Principal Software Engineer

Walmart

Principal Data Engineer leading scalable data pipelines for Walmart’s e-commerce search and personalization platform. Driving ML-ready datasets, architecture standards, and engineering excellence.

Posted 9/10/2026full-timeSunnyvale • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $143,000 - $286,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading the architecture and delivery of scalable, cloud-native data pipelines, with a strong focus on data quality, engineering excellence, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Proficient in building production-grade ETL/ELT and streaming pipelines while mentoring engineers and influencing data architecture decisions.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Cloud-Native Data PlatformsData Engineering LeadershipSpark, Kafka, Hadoop, AirflowPython, Java, Scala ProgrammingCI/CD Practices for Data Systems

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Data ModelingDistributed Data ProcessingETL/ELT Pipeline DevelopmentFeature EngineeringData Warehousing

Soft Skills

CollaborationCommunicationMentorshipContinuous Improvement

Tools & Technologies

AzureGCPAWS

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related FieldMaster's Degree Preferred

Industry Keywords

Data QualityObservabilityMachine LearningPersonalization ModelsE-Commerce

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AirflowAWSAzureCloudETLGoogle Cloud PlatformHadoopJavaKafkaPythonScalaSpark

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the architecture and delivery of scalable, cloud-native data pipelines and reusable data infrastructure
Own ingestion, transformation, orchestration, testing, deployment, and monitoring of large-scale distributed data systems
Design and build high-throughput, low-latency batch and streaming pipelines producing ML-ready features and datasets for search and personalization models
Provide technical leadership and mentorship across data engineering teams
Promote best practices in data modeling, pipeline design, and architectural consistency
Partner with ML, search, and product stakeholders to translate business and model requirements into scalable data solutions and measurable success metrics
Ensure data quality, lineage, and reliability through observability, validation frameworks, and SLA ownership
Drive continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, innovation, and adoption of emerging data engineering technologies
Build systems supporting search relevance and personalized shopping experiences at Walmart’s e-commerce platform

Requirements

What you’ll need

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; OR 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area
Extensive experience leading large-scale data engineering initiatives
Experience with distributed data processing, data modeling, and cloud-native data platforms
Expertise with Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, and Airflow
Strong programming skills in Python, Java, or Scala
Experience building production-grade ETL/ELT and streaming pipelines
Deep understanding of data warehousing, feature engineering, and data infrastructure supporting ML/AI systems
Experience with Azure, GCP, or AWS
Experience with CI/CD practices for data systems
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and influence data architecture decisions across teams
Excellent collaboration and communication skills with cross-functional and ML stakeholders
Commitment to data quality, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence
Immigration sponsorship support is not available for this position
Master's degree and accessibility knowledge, including WCAG 2.2 AA and assistive technologies, are preferred qualifications

Benefits

Comp & perks

Incentive awards for performance
Maternity and parental leave
PTO, including sick leave
Health benefits, including medical, vision, and dental coverage
401(k)
Stock purchase
Company-paid life insurance
Family care leave
Bereavement leave
Jury duty leave
Voting leave
Short-term and long-term disability
Company discounts
Military Leave Pay
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
Performance-based bonus awards
Paid education benefit through Live Better U, including tuition, books, and fees
Flexible, hybrid work
Stock may be included for certain positions