diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index bfe42a3572..9d5886a916 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@
 ### Enhancements
 * db_bench: add estimate-table-readers-mem benchmark which prints these stats.
 
+* A new option on_thread_start_callback has been added. It allows to set thread affinity or perform other optimizations (e.g. NUMA pinning) to speedb background threads. 
+An example file on_thread_start_callback_example.cc has been provided to demonstrate how to use this feature.
+
+
+
 ### Bug Fixes
 * unit tests: fix GlobalWriteControllerTest.GlobalAndWBMSetupDelay by waiting for the memtable memory release.
 * spdb memtable: use_seek_parallel_threshold option parameter mishandled (#570)
diff --git a/build_tools/check-sources.sh b/build_tools/check-sources.sh
index 0b8b3f181a..2e5b0262f9 100755
--- a/build_tools/check-sources.sh
+++ b/build_tools/check-sources.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ git grep -n 'using namespace' -- ':!build_tools' ':!docs' \
     ':!third-party/folly/folly/lang/Align.h' \
     ':!third-party/gtest-1.8.1/fused-src/gtest/gtest.h' \
     ':!examples/speedb_with_ttl_example.cc' \
-    ':!examples/enable_speedb_features_example.cc'
+    ':!examples/enable_speedb_features_example.cc' \
+    ':!examples/on_thread_start_callback_example.cc'
 if [ "$?" != "1" ]; then
   echo '^^^^ Do not use "using namespace"'
   BAD=1
diff --git a/db/db_basic_test.cc b/db/db_basic_test.cc
index 283efd3542..e9e0787c06 100644
--- a/db/db_basic_test.cc
+++ b/db/db_basic_test.cc
@@ -2195,6 +2195,42 @@ TEST_P(DBMultiGetTestWithParam, MultiGetBatchedValueSizeMultiLevelMerge) {
   }
 }
 
+TEST_F(DBBasicTest, DBSetThreadAffinity) {
+  Options options = GetDefaultOptions();
+  std::string dbname = test::PerThreadDBPath("db_close_test");
+  ASSERT_OK(DestroyDB(dbname, options));
+
+  DB* db = nullptr;
+  TestEnv* env = new TestEnv(env_);
+  std::unique_ptr<TestEnv> local_env_guard(env);
+  options.create_if_missing = true;
+  options.env = env;
+  auto f = [](std::thread::native_handle_type thr) {
+#if defined(OS_WIN)
+#include "winbase.h"
+    SetThreadAffinityMask(thr, 0);
+#else
+#include "pthread.h"
+    cpu_set_t cpuset;
+    CPU_ZERO(&cpuset);
+    CPU_SET(0, &cpuset);
+    pthread_setaffinity_np(thr, sizeof(cpu_set_t), &cpuset);
+#endif
+  };
+  options.on_thread_start_callback =
+      std::make_shared<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>(f);
+  Status s = DB::Open(options, dbname, &db);
+  ASSERT_OK(s);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(db != nullptr);
+
+  s = db->Close();
+  ASSERT_EQ(env->GetCloseCount(), 1);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsIOError());
+
+  delete db;
+  ASSERT_EQ(env->GetCloseCount(), 1);
+}
+
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(DBMultiGetTestWithParam, DBMultiGetTestWithParam,
                         testing::Combine(testing::Bool(), testing::Bool()));
 
