Principal Systems Development Engineer

Our customers’ data‑protection environments are increasingly complex and mission‑critical. Systems Development Engineering brings together hardware, software, and integrated data‑protection architecture to meet these evolving needs. We design and enhance data‑protection platforms—including backup appliances, software‑defined protection, recovery orchestration, and cloud‑integrated retention systems. Our team conducts feasibility studies, evaluates protection technologies, and prepares deployment, operation, and lifecycle‑maintenance documentation to ensure that customers achieve resilient, scalable, and secure backup and recovery outcomes. We take pride in delivering robust data‑protection solutions that meet the highest quality standards, on time and within scope.

Our Escalation Engineering team ensures that customers using Dell Technologies Data Protection portfolio—such as Data Domain, PowerProtect

Data Manager (PPDM), and the broader PowerProtect suite—have the resilient, flexible, and high‑performance software systems required in a world driven by data integrity and cybersecurity threats. Operating as deep technical experts at the cutting edge of data‑protection engineering, we bridge customer support, field services, and product engineering to identify root causes of complex protection issues, recommend architectural adjustments, and influence product enhancements. We troubleshoot intricate backup workflows, recovery operations, replication configurations, and storage‑efficiency mechanisms when customer environments exceed expected operational boundaries. We advocate for customer needs throughout the development lifecycle to drive stronger reliability, performance, and usability in future product iterations.

Join us to do the best work of your career and make a profound impact as a Principal Escalation Engineer — Data Protection (PPDM/Data Domain) on our Escalation Engineering team

What You’ll Achieve

As a Principal Systems Development Engineer / Escalation Engineer, you will have deep expertise in PowerProtect Data Manager, Data Domain systems, protection policies, storage efficiency mechanisms, replication, cloud‑tier workflows, and the overall Dell Technologies data‑protection ecosystem. You will troubleshoot complex backup, restore, orchestration, and data‑movement issues escalated from customer support, identify enhancements to improve product reliability and customer experience, and directly influence the data‑protection software roadmap.

You will:

• Troubleshoot complex backup, restore, replication, and retention issues across PPDM, Data Domain, and integrated data‑protection workflows to determine root cause and drive resolution.
• Communicate clearly—both verbally and in writing—to simplify and explain complex data‑protection concepts for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Product Engineering, Software Development, and Product Management to identify systemic issues and drive prioritization of improvements based on customer impact.
• Develop and deliver internal training, documentation, and troubleshooting guides focused on data‑protection best practices, PPDM workflows, and Data Domain operations.
• Prepare and maintain technical documents required by support, engineering, and field teams—ranging from high‑level architectures to deep‑dive data‑path analysis.
• Lead closed‑loop corrective‑action initiatives to address recurring defects, operational gaps, and process issues related to the data‑protection software stack.

Essential Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in data‑protection engineering, backup infrastructure support, or related systems‑engineering roles.
• Advanced understanding of data‑protection architectures, including snapshot policies, retention logic, replication workflows, and data‑movement pipelines.
• Strong experience working with Data Domain systems (DDOS, Boost, replication, cloud tiering) and PowerProtect Data Manager (assets, protection engines, storage workflows).
• Expert‑level log‑analysis skills with deep problem‑isolation expertise across distributed protection systems.
• Advanced understanding of TCP/IP networking as it applies to backup traffic, data‑movement throughput, storage connectivity, and replication paths.
• Expertise in Linux (primary), with experience in VMware, Windows, and heterogeneous workloads protected by PPDM.
• Experience with scripting/programming languages, databases, backup agents, cloud integrations, and hardware platforms relevant to modern protection stacks.

Desirable Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Familiarity with Kubernetes or OpenStack protection workflows within PPDM‑integrated environments

Who We Are

We believe that each of us has the power to make an impact. That’s why we put our team members at the center of everything we do.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow your career with some of the best minds and most advanced tech in the industry, we’re looking for you.
Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that helps individuals and organizations transform how they work, live and play.
Join us to build a future that works for everyone because Progress Takes All of Us.

Application closing date: 2nd Feb 2026

Dell Technologies is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Read the full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy here.