(USA) Principal, Software Engineer

Walmart•Bentonville, AR

4d•$110,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

The mGQL team builds scalable, high-performance GraphQL platforms and distributed systems that power critical enterprise applications across multiple channels, experiences, and markets. The team focuses on enabling fast, reliable, and secure access to enterprise services through modern API platforms, strong engineering practices, and developer-friendly architecture. As a Principal Software Engineer on the mGQL team, you will help define the future of enterprise GraphQL platforms, API ecosystems, and distributed systems at scale. You will work on high-impact initiatives, solve complex engineering challenges, and influence architecture and engineering practices across multiple teams and business domains.

Requirements

10+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on building large-scale distributed systems, enterprise platforms, and high-availability services.
Proven experience leading complex, ambiguous, and cross-functional initiatives from concept through production launch.
Strong technical leadership with the ability to influence engineering strategy, architecture, and execution across multiple teams.
Expertise across multiple technologies and platforms including Rust preferred, Go experience acceptable, Java, Spring Boot, and React, with an understanding of native mobile application development, combined with strong full-stack engineering experience and an architectural mindset to build scalable, resilient solutions for large-scale eCommerce platforms across multiple markets.
Strong hands-on experience with GraphQL, API development, backend service development, and platform engineering.
Experience building high-performance backend systems and platform tooling using Rust, Go, or Java.
Experience building scalable APIs and microservices using Java Spring Boot.
Advanced knowledge of distributed systems architecture, microservices design patterns, data structures, algorithms, scalability, resiliency, and performance engineering.
Expertise with relational and NoSQL databases, cloud-native technologies, and modern infrastructure patterns.
Strong experience with cloud platforms, observability tooling, platform reliability engineering, CI/CD, DevOps practices, and Operational Excellence frameworks.
Experience building scalable commerce platforms and enterprise-grade API ecosystems.
Experience driving engineering transformation initiatives and modern platform adoption.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to build consensus, influence technical direction, resolve conflicts, and partner effectively with senior stakeholders.
Passion for mentoring engineers and building high-performing engineering teams.
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience building and scaling enterprise GraphQL platforms or API gateway ecosystems.
Experience supporting and evolving GraphQL platforms while collaborating across multiple engineering teams to drive GraphQL specifications, schema design standards, integration patterns, scalability, and platform best practices.
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.
Experience creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly.
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.

Responsibilities

Lead the architecture, design, development, and delivery of large-scale, mission-critical applications, platforms, and distributed systems.
Drive technical strategy and influence architectural direction across multiple engineering teams and organizations.
Collaborate with business, product, and engineering partners to understand complex business problems, define scalable technical solutions, translate requirements into technical designs, and lead implementation through testing, deployment, and operational readiness.
Establish engineering excellence standards through architecture and design reviews, code reviews, Operational Excellence reviews, root cause analysis, on-call excellence, and continuous reliability and scalability improvements.
Serve as a technical leader and mentor by guiding engineers in system design, technical problem-solving, engineering best practices, and career development.
Champion modern technologies, platform engineering practices, and system integration patterns across organizational boundaries.
Drive innovation in GraphQL platform capabilities, API architecture, distributed systems scalability, and developer experience.
Develop deep expertise in enterprise platform domains and represent the team in technical, architecture, and business leadership forums.
Lead initiatives focused on performance optimization, resiliency, observability, security, automation, and operational scalability.

Benefits

Competitive pay
Performance-based bonus awards
Medical coverage
Vision coverage
Dental coverage
401(k)
Stock purchase
Company-paid life insurance
PTO (including sick leave)
Parental leave
Family care leave
Bereavement
Jury duty
Voting leave
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Company discounts
Military Leave Pay
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
Walmart-paid education benefit program (Live Better U) 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.