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc b/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
index 10dfe11ffc..6917eb60be 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
@@ -1943,6 +1943,7 @@ Status DBImpl::Open(const DBOptions& db_options, const std::string& dbname,
                     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
                     std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles, DB** dbptr,
                     const bool seq_per_batch, const bool batch_per_txn) {
+  port::Thread::on_thread_start_callback = db_options.on_thread_start_callback;
   Status s = ValidateOptionsByTable(db_options, column_families);
   if (!s.ok()) {
     return s;
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_spdb_impl_write.h b/db/db_impl/db_spdb_impl_write.h
index 87c44e969e..75e89c0b07 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_spdb_impl_write.h
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_spdb_impl_write.h
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class SpdbWriteImpl {
   std::condition_variable flush_thread_cv_;
   port::Mutex add_buffer_mutex_;
   port::RWMutexWr flush_rwlock_;
-  std::thread flush_thread_;
+  port::Thread flush_thread_;
   port::RWMutexWr wal_buffers_rwlock_;
   port::Mutex wal_write_mutex_;
   port::Mutex wb_list_mutex_;
diff --git a/env/env_posix.cc b/env/env_posix.cc
index ae2f903602..0d160cf414 100644
--- a/env/env_posix.cc
+++ b/env/env_posix.cc
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ class PosixEnv : public CompositeEnv {
   struct JoinThreadsOnExit {
     explicit JoinThreadsOnExit(PosixEnv& _deflt) : deflt(_deflt) {}
     ~JoinThreadsOnExit() {
-      for (const auto tid : deflt.threads_to_join_) {
-        pthread_join(tid, nullptr);
+      for (auto& tid : deflt.threads_to_join_) {
+        pthread_join(tid.native_handle(), nullptr);
       }
       for (int pool_id = 0; pool_id < Env::Priority::TOTAL; ++pool_id) {
         deflt.thread_pools_[pool_id].JoinAllThreads();
@@ -403,12 +403,12 @@ class PosixEnv : public CompositeEnv {
   // members in te default instance
   std::vector<ThreadPoolImpl> thread_pools_storage_;
   pthread_mutex_t mu_storage_;
-  std::vector<pthread_t> threads_to_join_storage_;
+  std::vector<port::Thread> threads_to_join_storage_;
   bool allow_non_owner_access_storage_;
 
   std::vector<ThreadPoolImpl>& thread_pools_;
   pthread_mutex_t& mu_;
-  std::vector<pthread_t>& threads_to_join_;
+  std::vector<port::Thread>& threads_to_join_;
   // If true, allow non owner read access for db files. Otherwise, non-owner
   //  has no access to db files.
   bool& allow_non_owner_access_;
@@ -457,33 +457,18 @@ int PosixEnv::ReleaseThreads(int threads_to_released, Priority pri) {
   return thread_pools_[pri].ReleaseThreads(threads_to_released);
 }
 
-struct StartThreadState {
-  void (*user_function)(void*);
-  void* arg;
-};
-
-static void* StartThreadWrapper(void* arg) {
-  StartThreadState* state = reinterpret_cast<StartThreadState*>(arg);
-  state->user_function(state->arg);
-  delete state;
-  return nullptr;
-}
-
 void PosixEnv::StartThread(void (*function)(void* arg), void* arg) {
-  pthread_t t;
-  StartThreadState* state = new StartThreadState;
-  state->user_function = function;
-  state->arg = arg;
-  ThreadPoolImpl::PthreadCall(
-      "start thread", pthread_create(&t, nullptr, &StartThreadWrapper, state));
-  ThreadPoolImpl::PthreadCall("lock", pthread_mutex_lock(&mu_));
-  threads_to_join_.push_back(t);
-  ThreadPoolImpl::PthreadCall("unlock", pthread_mutex_unlock(&mu_));
+  auto thr = port::Thread(function, arg);
+  pthread_mutex_lock(&mu_);
+  threads_to_join_.push_back(std::move(thr));
+  pthread_mutex_unlock(&mu_);
 }
 
 void PosixEnv::WaitForJoin() {
-  for (const auto tid : threads_to_join_) {
-    pthread_join(tid, nullptr);
+  for (auto& thr : threads_to_join_) {
+    if (thr.joinable()) {
+      thr.join();
+    }
   }
   threads_to_join_.clear();
 }
diff --git a/examples/.gitignore b/examples/.gitignore
index cd412ac2b9..e0a247a709 100644
--- a/examples/.gitignore
+++ b/examples/.gitignore
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ transaction_example
 rocksdb_backup_restore_example
 speedb_is_awesome_example
 speedb_with_ttl_example
+on_thread_start_callback_example
diff --git a/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index d761c88247..73b5ad40d3 100644
--- a/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -53,3 +53,8 @@ add_executable(speedb_is_awesome_example
   speedb_is_awesome_example.cc)
   target_link_libraries(speedb_is_awesome_example
     ${ROCKSDB_LIB})
+
+add_executable(on_thread_start_callback_example
+on_thread_start_callback_example.cc)
+    target_link_libraries(on_thread_start_callback_example
+      ${ROCKSDB_LIB})
diff --git a/examples/Makefile b/examples/Makefile
index 897add759a..308167cac8 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile
+++ b/examples/Makefile
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ CFLAGS += -Wstrict-prototypes
 
