Lead Software Engineer

Grainger; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 134,100 - 223,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

PTO + holidays

401(k) match

Employee discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan refinancing

Financial counseling

Maternity/paternity leave

Job summary

Grainger in Chicago is seeking a senior software engineer to help design, build, and deploy scalable web applications. You will work on the Pricing team, using React and Next.js on the front end and Java or Kotlin on the back end, with emphasis on performance and reliability.

You will collaborate with data, design, product, and engineering partners to implement best practices, contribute to CI/CD pipelines, and pair program to raise code quality across distributed systems.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience with Modern Software Engineering projects and practices.
• 5+ years of experience in designing, building, and deploying cloud native solutions.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or other containerization technologies.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with team members.
• Understanding of distributed system design and experience building production grade distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with React.js and Next.js frameworks for front-end development.
• Solid experience with Java, Spring Boot, or similar frameworks for back-end development.
• Experience with messaging systems like Kafka.
• Experience with database technologies such PostgreSQL and/or Snowflake.
• Proven experience collaborating across teams to develop and implement software engineering best practices.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity working with data teams.
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and DevOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy high-quality web applications using React, Next.js for the front end, and Java or Kotlin for the back end.
• Build reusable and scalable components and libraries for future use.
• Understand trends and emerging technologies and evaluate the performance and applicability of potential tools for our requirements.
• Optimizeapplications for maximum speed, scalability, and reliability.
• Partner with stakeholders including data teams, design, product and executive teams and assisting them with software and data related technical issues.
• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code following best practices and coding standards.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize existing systems to improve performance.
• Integrate with RESTful APIs and third-party services.
• Work on and enhance the CI/CD pipelines.
• Pair program with developers daily to ensure better quality code, shared knowledge and increased resiliency of our applications.

Skills

React

Next.js

Java

Distributed systems

REST APIs

Git

Agile/Scrum

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

PostgreSQL

Snowflake

CI/CD

Job description

Work Location Type: Hybrid

Req Number 332826

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Workingby serving more than4.6 million customersworldwide with maintenance, repair andoperating(MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customerexpertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported2025 revenue of$17.9 billion. For more information, visitwww.grainger.com.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $134,100.00 - $223,500.00. This role is eligible for an incentive target of up to 15 % or $ , based on the achievement of individual and company performance objectives in accordance with the current terms of the incentive program which are subject to change.

Rewards and Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.


• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.


• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.


• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.


• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

For additional information and details regarding Grainger's benefits, please click on the link below:

https://experience100.ehr.com/grainger/Home/Tools-Resources/Key-Resources/New-Hire

Grainger Benefits

The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.

The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above.

Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.

Position Details

The Pricing team creates the technology that supports Grainger's pricing strategy. Providing the right product at the right price is core to Grainger's growthobjectives, both in terms of driving directgrowththe pricing leverage, and in terms of supporting other growth drivers like marketing. The Pricing teamis responsible forbuilding andmaintainingthe applications and data that support deriving the right price for each product.

Our vision: Pricing in the MRO (maintenance, repair, & operations) industry is extraordinarily complex, because of the many factors that must be considered. Setting amarketrelevant price requires clear understanding of product, customer, and competitor dynamics. Evolving the technology to support deriving the marketrelevant price requires constant iteration and collaboration with our business partners. We are a highly visible and important strategic team in our pricing strategy roadmap.

You will report to theManager,ProductEngineeringand will be based in the Merchandise Mart office.

You will

• Develop, test, and deploy high-quality web applications using React, Next.js for the front end, and Javaor Kotlinfor the back end.


• Build reusable and scalable components and libraries for future use.


• Understand trends and emerging technologies and evaluate the performance and applicability of potential tools for our requirements.


• Optimizeapplications for maximum speed, scalability, and reliability.


• Partner with stakeholders including data teams, design, product and executive teams andassistingthem with software and data related technical issues.


• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code following best practices and coding standards.


• Troubleshoot, debug, andoptimizeexisting systems to improve performance.


• Integrate with RESTful APIs and third-party services.


• Work on and enhance the CI/CD pipelines.


• Pair program with developers daily to ensure better quality code, sharedknowledgeand increased resiliency of our applications.

You have

• 10 years of experience with Modern Software Engineering projects and practices: designing, building, and deploying scalable software applications.


• 5 + years of experience in designing, building, and deploying cloud native solutions.


• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or other containerization technologies.


• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with team members.


• Understanding of distributed system design and experience building production grade distributed systems.


• Hands-on experience with React.js and Next.js frameworks for front-end development.


• Solid experience with Java, Spring Boot, or similar frameworks for back-end development.


• Experience with messaging systems like Kafka.


• Experience with database technologies such PostgreSQL and/or Snowflake.


• Proven experience collaborating across teams to develop and implement software engineering best practices.


• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and CI/CD pipelines.


• Familiarity working with data teams.


• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and DevOps practices.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.