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Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

MHI

Systems Engineer-Automation

Canonsburg, PA · On-site

Our Systems Engineers perform engineering, specification, design, testing and commissioning of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCSs) and Human Machine Interface ...

VDURA

Systems Engineer, Platform

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

Role Overview VDURA is seeking a Senior System Engineer to lead the specification, selection, and ... Experience with parallel file systems, distributed storage, or scale-out data platforms

VDURA

Systems Engineer, Platform

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

Role Overview VDURA is seeking a Senior System Engineer to lead the specification, selection, and ... Experience with parallel file systems, distributed storage, or scale-out data platforms

Motional

Machine Learning Systems Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

$144K - $192K/yr

We are looking for a Machine Learning Systems Engineer to join our ML Acceleration team. In this ... Distributed Training : Optimize distributed training pipelines using frameworks such as PyTorch ...

Motional

Machine Learning Systems Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$144K - $192K/yr

We are looking for a Machine Learning Systems Engineer to join our ML Acceleration team. In this ... Distributed Training : Optimize distributed training pipelines using frameworks such as PyTorch ...

Tata Consultancy Service Limited

Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

This role requires hands-on experience in building cloud-ready enterprise solutions, integrating distributed systems using Kafka, and driving CI/CD automation through Jenkins and modern DevOps tools.

Eaton

Power System Modeling Principal Engineer

PA · On-site

$180K - $225K/yr

In this role, the Power Systems Modeling Principal Engineer will define, own, and advance the enterprise modeling strategy for DC distribution and converter driven architectures. You will guide the ...

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Distributed Systems Engineer information

See Pittsburgh, PA salary details

$51.9K

$123.5K

$162.1K

How much do distributed systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for distributed systems engineer in Pittsburgh, PA is $123,499.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,100.00 and $152,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Distributed Systems Engineer?

A Distributed Systems Engineer typically spends their days designing, implementing, and testing scalable systems that handle large volumes of data and user requests. You'll collaborate closely with software developers, DevOps engineers, and product managers to architect solutions that ensure reliability, performance, and fault-tolerance. Regular tasks may include reviewing system performance metrics, debugging distributed applications, writing detailed documentation, and participating in code reviews. Engaging in team meetings and cross-functional discussions is also common, as seamless cooperation is vital in this complex and fast-evolving field.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior distributed systems engineers, software engineers with expertise in scalable architectures, and those working in high-demand industries such as cloud computing or finance can earn $300,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills in distributed computing, and often working in senior or specialized roles at large technology companies.

What engineers make 200,000 a year?

Distributed Systems Engineers can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in cloud computing, distributed architecture, and proficiency in programming languages like Java or Go. Salaries vary based on location, company size, and expertise, with senior roles often reaching or exceeding this level.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Distributed Systems Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Distributed Systems Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, experience with large-scale system design, and proficiency in languages such as Java, Go, or Python. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS, GCP, or Azure), container orchestration tools (such as Kubernetes), and distributed databases is commonly required, and certifications in cloud computing can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and excellent communication skills help you navigate complex issues and work effectively across technical teams. These skills are fundamental for designing, implementing, and maintaining robust distributed systems that perform reliably at scale.

What does a distributed systems engineer do?

A distributed systems engineer designs, develops, and maintains systems that run across multiple computers or servers to ensure scalability, reliability, and performance. They work with technologies such as cloud platforms, networking, and programming languages like Java or Python, often focusing on fault tolerance and data consistency. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of system architecture are essential for this role.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in high-demand fields such as software engineering, especially those specializing in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, or machine learning, can earn $500,000 or more annually. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often includes bonuses, stock options, or other compensation components.

What does a Distributed Systems Engineer do?

A Distributed Systems Engineer designs, builds, and maintains large-scale systems that run across multiple machines or data centers. They ensure reliability, scalability, and fault tolerance by using technologies like cloud computing, containerization, and distributed databases. Their work often involves solving complex problems related to data consistency, network latency, and system coordination.