 all: simple_example column_families_example compaction_filter_example compact_files_example c_simple_example optimistic_transaction_example \
 	 transaction_example options_file_example rocksdb_backup_restore_example speedb_is_awesome_example speedb_with_ttl_example \
-	 enable_speedb_features_example
+	 enable_speedb_features_example on_thread_start_callback_example
 
 simple_example: static_lib simple_example.cc
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $@.cc -o$@ ../$(LIBNAME).a -I../include -O2 -std=c++17 $(PLATFORM_LDFLAGS) $(PLATFORM_CXXFLAGS) $(EXEC_LDFLAGS)
@@ -61,13 +61,16 @@ enable_speedb_features_example: static_lib enable_speedb_features_example.cc
 speedb_with_ttl_example: static_lib speedb_with_ttl_example.cc
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $@.cc -o$@ ../$(LIBNAME).a -I../include -O2 -std=c++17 $(PLATFORM_LDFLAGS) $(PLATFORM_CXXFLAGS) $(EXEC_LDFLAGS)
 
+on_thread_start_callback_example: static_lib on_thread_start_callback_example.cc
+	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $@.cc -o$@ ../$(LIBNAME).a -I../include -O2 -std=c++17 $(PLATFORM_LDFLAGS) $(PLATFORM_CXXFLAGS) $(EXEC_LDFLAGS)
+
 rocksdb_backup_restore_example: static_lib rocksdb_backup_restore_example.cc
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) $@.cc -o$@ ../$(LIBNAME).a -I../include -O2 -std=c++17 $(PLATFORM_LDFLAGS) $(PLATFORM_CXXFLAGS) $(EXEC_LDFLAGS)
 
 clean:
 	rm -rf ./simple_example ./column_families_example ./compact_files_example ./compaction_filter_example ./c_simple_example c_simple_example.o \
 		   ./optimistic_transaction_example ./transaction_example ./options_file_example ./multi_processes_example ./rocksdb_backup_restore_example \
-		   ./speedb_is_awesome_example ./speedb_with_ttl_example ./enable_speedb_features_example
+		   ./speedb_is_awesome_example ./speedb_with_ttl_example ./enable_speedb_features_example ./on_thread_start_callback_example
 
 static_lib:
 	LIBNAME="$(LIBNAME)" $(MAKE) -C .. static_lib
diff --git a/examples/on_thread_start_callback_example.cc b/examples/on_thread_start_callback_example.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ebe59dbd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/on_thread_start_callback_example.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2023 Speedb Ltd. All rights reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+
+#include "rocksdb/db.h"
+#include "rocksdb/options.h"
+
+using namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE;
+
+#if defined(OS_WIN)
+std::string kDBPath = "C:\\Windows\\TEMP\\speedb_thr_affinity";
+#else
+std::string kDBPath = "/tmp/speedb_thr_affinity";
+#endif
+
+int main() {
+  // Open the storage
+  DB* db = nullptr;
+  Options options;
+  // create the DB if it's not already present
+  options.create_if_missing = true;
+  auto f = [](std::thread::native_handle_type thr) {
+// callback to pin all Speedb threads to the first core.
+#if defined(OS_WIN)
+#include "winbase.h"
+    SetThreadAffinityMask(thr, 0);
+#else
+#include "pthread.h"
+    std::cout << "thread spawned, thread_id: " << thr << std::endl;
+    cpu_set_t cpuset;
+    CPU_ZERO(&cpuset);
+    CPU_SET(0, &cpuset);
+    pthread_setaffinity_np(thr, sizeof(cpu_set_t), &cpuset);
+#endif
+  };
+  options.on_thread_start_callback =
+      std::make_shared<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>(f);
+  Status s = DB::Open(options, kDBPath, &db);
+  assert(s.ok());
+
+  // append new entry
+  std::string key = "key_1";
+  std::string put_value = "Speedb is awesome!";
+  s = db->Put(WriteOptions(), key, put_value);
+  assert(s.ok());
+
+  // retrieve entry
+  std::string get_value;
+  s = db->Get(ReadOptions(), key, &get_value);
+  assert(s.ok());
+  assert(get_value == put_value);
+  std::cout << get_value << std::endl;
+
+  // close DB
+  s = db->Close();
+  assert(s.ok());
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/db.h b/include/rocksdb/db.h
index ec12365bfa..3a9a6f61f3 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/db.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/db.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "rocksdb/listener.h"
 #include "rocksdb/metadata.h"
 #include "rocksdb/options.h"
+#include "rocksdb/port_defs.h"
 #include "rocksdb/snapshot.h"
 #include "rocksdb/sst_file_writer.h"
 #include "rocksdb/thread_status.h"
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/env.h b/include/rocksdb/env.h
index 63a1619238..617bb4552f 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/env.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/env.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <limits>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <thread>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "rocksdb/customizable.h"
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/memtablerep.h b/include/rocksdb/memtablerep.h
index d5d18863b4..0977c54e08 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/memtablerep.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/memtablerep.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include <unordered_set>
 
