Catalog Automation Specialist

Socket.dev; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CarParts.com is seeking a Catalog Automation Specialist, a hands-on engineer reporting to the VP of Data & Catalog. You will co-architect and deliver automation for the catalog ingestion engine (R.I.N.A.) and create scalable tools that empower cross-team data workflows.

Strong production-grade Python skills, large-scale data processing, and clear communication with global teams are essential. This role blends design, implementation, and operations across our image and data pipelines.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of programming experience.
• Strong Python production development experience.
• Solid fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, testing, debugging, and clean code.
• Programmatic networking and file transfer experience (FTP/SFTP/SMB/APIs).
• Experience designing scalable systems that process millions of files with batching, parallelism, and timing.
• Basic Excel proficiency for stakeholder spreadsheets.
• Excellent communication and a self-starter attitude; willing to join occasional early/late meetings to coordinate with global teams.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly design, implement, and deliver one-off automation tools to support business teams.
• Build and co-architect automation pipelines for R.I.N.A., the data/catalog ingestion engine.
• Operate and improve the image pipeline: download, rename, upload, validate, reconcile, and run site-wide 404 checks.
• Produce documentation and handoffs; coordinate meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Optimize parsing and processing for very large datasets for throughput and latency.

Skills

Python

Data Structures

Algorithms

Testing

Debugging

Networking

Large-scale processing

Excel

Communication

Self-starter

Tools

Git/GitHub

Docker

Linux

Cloud storage (S3/Blob)

Job description

What We Do

CarParts.com is the go-to eCommerce platform for auto care and maintenance.
We provide drivers with quality parts at competitive prices and enable them to schedule appointments with trusted mechanics directly through our website.
Using world-class design principles and the latest technologies, we deliver a fast, intuitive digital experience backed by our company-owned national distribution network.
With over 1,000 employees worldwide, we are scaling rapidly, fueled by our most recent strategic partnership and $35 million investment.
This positions us for the next phase of growth as we continue to empower drivers along their journey.

Our Culture

At CarParts.com, our culture goes beyond our core values of Safety First, Customer Focused, and Commitment to Excellence.
We are a performance-driven, data-focused, and fast-paced team where results matter and winning is expected.

• Hungry & Hardworking: We set ambitious goals, measure progress with clear metrics, and hold ourselves accountable to deliver results.
• Promote from Within: We reward top performers with opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Collaborative & In-Person: We believe the best ideas and fastest execution happen face-to-face.
• High Standards: We move quickly, pay attention to details, and dig deep- whether it's analyzing contracts, aggregating complex scenarios, or building clear, data-driven presentations.
• No Passengers: We value grit, ownership, and the relentless pursuit of result

Summary of Role/Position

The Catalog Automation Specialist is a hands-on, high-autonomy engineer who reports directly to the VP of Data & Catalog. You will co-architect and deliver file and image automation systems that power our catalog ingestion engine (R.I.N.A.) and support cross-functional teams with one-off automation solutions. This role requires production-grade Python skills, a performance-first mindset for very large-scale data processing, and the ability to communicate and coordinate across global teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Rapidly design, implement, and deliver one-off automation tools and scripts to support business teams (reporting, process automation, ETL tasks). (Approx. 45%)
• Build, maintain, and co-architect automation pipelines for R.I.N.A., our primary data/catalog Python based ingestion engine. (Approx. 25%)
• Operate and improve the image pipeline: download, rename, upload, validate, reconcile, and run site-wide 404 checks across millions of images. (Approx. 20%)
• Produce clear documentation, runbooks, and handoffs; coordinate meetings and requirements with internal and external stakeholders. (Approx. 10%)
• Optimize parsing and processing for very large datasets; design for throughput and latency (millions of files processed in hours).

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of programming experience.
• Strong Python expertise - production development is required.
• Solid programming fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, testing, debugging, and clean code.
• Programmatic networking and file transfer experience (FTP/SFTP/SMB/APIs) - must be comfortable connecting to remote systems and automating file movement.

• Scale & performance experience - comfortable designing and optimizing systems that parse and process millions of files with attention to batching, parallelism, and timing.
• Basic Excel proficiency - able to produce/manipulate spreadsheets for stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and self-starter attitude - able to collect requirements, run meetings, and deliver with minimal supervision. Willingness to join occasional early/late meetings to coordinate with global teams.
• Hybrid in-office and remote, must be able to come into office as needed.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Nice-to-Have

• XML parsing experience (ACES/PIES or similar)
• Databricks / datalake familiarity
• Image/CDN experience (metadata, checksums, basic transforms)
• Git/GitHub, version tracking software
• Linux, cron, Docker, cloud object storage (S3/Blob)

A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this position based on job experience, education level, global geographic region, etc: $100,000-$110,000

CarParts.com is an equal-opportunity employer.

We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

Our management is dedicated to ensuring that we fulfill this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.

The above-noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the incumbent a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.