Principal Software Engineer

The Guitar Center Company • Westlake Village, CA

8d

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to lead the evolution of our enterprise service capabilities. In this role, you will architect and optimize the mission-critical systems that power our retail store operations and global supply chain. You will bridge the gap between core infrastructure and application delivery, ensuring our distributed services are scalable, resilient, and high performing. The Principal Software Engineer will collaborate with other technical leaders, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet business needs and exceed industry standards. This position requires a strong background in systems architecture, performance optimization, and advanced problem-solving, along with the ability to mentor and guide junior engineers.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in computer systems engineering, with a strong background in both hardware and software systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and integrating complex, large-scale computer systems.
• Proven leadership experience in managing engineering teams or projects and delivering high-quality systems on time.
• Deep expertise in service mesh, container orchestration (Kubernetes), and event-driven architectures (Kafka/RabbitMQ).
• Strong experience with Terraform or Ansible to manage hybrid-cloud environments (AWS/Azure and On-Prem).
• Proficiency in debugging complex issues across the stack—from application code and database locks to network protocols and OS kernel tuning.
• Experience with high-volume transactional databases and distributed caching (Redis/Memcached).
• Ability to approach complex systems problems analytically and identify root causes quickly. Proficiency in designing solutions that balance technical constraints with business requirements.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience leading technical teams. Ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders, product managers, and cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in cloud computing, distributed systems, or high-performance computing.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Experience with security and cybersecurity best practices in system design and implementation.
• Expertise in Edge Computing (deploying and managing services at the "store" level).

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of scalable microservices and API-driven architectures that support real-time inventory, Point of Sale (POS), and warehouse management systems.
• Oversee the seamless integration of cloud-based enterprise services with on-premises store hardware and automated distribution center technologies.
• Analyze and optimize system latency and throughput across the supply chain, ensuring sub-second response times for critical store-front operations. Troubleshoot and resolve performance bottlenecks, ensuring systems meet or exceed operational requirements.
• Provide technical North Star guidance for application engineers, fostering a culture of "system thinking" and operational excellence. Encourage continuous learning and innovation within the team to keep pace with evolving technologies.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Retail Product Managers to translate complex business workflows into high-availability technical specifications.
• Partner with hardware engineers, software developers, network specialists, and other technical experts to ensure the successful design and deployment of integrated systems. Foster cross-disciplinary communication and alignment.
• Proactively identify potential risks in system design and implementation. Lead troubleshooting efforts during system development and production, ensuring that issues are resolved swiftly and efficiently.
• Prepare comprehensive system documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and performance reports. Communicate technical progress and challenges to both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Stay at the forefront of technology trends and best practices in computer systems engineering. Evaluate emerging retail tech—such as RFID integration, edge computing for stores, and AI-driven demand forecasting infrastructure.

Benefits

• Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed