Sr Engineer - Developer Platform

Target • Brooklyn Park, MN

3d • $98,000 - $176,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Target is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its Developer Platform team. The role contributes to a project generation system used by thousands of engineers to scaffold configured codebases with approved patterns, security standards, and platform integrations. The platform supports developer experience by helping engineering teams move faster and focus on product features rather than boilerplate.

The engineer will work on a full-stack system built with Kotlin, Python, and TypeScript. Work includes designing abstractions for infrastructure integrations and building AI-native agent interfaces that enable project scaffolding through IDEs and coding assistant tools. The role offers ownership of technical decisions and participation in a roadmap covering new infrastructure domains, AI-assisted developer workflows, and integrations across Target’s engineering organization.

As a specialist on the engineering team, the Senior Engineer helps shape application architecture, translates architectural concepts into designs, applies software engineering patterns to build robust and scalable systems, and influences implementation through design proposals and feedback. The role also includes problem-solving and operational issue triage, with an emphasis on preventing recurring issues.

The position applies knowledge of current and emerging technologies, evaluates technology choices for viability, maintainability, and cost, and initiates research and proof-of-concept work. Responsibilities include leading service design and lifecycle management; code, design, testing, and debugging reviews; functional design and architecture discussions; construction, automation, and implementation; technical oversight and coaching; disaster recovery planning and activities; and embedding data quality protocols. Duties may change based on business needs.

This role operates in a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day arrangement, with work performed both onsite at the assigned Target HQ MN location and virtually, depending on role, team, and daily tasks. Work must be performed within the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Requirements

• A four-year degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong backend fundamentals and proficiency in JVM languages such as Kotlin or Java.
• Experience designing and shipping production REST APIs.
• Experience with PostgreSQL or another relational database.
• Comfort navigating and contributing to distributed, multi-service codebases.
• Ability to write and organize code across multiple languages, including distributed programming, with an understanding of different frameworks and paradigms.
• Ability to deliver high-performance, scalable, repeatable, and secure solutions, including high-throughput and low-latency systems.
• Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines and developer platform tooling.
• Strong critical thinking skills, including navigating ambiguity, asking appropriate questions, and identifying what is needed to move work forward.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to partners and teammates.
• Ability to design testing methods and resolve complex technical issues with minimal assistance.
• Keeps current with evolving technologies through formal training and self-directed education.

Nice To Haves

• React/TypeScript frontend experience.
• Python experience.
• Experience with AI tooling, LLMs, or the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Familiarity with template engines such as Jinja2 or Cookiecutter.
• Background in developer experience, internal tooling, or platform engineering.

Responsibilities

• Help develop and provide insight into application architecture, translating abstract architecture into concrete designs and influencing implementation.
• Apply appropriate software engineering patterns to build robust and scalable systems.
• Propose software designs and provide feedback on designs and implementations to influence fellow engineers.
• Help triage operational issues and use expertise to eliminate repeat occurrences.
• Maintain knowledge of current and emerging technologies and evaluate them for viability, maintainability, and cost of ownership.
• Initiate and execute research and proof-of-concept activities for new technologies.
• Manage total product, financials, and forecasting.
• Lead service design, lifecycle management, and total cost of ownership.
• Lead and conduct code reviews, design reviews, testing, and debugging at the application level.
• Lead functional design and architecture discussions using process flows and system diagrams to support design decisions.
• Participate in construction, automation, and implementation activities, ensuring architectural and operational requirements and best practices are met.
• Provide technical oversight and coach others in resolving complex and severe technical issues.
• Lead disaster recovery activities and contribute to disaster recovery planning.
• Embed data quality protocols throughout data acquisition, processing, storage, and operational use.

Benefits

• Eligible team members and their dependents may receive comprehensive medical, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits.
• 401(k).
• Employee discount.
• Short-term disability.
• Long-term disability.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid national holidays.
• Paid vacation.
• Additional financial, education, and well-being benefits may be available to eligible team members.

What This Job Offers

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