Software Engineer IV
About The Position
As a Staff Software Engineer (SE IV) – Front End Focus, you will serve as the primary front-end technical authority for a growing team building AI-enabled, enterprise web applications at Grainger. You will define front-end architecture, make long-term technology decisions, and lead the design of scalable, high-performance user experiences. While this is a full-stack role, your primary responsibility is front-end strategy, implementation, and enablement across the team. You will operate independently, driving proof-of-concepts, evaluating solutions, and establishing standards that others rely on. This role reports to the Product Engineering Manager and can be based in Lake Forest or Chicago, IL, on a hybrid basis.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related degree, or relevant work experience.
- 5+ years of experience building and owning production-grade, large-scale web applications.
- Deep expertise in front-end architecture, performance optimization, and state management (Ex: React, browser performance tooling).
- Strong experience with modern rendering and routing strategies (Ex: Next.js, SSR/SSG, client/server components).
- Proven ability to independently evaluate technologies, run POCs, and make long-term architectural decisions.
- Experience integrating front-end applications with complex backend systems and APIs (Ex: REST, GraphQL, type-safe APIs).
- Proficiency with front-end build systems, CI/CD (Ex: Github Actions), testing (Ex: Selenium), and deployment workflows.
Responsibilities
- Own front-end architecture and technical direction for complex, enterprise-scale web applications
- Act as the primary front-end expert for the team, setting standards and enabling others in the absence of existing front-end expertise
- Design and deliver scalable, high-performance user interfaces with a strong focus on maintainability and long-term platform health
- Independently explore, prototype, and validate front-end solutions through proof-of-concepts and technical evaluations
- Make architectural decisions around state management, rendering strategies, performance optimization, and application structure
- Build and evolve reusable UI components, design systems, and front-end foundations used across multiple applications
- Partner with backend engineers to define APIs, integration patterns, and end-to-end system behavior
- Collaborate closely with product and design UI/UX partners to translate ambiguous problems into robust technical solutions
- Drive improvements in front-end CI/CD, testing strategies, and deployment practices
- Mentor and influence engineers across the team, raising front-end and overall engineering maturity
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 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) and 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 and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