 #include "rocksdb/customizable.h"
+#include "rocksdb/port_defs.h"
 #include "rocksdb/slice.h"
 
 namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE {
@@ -319,7 +320,7 @@ class MemTableRepFactory : public Customizable {
 
   void Init() {
     switch_memtable_thread_ =
-        std::thread(&MemTableRepFactory::PrepareSwitchMemTable, this);
+        port::Thread(&MemTableRepFactory::PrepareSwitchMemTable, this);
     // need to verify the thread was executed
     {
       std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lck(switch_memtable_thread_mutex_);
@@ -420,7 +421,7 @@ class MemTableRepFactory : public Customizable {
   bool enable_switch_memtable_ = false;
 
  private:
-  std::thread switch_memtable_thread_;
+  port::Thread switch_memtable_thread_;
   std::mutex switch_memtable_thread_mutex_;
   std::condition_variable switch_memtable_thread_cv_;
   std::atomic<bool> terminate_switch_memtable_ = false;
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/options.h b/include/rocksdb/options.h
index 44c000629f..0cb9fb6489 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/options.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/options.h
@@ -1511,6 +1511,8 @@ struct DBOptions {
   // Defaults to check once per hour.  Set to 0 to disable the task.
   unsigned int refresh_options_sec = 60 * 60;
   std::string refresh_options_file;
+  std::shared_ptr<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>
+      on_thread_start_callback = nullptr;
 };
 
 // Options to control the behavior of a database (passed to DB::Open)
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/port_defs.h b/include/rocksdb/port_defs.h
index 68f1d61d23..a93f31c6c9 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/port_defs.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/port_defs.h
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "rocksdb/rocksdb_namespace.h"
+#include <functional>
+#include <memory>
+#include <thread>
 
+#include "rocksdb/rocksdb_namespace.h"
 namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE {
 
 namespace port {
@@ -22,5 +25,38 @@ enum class CpuPriority {
   kNormal = 2,
   kHigh = 3,
 };
+namespace port {
+class ThreadWithCb {
+ public:
+  static std::shared_ptr<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>
+      on_thread_start_callback;
+  template <typename Function, typename... Args>
+  ThreadWithCb(Function&& func, Args&&... args) {
+    thread_ =
+        std::thread(std::forward<Function>(func), std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+    if (on_thread_start_callback) {
+      on_thread_start_callback->operator()(native_handle());
+    }
+  }
+
+  ThreadWithCb() {}
+  bool joinable() { return thread_.joinable(); }
 
+  void join() { thread_.join(); }
+
+  void detach() { thread_.detach(); }
+  std::thread::id get_id() { return thread_.get_id(); }
+  std::thread& operator=(std::thread&& __t) {
+    thread_ = std::move(__t);
+    return thread_;
+  }
+  std::thread::native_handle_type native_handle() {
+    return thread_.native_handle();
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::thread thread_;
+};
+using Thread = ThreadWithCb;
+}  // namespace port
 }  // namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/write_buffer_manager.h b/include/rocksdb/write_buffer_manager.h
index 5e5d9f10f7..e2e530340b 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/write_buffer_manager.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/write_buffer_manager.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "rocksdb/cache.h"
+#include "rocksdb/port_defs.h"
 
 namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE {
 struct Options;
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ class WriteBufferManager final {
   // reason to wakeup. See the thread's code for more details
   bool new_flushes_wakeup_ = false;
 
