Key skills
Software EngineeringSystems-level expertiseTechnical product designRustC++PythonGoCollaboration skillsCommunication skillsMentoringCPerformance OptimizationCommunicationCollaboration
About this role
Dropbox is a global community focused on creating more enlightened ways of working. As a Staff Engineer focused on Dropbox Sync, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the reliability, scalability, and future direction of one of Dropbox’s most critical systems.
Responsibilities:
- Architect and deliver high-impact technical solutions that scale to millions of daily active users
- Shape technical direction by evaluating tradeoffs between speed, quality, and long-term maintainability across projects
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering peers to align on priorities and execute against critical business objectives
- Lead technical initiatives that modernize core sync systems, improve performance, and reduce customer-reported issues
- Mentor and elevate other engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and sharing best practices
- Influence org-wide engineering standards by advocating for high-quality systems design, operational excellence, and pragmatic decision-making
- Contribute to culture by participating in hiring, onboarding, and company-wide technical forums
Requirements:
- 12+ years of software engineering experience with proven success in large-scale, user-facing systems
- BS in Computer Science or related technical field involving coding (e.g., mathematics, physics), or equivalent technical experience
- Demonstrated ability to design and ship technically complex products used at scale
- Deep expertise in at least one systems-level area (e.g., sync, distributed systems, OS internals, file systems)
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing across multiple teams and functions
- Comfortable balancing short-term delivery with long-term strategic investments
- Willingness to participate in on-call rotations where required
- Advanced proficiency in Rust or C++, with strong debugging and performance optimization skills
- Familiarity with operating system internals, compilers, databases, or distributed storage systems
- Knowledge of Python and/or Go a plus
- Track record of setting technical direction across teams and driving adoption of new technologies
- Experience building developer platforms or infrastructure that accelerates product delivery