Principal, Software Engineer

Walmart•Sunnyvale, CA

7d•$143,000 - $286,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are building Walmart’s next-generation Data Security Platform, responsible for protecting data across Walmart’s systems, applications, and associates. Data security is one of the most critical challenges for modern enterprises, requiring a careful balance between security, privacy, compliance, and productivity. Our platform provides comprehensive capabilities including: Authentication and Identity Management, Authorization and Access Control, Audit Logging and Compliance, Data Protection and Least-Privilege Enforcement. As part of this team, you will design and build highly scalable distributed systems that protect petabytes of data at rest and in motion, across both structured and unstructured data sources. You will solve complex engineering challenges involving real-time policy enforcement, large-scale data processing, and low-latency access control while ensuring a seamless user experience.

Requirements

10+ years of software engineering experience building large-scale distributed systems.
5+ years of experience designing and architecting complex distributed systems in production environments.
10+ years of hands-on experience with Java and Go.
Deep understanding of JVM internals, memory management, garbage collection, thread management, and performance tuning.
Strong expertise in concurrent and multithreaded programming.
10+ years of experience with SQL and NoSQL databases.
Deep understanding of storage engines, indexing, query optimization, database internals, and performance tuning.
Strong hands-on coding skills with a track record of delivering production-quality software.
Exceptional analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and drive alignment across engineering teams and senior stakeholders.
Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence technical decisions through data-driven discussions.
Experience mentoring engineers and driving engineering excellence at scale.
Software Development, Software Architecture, Solution Design, Continuous Integration
Option 1: 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.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.

Nice To Haves

Experience building security, identity, authorization, governance, or data protection platforms.
Experience working with large-scale cloud-native systems and microservices architectures.
Familiarity with distributed data processing frameworks and big data technologies.
Experience operating systems at petabyte scale.
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.
We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly.
The ideal candidate would have 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

Architect and build large-scale distributed systems for enterprise data security.
Design highly scalable and resilient services for authentication, authorization, auditing, and data protection.
Develop solutions that enforce fine-grained access controls with minimal performance overhead.
Drive technical strategy and influence cross-functional engineering teams and stakeholders.
Optimize system performance, reliability, scalability, and operational excellence.
Mentor engineers and establish engineering best practices across the organization.
Lead critical design reviews and contribute to long-term platform architecture.
Drives the full software development lifecycle across multiple teams—including coding, testing, CI/CD deployment, observability, monitoring, incident response, and maintenance.
Implements distributed architectures optimized for real-time data processing, AI/ML integration, and cross-service reliability.
Maintains architectural decision records (ADRs) to ensure traceability, alignment, and transparency in technical planning and tradeoffs.
Architects and builds intelligent software systems and AI-enhanced applications that serve millions of customers and associates.
Leads the integration of AI agents capable of multi-step reasoning and tool-augmented tasks using technologies such as Python, Java, JavaScript, Dart, Rust, and C++.
Applies model-driven design and leverage tools like GitHub Copilot to increase development velocity and quality.
Provides strategic technical guidance and mentorship to Engineers and their teams, fostering engineering excellence and innovation.
Influences architectural decisions and design patterns across teams to promote standardization, maintainability, and system interoperability.
Showcases Walmart’s engineering vision through knowledge sharing, community leadership, and by publishing technical articles and insights internally and externally.
Engages with cross-functional stakeholders to deeply understand business and user needs.
Breaks down ambiguous problems into actionable technical requirements and defines clear operational, engineering, and customer-centric metrics to measure success and value delivery.
Demonstrates responsibility for deliverables, ensuring solutions meet quality standards and business objectives.
Takes initiative to resolve issues and drive projects to completion.
Applies sound reasoning to make informed technical decisions, balancing trade-offs and considering long-term impacts on system architecture and business goals.
Adapts quickly to change, embraces new technologies, and understands the broader system context.
Anticipates the downstream effects of technical choices and integrates feedback to improve outcomes.
Works effectively across teams, openly shares knowledge, and communicates complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Proactively seeks opportunities to enhance processes, tools, and products.
Encourages experimentation and learning to drive ongoing improvement.
Drives the execution of multiple business plans and projects by identifying customer and operational needs; developing and communicating business plans and priorities; removing barriers and obstacles that impact performance; providing resources; identifying performance standards; measuring progress and adjusting performance accordingly; developing contingency plans; and demonstrating adaptability and supporting continuous learning.
Provides supervision and development opportunities for associates by selecting and training; mentoring; assigning duties; building a team-based work environment; establishing performance expectations and conducting regular performance evaluations; providing recognition and rewards; coaching for success and improvement; and promoting a belonging mindset in workplace.
Promotes and supports company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity by training and providing direction to others in their use and application; ensuring compliance with them; and utilizing and supporting the Open Door Policy.
Ensures business needs are met by evaluating the ongoing effectiveness of current plans, programs, and initiatives; consulting with business partners, managers, co-workers, or other key stakeholders; soliciting, evaluating, and applying suggestions for improving efficiency and cost effectiveness; and participating in and supporting community outreach events.
Demonstrates and encourages respect for all; builds a high-performing team; seeks, and embraces differences in people, cultures, ideas and experiences; creates a workplace where all associates feel seen, supported and connected through culture of belonging so associates thrive and perform; drives a positive associate and customer/member experience for all; identifies, attracts, and retains the best team members.
Creates a discipline and focus around developing talent, through feedback, coaching, mentoring, and developmental opportunities; promotes an environment allowing everyone to bring their best selves to work; empowers associates and partners to act in the best interest of the customer/member and company; and regularly recognizes others’ contributions and accomplishments.
Builds strong and trusting relationships with team members and business partners; works collaboratively and cross-functionally to achieve objectives; and communicates and listens attentively, with energy and positivity to motivate, influence, and inspire commitment and action.
Maintains and promotes the highest standards of integrity, ethics and compliance; models the Walmart values and leads by example to foster our culture; supports Walmart’s goal of becoming a regenerative company by making a positive impact for associates, customers, and the world around us (e.g., creating a sense of belonging, eliminating waste, participating in local giving).
Follows the law, our code of conduct and company policies, and sets expectations for others to do the same; promotes an environment where associates feel comfortable sharing concerns and reinforces our culture of non-retaliation; listens to concerns raised by associates. takes action and encourages others to do the same; holds self and others accountable for achieving results in a way that is consistent with our values.
Acts as an altruistic servant leader and is consistently humble, self-aware, honest, and transparent.
Delivers expected business results while putting the customer/member first and consistently applying an omni-merchant mindset and acts with an Every Day Low-Cost mindset to drive value and Every Day Low Prices for customers/members.
Adopts a holistic perspective that considers data, analytics, customer/member insights, and different parts of the business when making plans and shaping the team’s strategy.
Consistently raises the bar and seeks to improve; demonstrates curiosity and a growth mindset; seeks feedback, asks thoughtful questions, fosters an environment that supports learning, innovation, and learning from mistakes, and intelligent risk-taking; and exhibits resilience in the face of setbacks.
Seeks and implements continuous improvements and encourages the team to leverage new digital tools and ways of working.

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
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.
Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program 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.