GitLab is looking to evolve its strategic data platform to manage and leverage data across its SaaS and self-managed deployments, supporting enterprise-scale growth and innovation. This involves creating a unified architectural blueprint, designing monetizable data services and APIs, and transforming business challenges into strategic technical roadmaps.
Requirements
- Experience architecting large-scale distributed data systems in complex, regulated domains with unified platforms integrating cloud-native compute, orchestration, and semantic modeling
- Hands-on expertise with modern data stack technologies including Python, Docker, Airflow, Trino, Postgres, distributed query engines, and graph-based metadata systems
- 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
- Design and implement Model Driven Architecture (MDA) framework to establish clear separation between logical/conceptual data models and platform-specific physical implementations, enabling agility and reducing technical debt across enterprise data systems
Responsibilities
- Drive architectural vision for scalable, distributed data systems across SaaS and self-managed deployments, designing database solutions that balance OLTP/OLAP performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency
- Establish enterprise data governance frameworks including lineage, quality controls, versioning, and compliance practices that meet regulatory requirements across global markets
- Architect monetizable data services and APIs with semantic models serving internal analytics and external product offerings, enabling new revenue streams while maintaining security and performance SLAs
- Create a cohesive architectural blueprint of GitLab's data ecosystem, identifying gaps against modern platforms and establishing opinionated design principles grounded in proven cloud-native patterns
- Design event-driven architectures and end-to-end data lifecycle systems spanning ingestion, orchestration (Argo, Airflow, Kubernetes), transformation workflows, and unified metadata management with comprehensive observability
- Partner with product and engineering leadership to embed AI-driven patterns into data infrastructure and align senior engineering leaders on common design tenets and platform standards
- Transform ambiguous business challenges into strategic technical roadmaps, leading high-stakes architectural engagements where data platforms create measurable competitive differentiation
Other
- Demonstrated leadership building multi-modal data services with strong developer experience principles, focusing on monetization, governance, and data product lifecycle management
- Passion for open source platforms, team mentorship, and collaborative values with ability to build scalable solutions that align with organizational culture and technical excellence
- Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement.
- GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.
- If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.