What are popular job titles related to Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA? For Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA look for? The top searched job categories for Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA are:
Distributed Systems Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Distributed Systems Engineer job openings in Pittsburgh, PA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,873 per year, or $57.2 per hour.
Software Engineer - Core Systems and Storage Roles (Multiple Individual Contributor Levels)

Software Engineer - Core Systems and Storage Roles (Multiple Individual Contributor Levels)

NetApp

Cranberry Township, PA • On-site

$120K - $280K/yr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

NetApp rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 488 rated business services

Job description

Job Summary

We are hiring experienced Systems Software Engineers across multiple NetApp engineering organizations. This pipeline posting is designed to attract strong C/C++ systems-level engineers who can contribute to core storage and data management technologies across ONTAP and other NetApp products. Candidates will be considered for roles on several teams, including ONTAP, WAFL, Replication/HA, Protocols (NFS/SMB/SAN/NVMe), Distributed Systems, Cloud Platforms, and Performance Engineering.
Engineers in these roles design, build, and optimize foundational components of NetApp's storage stack. You will work on real-world problems involving filesystems, storage internals, distributed systems, performance, scalability, reliability, and data integrity. Work may include developing new features, enhancing subsystems, analyzing complex code paths, improving throughput and latency, debugging customer issues, or driving proofs of concept. You will collaborate with senior engineers, product teams, hardware teams, and cloud engineering groups to deliver high-quality software used globally by enterprise customers.
This posting can support multiple levels (3, 4, and 5). Team and level placement will be determined during the interview process based on experience, technical depth, and demonstrated capabilities.

Job Requirements

Core Responsibilities (All Levels)

  • Design, implement, and enhance features within ONTAP and related NetApp storage systems
  • Write high-quality C/C++ code that is efficient, reliable, and maintainable
  •  Analyze and improve existing code paths for performance, scalability, and correctness
  • Debug complex issues using system-level tools, logs, tracing, and profiling
  •  Collaborate across engineering teams, including filesystem, protocol, cloud, hardware, and QA
  • Participate in design and code reviews, contributing to engineering best practices
  • Investigate performance bottlenecks and implement optimizations
  • Support prototyping, research, and feasibility analysis for new ideas and features
  • Communicate design decisions, technical findings, and progress clearly with peers
  • Use AI-assisted tools to accelerate design, development, testing, and troubleshooting

LevelSpecific Requirements

  • Software Engineer 3 (5-8 years)
    •  Owns well-defined components or features
    • Implements end-to-end functionality with guidance
    • Performs profiling, debugging, and testing across subsystems
    • Contributes to design discussions and supports cross-team integration
    • Ramps quickly on ONTAP, WAFL, protocols, or storage technologies
  • Software Engineer 4 (9-15 years)
    •  Designs and owns complex subsystems or multi-sprint epics
    • Drives cross-team delivery with minimal supervision
    • Mentors junior and mid-level engineers
    • Leads deep-dive debugging and performance analysis
    • Improves reliability, observability, and architecture patterns
  • Software Engineer 5 (12-16 years)
    • Leads major technical initiatives across teams or product line
    • Defines long-term architectural direction and technical strategy
    • Resolves highly complex system-wide issues in performance, data integrity, HA, scale, or protocols
    • Mentors senior engineers and influences engineering culture
    • Demonstrates deep domain expertise in filesystems, operating systems, HA/replication, or distributed systems
Qualifications

Required Technical Qualifications

  •  Strong proficiency in C/C++ for systems-level development
  • Understanding of data structures, algorithms, memory management, and concurrency
  • Experience with Unix/Linux systems programming
  • Experience with one or more: filesystems, storage systems, networking/protocol stacks, distributed systems, high-availability architectures
  • Strong debugging and performance analysis skills (gdb, perf, tracing, profiling tools)
  • Ability to write maintainable, well-documented code
  • Effective communication and collaboration skills

Qualifications that make you stand out: 

  • Experience with ONTAP, WAFL, or similar storage operating systems
  •  Experience with NFS, SMB, SAN (iSCSI/FC), NVMe/TCP, NVMe-oF
  •  Experience with replication, clustering, HA, or consistency protocols
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI)
  •  Exposure to kernel subsystems, VFS, IO schedulers, caching, or media management
  • Experience with distributed systems design and large-scale performance tuning
  • Knowledge of CI/CD, test automation, and modern development practices

Education

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field
  •  Equivalent practical experience considered

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is $120,000 - $280,000. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. The range is based on 'On Target Earnings' (OTE) representing the total potential earnings, which is the sum of the base salary and potential commission earned when performance targets are achieved. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's). These offerings are subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. We will provide detailed information about the specific benefits for your region during the recruitment process.

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