Principal Software Engineer positions focus on delivering results in their domain. This page aggregates open Principal Software Engineer roles and what employers typically expect.
## Position Summary... ## What you'll do... **Role summary:** As a Principal Software Engineer at Walmart, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving innovation in cloud-native architectures and AI/ML integration. This role requires overseeing the full software development lifecycle across multiple teams, ensuring high availability and system reliability. You will provide strategic technical leadership, mentor engineering teams, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to translate complex business needs into effective technical solutions. Your expertise will support Walmart’s long-term platform evolution while fostering continuous improvement and operational excellence. **About the team:** The Search and Discovery Customer Experience Team enhances browsing, searching, and navigation on Walmart’s website and apps. This team brings together experts in product management, design, engineering, content, research, and analytics to ensure clear, accessible, and engaging item detail pages. They focus on delivering accurate product information, intuitive layouts, and seamless interactions that support informed purchasing decisions. By leveraging user research and data-driven insights, the team continuously improves usability and accessibility, creating a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience for all customers. **What you'll do:** - Lead technical architecture for complex systems — scalability, performance, and security aligned to business goals - Set technical direction; drive coding standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices org-wide - Mentor engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and hands-on guidance - Deliver high-quality software with rigorous unit testing, CI, and continuous integration practices - Own technical documentation for architectural decisions and design options - Lead discovery phases of major projects; define scope and milestones - Collaborate with Business, Product, UX, QA, and DevOps; bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders - Stay current on emerging tools and methodologies; champion a culture of learning and innovation **What you'll bring:** - 10+ years in software development, focused on large-scale distributed systems with a large user base - Proven architect track record — data-backed services, high-scale applications, end-to-end delivery - Advanced knowledge of distributed system design, design patterns, data structures, and algorithms - Full-stack proficiency: React, iOS, Android, Node.js, Java - Strong API development skills — Node.js, GraphQL, RESTful services - Familiarity with public cloud platforms (Azure or GCP) - Excellent technical debugging skills - Strong decision-making ability — balances competing priorities in fast-paced, complex environments 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,…