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Principal Software Engineer Backend Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Software Engineer Backend information

See salary details

$60.5K

$160.9K

$231K

How much do principal software engineer backend jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer backend in the United States is $160,936.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,000.00 and $181,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Software Engineer Backend vs Senior Software Engineer Backend?

AspectPrincipal Software Engineer BackendSenior Software Engineer Backend
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, extensive experienceBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, 3-7 years experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, architecture design, cross-team collaborationDevelopment, implementation, and maintenance of backend systems
Industry UsageStrategic technical leadership, high-level decision makingHands-on coding, feature development, and troubleshooting

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineer Backend and a Senior Software Engineer Backend lies in their scope of responsibilities. The Principal typically focuses on architecture, strategic planning, and leadership, while the Senior is more involved in coding and implementing features. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal often guides multiple teams and influences technical direction.

What is a principal software engineer backend?

A principal software engineer backend is a senior technical role responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the server-side components of software applications. They often lead technical projects, set coding standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams, typically requiring extensive experience in programming languages, system architecture, and cloud services. Strong problem-solving skills and expertise in tools like databases and APIs are essential for this position.

What cities are hiring for Principal Software Engineer Backend jobs?

Cities with the most Principal Software Engineer Backend job openings:

What states have the most Principal Software Engineer Backend jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Software Engineer Backend jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer Backend jobs?

For Principal Software Engineer Backend jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer Backend job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,936 per year, or $77.4 per hour.

Principal, Software Engineer - Backend

Gravette, AR • On-site

Walmart
Retail • 10K+ employees

$110K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Key responsibilities

  • Lead platform engineering efforts to deliver scalable infrastructure, reusable tooling, and AI/ML frameworks.

  • Drive the full software development lifecycle across multiple teams, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and real-time data processing.

  • Architect and implement cloud-native distributed systems integrating AI agents and model-driven design principles.


Walmart rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 22,684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

25th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Position Summary... What you'll do...Role summary:
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving technical excellence across multiple teams. This role requires expertise in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, and AI/ML integration to build intelligent software solutions that serve millions. You will provide strategic technical guidance, mentor engineers, and collaborate with stakeholders to align engineering efforts with business objectives. Your leadership will ensure high-quality execution throughout the software development lifecycle while fostering innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within a dynamic engineering environment.
  About the team:
Our team develops the Store Fulfillment Platform, the core system enabling order fulfillment across thousands of stores through automation and associate support. This high-throughput, event-driven platform operates reliably at retail scale, supporting seamless customer experiences. We focus on scalable, cloud-native architecture and continuous improvement to meet evolving business needs. The team applies advanced engineering design processes and integrates AI agents to enhance system capabilities. Collaboration and technical excellence drive our efforts to build and evolve a robust platform that supports Walmart’s operational goals and delivers consistent, high-quality service.
  What you'll do:
  • Lead platform engineering efforts to deliver scalable infrastructure, reusable tooling, and AI/ML frameworks aligned with strategic roadmaps.
  • Drive full software development lifecycle across multiple teams, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and real-time data processing.
  • Architect and implement cloud-native distributed systems integrating AI agents and model-driven design principles.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship, influencing architectural standards and promoting engineering excellence.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into actionable technical requirements and measurable success metrics.
  • Maintain architectural documentation and ensure quality, reliability, and continuous improvement of software solutions.

What you'll bring:
  • Extensive experience leading platform engineering initiatives, including shared infrastructure and scalable ML frameworks.
  • Proficiency in cloud-native architecture and distributed system design ensuring high availability and fault tolerance.
  • Strong expertise in full software development lifecycle management across multiple teams.
  • Proven ability to architect AI-enhanced applications and integrate AI agents using languages such as Python, Java, and C++.
  • Skilled in applying model-driven design and leveraging modern development tools to enhance quality and velocity.
  • Demonstrated leadership in mentoring engineers and influencing architectural standards.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills with cross-functional stakeholders.

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. 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.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
- Stock

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Minimum Qualifications...

Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.

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. Preferred Qualifications...

Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.

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. Primary Location... 702 Sw 8Th St, Bentonville, AR 72716, United States of America Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

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About Walmart

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

From our humble beginnings as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Ark., Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the U.S. and expanded internationally. Through innovation, we're creating a seamless experience to let customers shop anytime and anywhere online and in stores. We are creating opportunities and bringing value to customers and communities around the globe. Walmart operates approximately 10,500 stores and clubs in 19 countries and eCommerce websites. We employ 2.1 million associates around the world — nearly 1.6 million in the U.S. alone.

Industry

Retail and transportation and warehousing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bentonville, AR, US

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