Sulabh Mahajan

Storage & Data Infrastructure | WiredTiger, Replication, Distributed Metadata | Interested in Building Foundational AI/Data Systems

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

About

Data infrastructure engineer with 15+ years building core storage and foundational data systems. I worked on WiredTiger, the storage engine behind MongoDB, focusing on transactional durability, recovery, and high-performance data access. Currently, I work on distributed catalog systems coordinating access to large datasets across clusters. Earlier at NetApp, I built block-level replication systems and the distributed control planes that managed them. My work sits at the boundary of storage engines, replication, and distributed metadata systems that power critical data infrastructure. I enjoy building foundational systems on critical data paths, where architectural decisions directly impact correctness, performance, and operational reliability. I’ve lived and worked across India, Australia, and Europe, collaborating closely with teams across the US tech ecosystem. These experiences shaped how I approach engineering: valuing diverse perspectives, clear communication, and the open-source ethos behind modern infrastructure. I’m passionate about building strong engineering teams and self-organizing cultures. Long-term, I’m interested in building foundational systems for the next generation of data and AI infrastructure. Focus Areas: • Storage engines and transactional persistence • Block-level replication and storage reliability • Distributed metadata and catalog systems • Distributed control planes for data infrastructure • AI data infrastructure

Experience

  • MongoDB (Full-time · 10 yrs 2 mos)
    • Staff Engineer
      Nov 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      * Provide technical leadership across teams working on database and storage subsystems in large-scale production environments * Focus on areas where performance, correctness, reliability, and operational risk intersect * Help teams navigate ambiguous or high-stakes technical situations with calm, well-reasoned judgment * Identify and reduce systemic risks early through design reviews, deep debugging, and cross-cutting architectural insight * Mentor engineers across levels into stronger systems thinkers and confident problem solvers * Build alignment across teams through empathy, clarity, and low-ego collaboration * Contribute to long-term technical direction shaped by years of experience on the WiredTiger storage engine and broader MongoDB systems

    • Senior Software Engineer
      Sep 2018 - Nov 2022 · 4 yrs 3 mos

    • Database Server Engineer
      May 2016 - Aug 2018 · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • MTS at NetApp
    Feb 2011 - Feb 2016 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    Worked with the Data Protection Group on asynchronous block level replication technology, SnapMirror, for standalone and clustered systems. The responsibilities involved design and development of applications in a distributed environment (SMF/Mhost) and of data control plane (DControl) to manage the replication engine. Development and maintenance activities primarily focused at the management and the control plane.

  • Software Developer at Pidgin
    Mar 2008 - Dec 2011 · 3 yrs 10 mos

    The major responsibility being the primary maintainer of the Yahoo! Code, and the development of the new privacy subsystem.

  • System Engineer at Infosys
    Jan 2010 - Jan 2011 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Worked on a project in IVS Retail (an Integrated Business Unit at Infosys), the work involved testing applications on Mainframes platform and Unix. Completed the employee training program at Infosys Technologies Limited, majoring in MainFrame application development. Among the best performers with CGPA of 4.99/5.00.

  • Student Developer - Summer of Code 2009 at Google
    May 2009 - Aug 2009 · 4 mos

    Worked on “Privacy Rewrite” to rewrite the privacy subsystem for libpurple, so as to be able to implement privacy features of various IM protocols and present an interface that is consistent across various protocols, designed to be used by various libpurple's UIs. Also modified Pidgin to be able to utilize the new privacy subsystem.