Senior Software Engineer

Grainger Businesses • Chicago, IL

19d • $112,900 - $188,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Software Engineer on the Step Data Transformation team, you will design, develop, and maintain applications that support our strategic vision for product data management. You will bring experience in Java development, data engineering, SQL, and integration patterns, and will grow your expertise in Master Data Management (MDM). You will work closely with lead engineers, product managers, and cross-functional partners to deliver reliable, high-quality software — and will be expected to bring a modern engineering mindset: actively identifying opportunities to improve our tools, processes, and architecture rather than simply inheriting what exists.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or a related field; or equivalent practical experience required
• 3+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, with demonstrated experience in designing, developing, testing, and deploying software applications across a variety of technologies and environments required
• 2+ years of hands-on Java development experience, including building or maintaining Java-based applications in a production environment required.
• Familiarity with modern Java frameworks such as Spring Boot, and contemporary tooling for build, test, and deployment automation.
• Proficiency in Oracle and/or SQL and data manipulation techniques
• Solid programming skills and knowledge of software engineering fundamentals
• Understanding of integration patterns and distributed system concepts
• Demonstrated ability to think beyond current constraints — proposing practical improvements to systems, processes, or team workflows
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Good communication skills with a proactive approach to task management and team collaboration
• Familiarity with data governance principles and best practices in data management
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and DevOps practices

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to or interest in data platform modernization projects
• 2–3 years of hands-on experience with MDM platforms (e.g., Stibo STEP, Informatica MDM, Reltio, Semarchy, or similar) or strong data engineering experience with the ability to learn MDM platforms quickly required
• Experience with developer productivity tooling — including AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot), code quality platforms, and observability/monitoring frameworks
• A track record of introducing and driving adoption of better engineering practices — whether through process improvements, new tooling, or architectural recommendations

Responsibilities

• Design and develop high-quality, maintainable Java-based and MDM software solutions across the SDT team's product data ecosystem
• Contribute to the modernization of existing Java applications (NPI, IPV, and others), identifying opportunities to improve architecture, reducing technical debt, and adopt contemporary engineering patterns
• Analyze and improve existing data transformation logic to enhance system efficiency, resilience, and scalability
• Integrate data processes from various Grainger systems, ensuring seamless data flow and governance across platforms
• Bring a fresh perspective to engineering challenges — actively proposing improvements to ways of working, tooling, CI/CD pipelines, and team practices
• Collaborate with lead engineers, product managers, and architects to ensure successful design and delivery of technology solutions
• Champion best practices in software engineering, including clean code principles, automated testing, observability, and continuous delivery
• Participating actively in knowledge-sharing sessions, staying current on MDM practices, Java ecosystem advancements, and emerging engineering methodologies
• Engage in code reviews and pair programming to continuously improve code quality and grow as an engineer
• Support production systems with a demonstrated ability to triage, debug, and resolve issues with minimal disruption to development workflows
• Contribute to knowledge transfer by documenting solutions, patterns, and onboarding materials for MDM platform functionalities and data transformation processes

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment
• 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date)
• 6 company holidays per year
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan refinancing
• Free access to financial counseling, education, and tools
• Maternity support programs
• Nursing benefits
• Up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents
• Up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree