About the Team
PolarDB is Alibaba Cloud’s flagship cloud-native database, engineered to deliver extreme performance, elastic scalability, and intelligent automation for mission-critical workloads. As the core team behind PolarDB, we are pushing the boundaries of database technology with innovations such as:
- Serverless architecture with dynamic resource scaling — reducing costs by over 50% while supporting million-core-level CPU scheduling.
- Industry-first multi-primary and HTAP (Hybrid Transactional/Analytical Processing) capabilities for real-time analytics at scale.
- Deep integration with modern cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes and cloud orchestration systems.
- A next-generation AI-powered data platform with built-in vector search and graph computing support.
We serve tens of thousands of enterprise customers in finance, e-commerce, government, and telecommunications — powering some of the largest digital systems in the world.
As part of Alibaba Cloud’s elite database team, we’re building the future of intelligent databases through software-hardware co-design and open innovation.
What You’ll Do
As a Control Plane Development Engineer, you will design and build the core control system that powers PolarDB on public cloud. You’ll work across distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and database engineering to deliver a highly reliable, scalable, and automated database service.
Your impact will include:
- Designing and developing key components of the PolarDB control plane, including cluster lifecycle management, resource orchestration, high availability, and disaster recovery.
- Driving the evolution of PolarDB Serverless, optimizing auto-scaling algorithms and resource utilization for better performance and cost efficiency.
- Enabling full-stack optimization and compatibility on diverse hardware platforms, including domestic architectures (Hygon, Kunpeng, Phytium) and standard x86/ARM environments.
- Integrating PolarDB with public cloud infrastructure to ensure consistent deployment, observability, and operational experience across heterogeneous environments.
- Exploring Data + AI convergence: contributing to AI node scheduling, vector engine integration, and intelligent workload management.
- Building robust monitoring, diagnostics, and automation tools to improve system reliability and customer experience at scale.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in large-scale distributed systems, cloud platforms, or database systems development.
- Strong programming skills in Go, Java, or C++; proven ability to design complex systems and troubleshoot production issues.
- Hands-on experience with Kubernetes or other container orchestration technologies — deep code-level understanding is a plus.
- Experience with database management platforms, high-availability architectures, or cloud control planes is highly preferred.
- Familiarity with domestic CPU architectures (Hygon, Kunpeng, Phytium) or OS adaptation in China is a strong advantage.
- Passion for emerging trends: cloud-native databases, Serverless, HTAP, Data+AI integration.
- Self-driven learner with strong problem-solving skills, capable of owning complex modules from design to delivery.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills — we value knowledge sharing and technical excellence.
Why Join Us?
- Work on one of the most advanced cloud-native databases in the world — used by millions of applications globally.
- Collaborate with top engineers and researchers at the forefront of database and cloud innovation.
- Drive real impact in industries that shape the digital economy — from fintech to smart cities.
- Grow your career in a culture that values deep technical expertise, creativity, and long-term thinking.
- Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for international exposure.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
