engineer principal, Coffeehouse Design & Development, Global Coffee & Sustainability

Starbucks•Seattle, WA

About The Position

From the very beginning, Starbucks has set out to be a different kind of company - one that not only celebrated coffee and its rich heritage but also fostered a sense of human connection. We are recognized for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and lead through service to others. Coffeehouse Design & Development and Global Coffee and Sustainability sit at the core of delivering meaningful impact for our partners and customers. From designing future-ready coffeehouses to enabling the end-to-end “bean to cup” lifecycle and sustainability initiatives, this work drives real, visible outcomes. If you thrive on learning, value tangible results, and think systemically, the Technology team is looking for you. Join us in shaping the future of Starbucks - where technology, data, and AI converge to deliver exceptional experiences for partners and customers worldwide.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field (Master’s preferred).
12+ years in software development; 10+ years in systems development and integrations.
8+ years architecting middleware, RESTful APIs, and services on public cloud (Azure/AWS).
Expertise in system engineering for packaged and custom applications.
Familiarity with integration patterns (event-driven, APIs, job scheduling, flat files).
8+ years in UI/Web development (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, React).
8+ years working with relational and NoSQL databases.
Experience with AI/ML platforms, data engineering, and model lifecycle management
Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
Experience with agile and waterfall methodologies, release management.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of retail functions (Market Planning, Lease Management, Construction, Design, Repair & Maintenance) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and evolve technical architecture and design strategies based on business needs, lessons learned, and emerging trends.
Lead initial discovery and proof-of-concept (POC) efforts to assess solution feasibility, technology fit, and alignment with Coffeehouse Design & Development platforms.
Partner with enterprise system teams to define technology recommendations and best practices for application design, cloud, integrations, monitoring, reporting, and data services.
Identify opportunities to leverage AI and machine learning for predictive analytics, workflow optimization, and intelligent automation.
Collaborate with data science teams to design architectures that support AI-driven insights and scalable ML models.
Ensure AI solutions adhere to ethical guidelines, data privacy standards, and enterprise governance.
Deliver key architectural artifacts, including Major Decision Frameworks (MDFs), solution frameworks, design patterns, technical standards, and guidelines.
Create and maintain engineering and platform roadmaps informed by business priorities and stakeholder input.
Advise on a broad range of technologies, staying current with industry trends and assessing long-term impacts, total cost of ownership (TCO), and business implications.
Challenge assumptions, consider opposing viewpoints, and evaluate short- and long-term financial and operational impacts.
Represent Coffeehouse Design & Development Technology in cross-functional settings with empathy, clarity, and influence.
Stay connected to delivery teams to ensure architectural integrity and long-term sustainability of solutions.