Distinguished, Software Engineer - Machine Learning

Walmart; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 338,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live Better U tuition

401(k) matching

Stock purchase

Paid time off

Discount card

Job summary

Walmart is seeking a Distinguished Software Engineer to lead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native AI-powered systems within the AdTech Measurement and Reporting team. You will drive architectural integrity, reliability, and collaboration across engineering, data science, and product management to deliver high-impact solutions.

You will mentor teams, advance CI/CD practices, and ensure operational readiness, performance, and quality across real-time data processing and reporting

Qualifications

• 10+ years of ML and data-intensive platform development.
• 4+ years as staff+ level technical lead.
• Experience with distributed data processing tools (Spark, Flink, Kafka, RAY, BigQuery, Druid).
• Experience implementing transformer-based model training and real-time inference on GPU-backed infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Solve AdTech scale problems using ML and statistical methods with senior engineers.
• Lead platform development for measurement solutions from 0 to 1 (incrementality, attribution, data cleanroom, GenAI-powered reporting).
• Define technical direction and conduct design reviews aligning strategy with business goals.
• Troubleshoot production issues, coordinate with support teams, document actions.

Skills

ML & data platforms

Staff+ tech lead

Distributed data processing

GenAI techniques

GPU inference

Education

PhD preferred

Tools

Spark streaming

Flink

Kafka

RAY

BigQuery

Druid

Casandra

Job description

Bellevue, WA: The pay range will be discussed during the hiring processSunnyvale, CA: $169,000 - $338,000/yrRegular/ PermanentSalariedLoading map...Bellevue, WA: The pay range will be discussed during the hiring processSunnyvale, CA: $169,000 - $338,000/yrRegular/ PermanentSalaried

Position Summary

Role summary: As a Distinguished Software Engineer, you will lead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native AI-powered systems, ensuring architectural integrity and operational excellence. This role requires translating strategic objectives into robust technical solutions while fostering collaboration across engineering teams. You will champion best practices in software development, continuous integration, and reliability engineering, driving innovation and continuous improvement. By providing technical leadership and mentorship, you will enhance system performance, scalability, and maintainability, contributing to the achievement of business goals with a strong commitment to quality and operational readiness.

About the team

The AdTech Measurement and Reporting team develops scalable, cloud-native platforms for real-time data processing and AI integration. This team delivers precise performance insights that support strategic decision-making and business goals. Collaborating across functions, members design robust tools to enhance reporting accuracy and efficiency. By applying advanced engineering principles and data-driven methods, the team ensures reliable, high-quality outputs. Focused on continuous innovation and alignment with technical strategy, this group advances Walmart's technology solutions through disciplined development, testing, and delivery practices, emphasizing operational excellence and scalability.

What you’ll do

• Solve world class scale AdTech problems using ML (e.g., transformer model) and statistical methods together with a group talented engineers with doctoral degrees and industry experience s in top-tier tech companies.
• Lead platform development for a suite of measurement solutions from 0 to 1 - including incrementality, attribution, data cleanroom measurement, partner integrations, and GenAI-powered reporting - supporting both real-time optimization and offline reporting with the absolute stability and correctness demanded by Walmart's multi-billion-dollar digital advertising business.
• Define technical direction and conduct design reviews for engineering teams while partnering with engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Troubleshoot business and production issues by gathering information (issue, impact, criticality, possible root cause), engage support teams to assist in resolution of issues, formulate an action plan, performing actions as designated in plan, interpret the results to determine further action, and complete online documentation.

What you’ll bring

• 10+ years of experience in ML and data intensive platform development.
• 4 + years of experience as staff + level technical lead.
• Familiar with distributed data processing tools and databases, e.g., Spark streaming, Flink, Kafka, RAY, BigQuery , Druid, Casandra, etc.
• Skilled at leveraging AI to enhance productivity and drive innovation.
• Familiar with GenAI skills and techniques e.g., MCP, RAG , Re-ranking , Agent Skill , Progressive disclosure , Context engineering , Agent-to-agent protocol, fine-tuning, etc.
• Familiar with prevailing ML libraries e.g., pyspark , pytorch , CUDA , Triton etc.
• Experience implementing statistical and machine learning methods for data classification , regression , ranking, and/or recommendation.
• Experience implementing transformer-based model training and real-time inference on GPU backed infrastructure.
• Experience working cross-functionally with data scientists, machine learning engineers, and product managers.
• Experience working in AdTech measurement with demonstrated knowledge of the AdTech business.

Preferred experiences

• PhD in data mining, data management, machine learning, operation research, GenAI, or statistics is a plus.
• Publications in top-tier academic conferences or journals is a plus.
• Experience with ad-tech targeting, measurement, identity mapping , bidding, and optimization related domains is a plus.
• Extensive experience in real-time data streaming applications is a plus.
• Extensive experience in ads auction retrieval and rank is a plus.
• Extensive experience in bi d optimization applications is a plus.
• Patents in data mining or machine learning related domains is a plus.
• A good understanding of query optimization and distributed systems is a plus.
• A good understanding of industry trends in AdTech, ML, and GenAI is a plus.

Salary and benefits

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms. For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.

Sunnyvale, California US-11657: The annual salary range for this position is $169,000.00 - $338,000.00 Bellevue, Washington US-11663: The annual salary range for this position is $156,000.00 - $312,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include : - Stock

Minimum Qualifications

• Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 6 years' experience in software engineering or related area.
• Option 2: 8 years' experience in software engineering or related area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 4 years' experience in software engineering or related area, We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly.
• The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart's accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.

Primary Location

1345 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of America

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

Walmart is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

Benefits you’ll enjoy

Discount CardGet 10% offWalmart associates are eligible for a 10% discount card on most regular-priced items and fresh produce in-store and on select items at Walmart.com. Eligible after 90 days of employment. Live Better U100% coveredEarn a degree or in-demand skills certificates with no debt- Walmart covers 100% of tuition and books. Live Better U offers 60+ programs for Associates to pursue their dreams.Walmart AcademyGrow your skillsReady to grow your career? Walmart Academy offers job-specific retail training and leadership courses to help Associates reach their career goals.Financial perksEnjoy 401(k) matching and stock purchase plans.Paid time offTake a break as needed for vacation, sick leave, holidays, parental leave, and moreComprehensive health benefitsMedical, dental, vision, and wellness programs for you and your familyWellbeing programsAccess mental health resources and assistance programs for life's challengesCareer growth opportunitiesTraining, leadership programs, and clear paths to advance. Learn more Life at WalmartImagine a workplace surrounded by innovation. At Walmart's new Home Office in Bentonville, Arkansas, we're redefining what it means to work at a global leader.Set on 350 acres of thoughtfully revitalized land, our new campus seamlessly integrates the charm of Northwest Arkansas with cutting edge design and technology. From biking trails and outdoor courtyards to flexible, tech-enabled workspaces, every detail reflects our commitment to sustainability, connection, and culture.With amenities like on-site childcare at our Little Squiggles Children's Enrichment Center, the Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness Center, and a vibrant food hall featuring local and international favorites, we’re creating a space where work-life balance isn't just a goal-it's a reality. Beyond the campus, Bentonville offers a dynamic lifestyle with world-class dining, art at the Crystal Bridges Museum, and countless outdoor activities.Whether you're exploring High South cuisine, enjoying live performances at our new amphitheater, or cycling the Razorback Greenway, you'll experience the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities.Join us at Walmart and grow your career alongside a community that feels like home.This isn't just a workplace-it's a destination for leaders eager to make a difference.