1. A computer readable memory storing instructions that, if executed by a distributed computing system, causes the distributed computing system to perform a method, the method comprising: executing a plurality of operators, wherein the execution of each operator is under the control of a state machine that invokes pause control states to pause the execution of an operator in response to a violation of a service level agreement specifying an operating condition threshold within the distributed computing system; forming partitions of input data that are worked on independently within the distributed computing system; and specifying data partition control states to process partitions associated with a set of data batches.