Lead IT Engineer - Merchandise Technology

Ulta Beauty, Inc. • Bolingbrook, IL

5h

About The Position

Live the experience. From professional empowerment to continual learning opportunities. From ongoing investment in new and emerging technologies to a career of self-determination. At Ulta Beauty, our tech team is critical to our scalability—and is recognized that way. We’ve been defined as a “mature start-up.” A place where interdepartmental exposure, open doors, and genuine collaboration is ubiquitous. Where challenges come fast and furious, requiring agility, mental dexterity, and creativity. Where our passion for better solutions drives us and is core to who we are.
We’re engineering for the future of retail, and it’s no-holds-barred. But for those motivated by continual change and ambiguity, by superior leadership, by whip smart colleagues who will press you daily for your very best, you’ll find that virtually nothing’s impossible at Ulta Beauty.
THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:
Ulta Beauty’s Enterprise Systems organization is seeking passionate, hands-on Lead Engineer Merchandise Technology. The Lead Engineer, Merchandising Technology is responsible for the technical design, delivery, and continuous improvement of enterprise merchandising systems supporting planning, forecasting, allocation, and inventory management capabilities. This role partners closely with Product, Data, and Business stakeholders to deliver scalable, high-performing solutions that enable data-driven merchandising decisions. The Lead Engineer provides hands-on technical leadership across complex retail platforms and drives engineering excellence within an Agile product model.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 2+ years in a lead or senior engineering role
• Proven experience working in retail technology environments, with strong domain knowledge in merchandising, inventory management, or supply chain planning
• Hands-on experience implementing or supporting commercial retail planning and inventory management platforms such as Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, or similar solutions
• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale, cross-functional platform implementations across merchandising, finance, supply chain, and data ecosystems
• Strong understanding of retail data models, including product hierarchy, inventory positioning, demand forecasting, and financial planning concepts
• Experience designing and building integrations using APIs, event-driven architectures, ETL/ELT pipelines, and middleware platforms
• Proficiency in modern engineering practices including microservices architecture, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), and DevOps tooling
• Experience working with data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks) and enabling data for analytics and AI/ML use cases
• Strong understanding of Agile development methodologies and experience working within product-centric delivery models
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex technical and business challenges
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience working with third-party vendors and system integrators in complex enterprise environments

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of merchandising technology solutions supporting demand forecasting, assortment planning, allocation, replenishment, and inventory optimization.
• Serve as the technical lead within an Agile product pod, partnering with Product Managers, Product Owners, and Architects to deliver high-quality solutions aligned to business outcomes
• Architect and implement scalable, resilient integrations across enterprise systems including ERP, planning platforms, data platforms, and downstream operational systems
• Provide deep technical expertise in large-scale retail platform implementations, including configuration, customization, and integration of commercial off-the-shelf solutions
• Drive engineering best practices across the team, including code quality, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps, and system observability
• Lead technical solutioning and hands-on development for integrations involving merchandising, inventory, and financial data across complex system landscapes
• Partner with Data & Analytics teams to ensure high-quality, governed data flows that support advanced analytics, reporting, and AI/ML use cases
• Ensure system performance, scalability, and reliability to support high-volume retail operations across stores and digital channels
• Identify and resolve technical risks, constraints, and dependencies across cross-functional initiatives
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and engineering excellence
• Collaborate with vendors and system integrators to ensure successful delivery, support, and optimization of commercial retail platforms
• Participate in release planning, system demos, and production support, ensuring smooth deployment and operational stability.

Benefits

• Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits.
• Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level