Distinguished Software Engineer, Runtime Profiling Platform
Walmart Inc.
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Walmart Global Tech in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a Distinguished Software Engineer to lead our Continuous Profiling and Runtime Performance platform.
This role shapes architecture across multi-tenant Kubernetes, JVM runtimes, and kernel-level instrumentation, delivering low-overhead diagnostics at scale.
You will mentor engineers, drive standardized patterns, and align with PCI-DSS and data security requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in CS or related field; 6 years’ software engineering experience.
- Option 2: 8 years’ software engineering experience.
Responsibilities
- Define long-term architectural vision for an enterprise continuous profiling platform across multi-tenant Kubernetes.
- Lead evaluation and deployment of introspection technologies (Async Profiler, JFR, eBPF).
- Establish end-to-end security, access controls, and data-sanitization for profiling artifacts (PCI-DSS).
- Collaborate with Platform Engineering to translate profiling insights into resource savings.
- Mentor engineers and drive standardized profiling patterns across teams.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Distinguished, Software Engineer:Runtime Performance & Continuous Profiling
Sunnyvale, CA
Multiple locations
R-2486843
Bentonville, AR: $130,000 - $260,000/yr
Sunnyvale, CA: $169,000 - $338,000/yr
Regular/ Permanent
Operating at the critical intersection of Linux kernel internals, managed application runtimes (JVM), and large-scale distributed systems, you will design low-overhead, continuous diagnostic frameworks that power massive workloads. You will solve unprecedented challenges in execution introspection, CPU/memory efficiency, and thread dynamics, ensuring our next-generation platform remains highly resilient, performant, and compliant with global financial and data security standards.
As a senior technical leader, you will translate corporate optimization strategies into concrete platform architecture, establish standardized performance engineering patterns across engineering domains, and mentor the next generation of principal engineers. Your work will directly drive massive infrastructure cost-savings, eliminate systemic performance bottlenecks, and enable safe, real-time runtime diagnostics at Walmart scale.
About the Team
Among accountability related to large scale application lifecycle management across all of Walmart, the Orchestration Platform team is also responsible for building the tooling, infrastructure, and native agents that monitor and optimize code execution across hundreds of thousands of cores. We focus on low-overhead, production-safe introspection, ensuring application teams have immediate access to sophisticated application profiling information without impacting customer-facing latencies, while establishing a solid foundation for optimal and thrifty usage of cloud resources.
- Own the Performance Architecture: Define the long-term architectural vision for an enterprise continuous profiling platform capable of safely executing across multi-tenant Kubernetes environments at massive scale.
- Drive Runtime Innovation: Lead the technical evaluation, implementation, and deployment of advanced introspection technologies, balancing in-process runtime diagnostics (e.g., Async Profiler, JFR tracking) against system-wide, kernel-level
- instrumentation (e.g., eBPF-powered frameworks like Zymtrace).
- Architect for Strict Compliance: Establish the end-to-end security wrapper, access controls, and data-sanitization pipelines for profiling artifacts, ensuring zero leakage of sensitive data (PAN/SAD) within highly regulated Cardholder Data Environments (CDE) to satisfy PCI-DSS requirements.
- Optimize Infrastructure Efficiency: Collaborate with Platform Engineering to leverage profiling insights into automated scheduling enhancements, resource utilization metrics, and intelligent bin-packing, directly converting telemetry into measurable cloud capacity savings.
- Influence and Standardize: Act as the primary authority on runtime internals across Global Tech, guiding critical architectural trade-offs, driving the adoption of standardized profiling patterns, and mentoring engineering teams on advanced diagnostics.
- Deep Runtime Internals Expertise: Comprehensive, low-level mastery of the HotSpot JVM (Java 17 and above), including garbage collection mechanics, JIT compiler dynamics (C1/C2), execution loop thread dynamics, and native memory management.
- Advanced Introspection Capabilities: Proven hands-on experience building or scaling continuous profiling solutions utilizing AsyncGetCallTrace, Java Flight Recorder (JFR), or deploying Linux perf_events and hardware performance counters.
- Kernel-Level & eBPF Systems Engineering: Deep understanding of Linux operating system kernels, process schedulers, and memory maps, with practical exposure to writing, verifier-validating, and deploying eBPF bytecode via node-level DaemonSets.
- High-Compliance Architecture Design: Demonstrable experience navigating security contexts, container sandboxing, and access controls (RBAC/mTLS) within scoped compliance boundaries, with a solid grasp of balancing infrastructure privileges against engineering visibility needs.
- Strategic Technical Leadership: A proven track record of guiding cross-functional engineering directions, defining architecture for mission-critical platform tools, and executing large-scale technology rollouts across a global footprint.
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
Bentonville, Arkansas US-30095: The annual salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $260,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
- Stock
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Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no 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.
Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no 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.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.
Discount Card
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Walmart 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.
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Earn 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.
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Medical, dental, vision, and wellness programs for you and your family
Access mental health resources and assistance programs for life’s challenges
Training, leadership programs, and clear paths to advance.
Imagine 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.
(USA) Distinguished, Software Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114
Distinguished, Software Engineer
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114
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