-office, flexible, or based remotely in North America. Responsibilities: Conduct innovative research in query optimization, indexing methods, storage engines, and performance optimization Design, prototype, and empirically evaluate novel database systems and architectures that leverage modern hardware features, such as SIMD parallelism, GPU acceleration, and multicore processing Collaborate closely with our Engineering teams to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions applicable in commercial database products Publish influential research outcomes in top-tier database and systems conferences and journals (e.g., VLDB, SIGMOD) Build a Database Systems research group with a critical mass of 2-3 researchers over the next 1-2 years Mentor junior researchers, fostering a collaborative and productive research environment Qualifications: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field with a specialization in database systems 12+ years of experience applying computer science concepts to large scale software development problems, including databases and distributed systems Proven track record of impactful research publications in top-tier database and systems conferences and journals Demonstrated expertise in query optimization, efficient data structures, and high-performance database architectures Strong background in performance engineering, hardware-aware optimizations, and database engine internals Experience in building research prototypes and conducting rigorous empirical studies to validate theoretical models Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams Success metrics: Within the first three months, you will have established working relationships with key stakeholders across Product and Engineering Within the first six months, you will have completed a review of the company’s database roadmap and identified opportunities for research impact. You will have established a clear research agenda for the team Within the first twelve months, you will have successfully attracted and interviewed researchers to join the team About MongoDB MongoDB is built for change, empowering our customers and our people to innovate at the speed of the market. We have redefined the database for the AI era, enabling innovators to create, transform, and disrupt industries with software. MongoDB’s unified database platform—the most widely available, globally distributed database on the market—helps organizations modernize legacy workloads, embrace innovation, and unleash AI. Our cloud-native platform, MongoDB Atlas, is the only globally distributed, multi-cloud database and is available across AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. With offices worldwide and nearly 60,000 customers—including 75% of the Fortune 100 and AI-native startups—relying on MongoDB for their most important applications, we’re powering the next era of software. Our compass at MongoDB is our Leadership Commitment, guiding how and why we make decisions, show up for each other, and win. It’s what makes us MongoDB. To drive the personal growth and business impact of our employees, we’re committed to developing a supportive and enriching culture for everyone. From employee affinity groups, to fertility assistance and a generous parental leave policy , we value our employees’ wellbeing and want to support them along every step of their professional and personal journeys. Learn more about what it’s like to work at MongoDB , and help us make an impact on the world! MongoDB is committed to providing any necessary accommodations for individuals with disabilities within our application and interview process. To request an accommodation due to a disability, please inform your recruiter. MongoDB, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and makes all hiring decisions without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Req ID: 1263126935 MongoDB’s base salary range for this role is posted below. Compensation at the time of offer is unique to each candidate and based on a variety of factors such as skill set, experience, qualifications, and work location. Salary is one part of MongoDB’s total compensation and benefits package. Other benefits for eligible employees may include: equity, participation in the employee stock purchase program, flexible paid time off, 20 weeks fully-paid gender-neutral parental leave, fertility and adoption assistance, 401(k) plan, mental health counseling, access to transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, and health benefits offerings. Please note, the base salary range listed below and the benefits in this paragraph are only applicable to U.S.-based candidates. MongoDB’s base salary range for this role in the U.S. is: $168,000 — $330,000 USD