Director of Engineering, Strategic Initiatives & Technology Enablement

Petco; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Petco is looking for a Director of Engineering for Strategic Initiatives & Technology Enablement. This role will lead technology initiatives across engineering and product teams, focusing on improving execution and implementing AI-enabled solutions.

The ideal candidate has over 12 years of experience in software engineering, with proven leadership in technology within retail or digital commerce. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence enterprise-wide technology strategy.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering or product development.
• 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience implementing AI-enabled solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic technology initiatives across engineering and product teams.
• Drive execution of enterprise programs and improve cross-team collaboration.
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership.

Skills

Software engineering

Product development

Technology leadership

Cloud technologies

Stakeholder management

Job description

Director of Engineering, Strategic Initiatives & Technology Enablement

Role Overview

Petco is seeking a strategic technology leader to drive high-impact initiatives across engineering, product, and business teams. This role will lead cross-functional programs focused on improving execution, modernizing technology capabilities, and enabling scalable solutions across the enterprise.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in software engineering, product development, and technology leadership within retail or digital commerce environments. This role requires someone who can operate across teams, influence at all levels of the organization, and help solve complex business and technology challenges.

A key part of this role will be helping the organization implement and scale practical AI-enabled solutions that improve customer experience, associate productivity, operational efficiency, and engineering effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic technology initiatives across engineering, product, and business teams
• Drive execution, prioritization, and delivery of enterprise programs
• Partner with engineering leaders to improve systems, processes, and delivery effectiveness
• Help identify and implement practical AI solutions across platforms, products, and internal workflows
• Support implementation of modern technologies and scalable platform capabilities
• Promote engineering best practices, automation, reliability, and operational excellence
• Collaborate with architecture teams on scalable, API-first, and cloud-based solutions
• Establish standards and processes that improve execution and cross-team alignment
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership and key stakeholders

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, product development, or technology leadership
• 5+ years in senior leadership roles
• Strong background in engineering, software development, and product delivery
• Experience in retail, eCommerce, or digital platforms
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives
• Strong understanding of cloud technologies, APIs, modern architecture, and scalable systems
• Experience implementing modern technology and AI-enabled solutions in production environments
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in omnichannel retail or consumer-facing technology organizations
• Background in automation, platform modernization, or operational transformation
• Experience building shared engineering practices or Centers of Excellence

Why Petco

At Petco, we’re passionate about improving the lives of pets, pet parents, and our partners. This role offers the opportunity to influence enterprise‑wide technology strategy and help shape how we build and deliver solutions at scale.