-  std::thread flushes_thread_;
+  port::Thread flushes_thread_;
   bool terminate_flushes_thread_ = false;
 };
 
diff --git a/memtable/spdb_sorted_vector.h b/memtable/spdb_sorted_vector.h
index 8442f6f334..3f2d006b73 100644
--- a/memtable/spdb_sorted_vector.h
+++ b/memtable/spdb_sorted_vector.h
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class SpdbVectorContainer {
     spdb_vectors_.push_front(spdb_vector);
     spdb_vector->SetVectorListIter(std::prev(spdb_vectors_.end()));
     curr_vector_.store(spdb_vector.get());
-    sort_thread_ = std::thread(&SpdbVectorContainer::SortThread, this);
+    sort_thread_ = port::Thread(&SpdbVectorContainer::SortThread, this);
   }
 
   ~SpdbVectorContainer() {
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ class SpdbVectorContainer {
   std::atomic<bool> immutable_;
   // sort thread info
   std::atomic<size_t> num_elements_;
-  std::thread sort_thread_;
+  port::Thread sort_thread_;
   std::mutex sort_thread_mutex_;
   std::condition_variable sort_thread_cv_;
 };
diff --git a/memtable/write_buffer_manager.cc b/memtable/write_buffer_manager.cc
index 94193e338f..2d54ee2137 100644
--- a/memtable/write_buffer_manager.cc
+++ b/memtable/write_buffer_manager.cc
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ void WriteBufferManager::InitFlushInitiationVars(size_t quota) {
 
   if (flushes_thread_.joinable() == false) {
     flushes_thread_ =
-        std::thread(&WriteBufferManager::InitiateFlushesThread, this);
+        port::Thread(&WriteBufferManager::InitiateFlushesThread, this);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/options/options_settable_test.cc b/options/options_settable_test.cc
index 8e9e6fb479..50159fe382 100644
--- a/options/options_settable_test.cc
+++ b/options/options_settable_test.cc
@@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ TEST_F(OptionsSettableTest, DBOptionsAllFieldsSettable) {
        sizeof(std::shared_ptr<CompactionService>)},
       {offsetof(struct DBOptions, daily_offpeak_time_utc), sizeof(std::string)},
       {offsetof(struct DBOptions, refresh_options_file), sizeof(std::string)},
+      {offsetof(struct DBOptions, on_thread_start_callback),
+       sizeof(std::shared_ptr<
+              std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>)},
   };
 
   char* options_ptr = new char[sizeof(DBOptions)];
diff --git a/port/port_posix.cc b/port/port_posix.cc
index cde6e8c298..459b52af5a 100644
--- a/port/port_posix.cc
+++ b/port/port_posix.cc
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ extern const bool kDefaultToAdaptiveMutex = false;
 #endif
 
 namespace port {
-
+std::shared_ptr<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>
+    ThreadWithCb::on_thread_start_callback;
 static int PthreadCall(const char* label, int result) {
   if (result != 0 && result != ETIMEDOUT && result != EBUSY) {
     fprintf(stderr, "pthread %s: %s\n", label, errnoStr(result).c_str());
diff --git a/port/port_posix.h b/port/port_posix.h
index f3571640e9..0354a3e060 100644
--- a/port/port_posix.h
+++ b/port/port_posix.h
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class CondVar {
   Mutex* mu_;
 };
 
-using Thread = std::thread;
+using Thread = ThreadWithCb;
 
 static inline void AsmVolatilePause() {
 #if defined(__i386__) || defined(__x86_64__)
diff --git a/port/win/port_win.cc b/port/win/port_win.cc
index 37e8f655ce..36356899ca 100644
--- a/port/win/port_win.cc
+++ b/port/win/port_win.cc
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE {
 extern const bool kDefaultToAdaptiveMutex = false;
 
 namespace port {
-
+std::shared_ptr<std::function<void(std::thread::native_handle_type)>>
+    ThreadWithCb::on_thread_start_callback;
 #ifdef ROCKSDB_WINDOWS_UTF8_FILENAMES
 std::string utf16_to_utf8(const std::wstring& utf16) {
   std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8_utf16<wchar_t>, wchar_t> convert;
diff --git a/port/win/port_win.h b/port/win/port_win.h
index d37bb45967..a8f81e3be8 100644
--- a/port/win/port_win.h
+++ b/port/win/port_win.h
@@ -194,13 +194,7 @@ class CondVar {
   Mutex* mu_;
 };
 
-#ifdef _POSIX_THREADS
-using Thread = std::thread;
-#else
-// Wrapper around the platform efficient
-// or otherwise preferrable implementation
-using Thread = WindowsThread;
-#endif
+using Thread = port::ThreadWithCb;
 
 // OnceInit type helps emulate
 // Posix semantics with initialization