Senior Compiler Developer (Kotlin Compiler - Core)

Hybrid in Madrid·Added 17 days ago

JetBrains

52 open roles

Overview

Job details

  • Hybrid

    Office and home days — the ad has the split.

  • A relocation package

    Help with the move, per the ad.

  • Relocation help

    Indicative — the ad doesn’t promise sponsorship.

Requirements

  • Be near Madrid for hybrid days

    A relocation package offered.

  • Have senior-level experience

    Senior-level role.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

  • Strong base salary. We offer competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience.
  • Flexible work location. Enjoy the freedom to work from home or from the office.
  • Remote work. Spend up to 30 days per year working remotely from abroad.
  • Extra time off. More days to relax, recharge, and do the things you love.
  • Medical insurance allowance. Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family
  • Learning and development opportunities. Access to conferences, courses, and language classes.
  • Relocation support. We help make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible.
  • Language classes. Pick up the local language or sharpen your English skills.
  • Fuel your day. Enjoy a hot meal or receive a lunch allowance on workdays.
  • Mental health support. To help you feel your best, we provide easy access to professional mental health services.
  • Sports benefit. Enjoy an on-site gym or sports club stipend.
  • Internal events. Join company-wide celebrations and team gatherings.

Requirements

What we're looking for

  • Proficiency in developing with Kotlin/JVM or Java.
  • A deep understanding of algorithms and data structures.
  • The proven ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.

Nice to have

  • Experience in compiler development would be a definite plus.
  • Experience developing Gradle plugins would be advantageous.
  • Demonstrated success in optimizing JVM application performance would also be a plus.

The role

We create intelligent software development tools for developers and teams. More than 15 million users, over 300,000 organizations, and 88 of the Fortune Global Top 100 companies rely on our products to solve real, complex problems. Our mission is simple: make development teams more productive and AI adoptable at scale.

What you'll do

As part of the Kotlin Compiler team, you'll take ownership of the central pipeline that connects the compiler's frontend with multiple backends. This is deep, technical work that directly influences how Kotlin code is transformed, validated, and optimized. You'll make architectural decisions that improve compiler performance and memory usage without sacrificing backward compatibility. Working closely with other Kotlin teams, your efforts will shape the evolution of the language and improve the daily experience for Kotlin developers worldwide.

Day to day, you will:

  • Develop and implement new language features.
  • Implement and fine-tune intermediate representation (IR) lowering passes.
  • Investigate and resolve complex compiler bugs and edge cases.
  • Improve compiler performance and memory usage.
  • Work with other Kotlin teams to shape how the language evolves.
  • Help improve the developer experience for Kotlin users.
  • Maintain and improve Kotlin infrastructure (IR/AST transformations, Klibs, and its backward compatibility).

What you'll bring

  • Precision. You care about every detail - from clean architecture to edge cases.
  • A strong sense of ownership. You're comfortable taking on complex technical challenges.
  • Clear communication. You can explain your thinking and justify your technical decisions to other experts.
  • A collaborative mindset. You work well with teammates to find the best solutions.
  • A long-term focus on quality. You prioritize maintainability and backward compatibility over quick fixes.

What success looks like

In your first few months, you'll dive into the compiler's central pipeline and start taking ownership of specific lowering passes and bug fixes. Over time, you'll be making significant architectural contributions that measurably improve compiler performance and memory usage. Success means earning the trust of your team through clear communication, well-reasoned decisions, and code that leaves the Kotlin compiler cleaner and more robust than you found it.

Hiring process

4 steps3 interviewsa task to do
  1. CV review

  2. Recruiter call

    With a recruiter

    Skills, motivation and growth; bring a clear narrative of your last two or three roles.

  3. Team interview

    With an one to three team members and the hiring manager · Video call

    Two-way conversation with a small live exercise: coding, a short case study or a code review.

  4. Take-home task

    In your own time

    Assesses decision-making and code quality rather than volume.

  5. Task review

    With team members

    Discuss decisions, trade-offs and how the solution evolved.

  6. References

  7. Offer

  • A substantial existing project can replace the take-home task.
  • The task review asks how you used AI tools.

About JetBrains

JetBrains is a global software development company known for creating intelligent, productivity-enhancing tools for software developers, including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, ReSharper, and the Kotlin programming language. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, the company has grown to over 2,000 employees worldwide, with a strong reputation in the developer tools industry. JetBrains is privately held and profitable, with a diverse portfolio that includes IDEs, domain-specific languages, and team collaboration tools like YouTrack and Space.

JetBrains has a significant presence in Spain, with a growing team of engineers, product managers, and designers working remotely or from hubs in Madrid and Barcelona. The company is known for its remote-friendly culture, with many roles open to candidates across Spain. For international professionals, JetBrains offers a collaborative, engineering-driven environment, competitive compensation, and the opportunity to work on widely-used tools that shape the software development landscape. The company values innovation and technical excellence, making it an attractive destination for top talent.

Industry
Developer Tools
Founded
2000
Employees
1,000–5,000
Headquarters
Prague, Czech Republic
In Spain
Madrid, Barcelona

Good to know if you are moving

  • JetBrains offers a flexible remote work policy, with many roles open to candidates across Spain, not just in major cities.
  • The company is known for its strong engineering culture and invests heavily in R&D, with a focus on AI and machine learning for developer tools.
  • JetBrains provides a comprehensive relocation package for international hires, including visa support and assistance with moving to Spain.
  • The company has a flat organizational structure, encouraging collaboration and innovation across teams.
  • JetBrains is a profitable, privately held company, offering stability and long-term career growth.

In their own words

Additional information

*Some benefits may vary depending on location.

We are an equal opportunity employer

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Location

JetBrains · Madrid

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