Senior Open Source Software Engineer - Apache Cassandra

About NetApp and Role Overview

NetApp leads in intelligent data infrastructure, delivering unified storage and integrated data services to empower organizations in maximizing the potential of their data across AI and multicloud environments. Join a team committed to innovation, collaboration, and impactful results. As a Senior Open Source Software Engineer, you will be deeply involved at the highest technical and community levels of the Apache Cassandra project, working on upstream contributions that have direct influence on one of the largest enterprise Cassandra deployments globally.

NetApp Instaclustr manages a significant Cassandra managed service across diverse sectors such as financial services, retail, and technology with active engineering on Cassandra 6.0 and its ecosystem projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive upstream initiatives for Apache Cassandra, including authoring CEPs, securing design consensus, implementing and reviewing features, and managing releases, focusing on areas like storage/compaction, indexing and SAI/vector, distributed repair, observability, and releases.
• Provide authoritative reviews on community and upstream patches, ensuring quality and adherence to Apache Cassandra standards.
• Co-manage core Apache Cassandra releases within a rotating committer group and contribute to NetApp-led ecosystem releases such as Cassandra Sidecar, Analytics, and GoCQL as capacity allows.
• Convert enterprise customer requirements into viable upstream proposals with robust technical engagement, advising product and field teams on complex technical decisions.
• Influence project direction through active participation on mailing lists, Apache Jira, GitHub, and forums, shaping architecture, release policies, contribution standards, and long-term strategy.
• Mentor engineers to attain committer status and improve code quality through rigorous review and engineering best practices.
• Enhance upstream infrastructure by improving CI reliability, test coverage, contributor tools, and release automation, thereby reducing maintenance effort and elevating NetApp’s stewardship role.

Requirements

• At least twelve years of professional experience in software engineering.
• Current Apache Cassandra committer with a strong, publicly verifiable record of upstream contributions including patches, reviews, and community standing within the core or closely related subprojects.
• Advanced Java expertise in building and maintaining performant, concurrent, production-grade distributed systems, with deep understanding of complex Cassandra internals.
• Expertise in one or more core Apache Cassandra domains such as storage engine and compaction, indexing and SAI/vector, distributed consensus and repair (including Accord and CEP-37), observability and virtual tables, or release management and continuous integration.
• Proven ability to navigate the Apache governance process effectively including CEP drafting, design consensus building, mailing list communications, and Jira issue delivery.
• Excellent written communication skills suited to global asynchronous collaboration in mailing lists, design documents, code reviews, and issue tracking.
• Senior technical judgment capable of independently resolving blockers, making decisions on novel challenges, identifying systemic risks early, and delivering consistent results aligned with project and team goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Membership in the Apache Cassandra Project Management Committee or related subprojects.
• Experience contributing to Cassandra 6.0 features such as Accord, Transactional Cluster Metadata, automated repair (CEP-37), CQL Management API (CEP-38), ZSTD compression, or SAI/vector performance.
• Background mentoring contributors toward reviewer or committer roles within open governance projects.
• Familiarity with Cassandra ecosystem subprojects such as Sidecar, Analytics (Spark bulk), GoCQL, or Apache Cassandra drivers.

Additional Information

NetApp supports a hybrid work environment to enhance collaboration and culture but this role primarily expects onsite presence in County Cork, Ireland, with up to 10% travel internationally.

Equal Opportunity: NetApp is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities free from discrimination on any legally protected basis.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted through the NetApp website only. Direct emails to employees or recruiters will not influence consideration.

AI Disclosure: Some stages of selection may use AI tools to support but not replace human decision-making.