(USA) Principal, Software Engineer_BACKEND

Socket.dev; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 286,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) and stock purchase program

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Walmart is seeking a Principal, Software Engineer to lead platform engineering for the BuyBox team in Sunnyvale. You will guide scalable infrastructure and cloud-native designs, drive end-to-end development, and mentor multiple engineering squads as you translate complex business needs into robust AI-enabled solutions.

You will champion innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while aligning with long-term platform strategies and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field with 5 years' software engineering experience OR 7 years' experience in software engineering.
• Experience leading platform engineering and cloud-native architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead platform engineering efforts delivering scalable infrastructure and cloud-native architectures.
• Drive full SDLC activities across multiple teams including coding, testing, deployment and maintenance.
• Architect and implement AI-enhanced applications supporting millions of users.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams.

Skills

Platform engineering leadership

Cloud-native architecture

Distributed systems

AI/ML integration

Software development lifecycle

CI/CD deployment

Mentorship

Stakeholder collaboration

Model-driven design

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/IS

Tools

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Position Summary...

Role summary: The (USA) Principal, Software Engineer leads the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role oversees the full software development lifecycle, applying cloud-native architecture and AI/ML integration to build intelligent, high-availability systems. The position requires strategic technical leadership, mentorship, and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex business needs into effective solutions. The Principal Engineer champions innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while ensuring alignment with long-term platform strategies and business objectives.

About the team: The BuyBox team is integral to Walmart's e-commerce platform, developing and maintaining a microservices ecosystem that optimizes offer selection through machine learning and business rules. The team enhances offer ranking, ensures seamless system interactions, and monitors performance to resolve issues promptly. Focused on collaboration, technical expertise, and continuous innovation, the team drives operational excellence and supply chain efficiency. Utilizing agile methodologies and data-driven decision making, the team supports Walmart's commitment to reliable service and value, fostering a culture centered on problem solving and ongoing improvement.

What you'll do:

• Lead platform engineering efforts by delivering scalable infrastructure, reusable tooling, and cloud-native architectures aligned with strategic roadmaps.
• Drive full software development lifecycle activities including coding, testing, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance across multiple teams.
• Architect and implement AI-enhanced applications and intelligent systems supporting millions of users.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, promoting best practices and innovation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into actionable technical requirements and measurable outcomes.
• Maintain architectural documentation to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Foster continuous improvement through experimentation and adoption of emerging technologies.

What you'll bring:

• Extensive experience in platform engineering leadership, delivering scalable, cloud-native architectures and reusable tooling.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing distributed systems optimized for real-time data processing and AI/ML integration.
• Strong proficiency in software development lifecycle management, including coding, testing, CI/CD deployment, and observability.
• Demonstrated ability to apply model-driven design and leverage advanced development tools to enhance quality and velocity.
• Skilled in technical mentorship, architectural decision-making, and fostering engineering excellence across multiple teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a focus on requirements analysis, debugging, and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills to engage cross-functional stakeholders and drive strategic alignment.

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.

The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00. Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:

• Stock

Minimum Qualifications...

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 5 years' experience in software engineering or related area.
• Option 2: 7 years' experience in software engineering or related area.

Preferred Qualifications...

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 3 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...

1395 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.