Principal, Software Engineer - Java

Walmart

Decatur, AR • On-site

$110K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Walmart rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 22,373 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

25th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

Position Summary... What you'll do...Role summary:
The Principal Software Engineer leads the design and delivery of scalable platform capabilities, driving cloud-native architecture and AI/ML integration across multiple teams. This role oversees the full software development lifecycle, ensuring high availability, reliability, and performance of distributed systems. The position requires strategic technical leadership, mentorship, and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders to align engineering efforts with business objectives. The engineer champions innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while maintaining architectural standards and fostering knowledge sharing to support Walmart’s long-term technology vision.
About the team:
The Instore Device Platform team develops and maintains software for point of sale devices across Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Fuel stations. This team manages the full lifecycle of connected devices, orchestrating their capabilities to support front-end applications. Operating within an agile framework, the team delivers scalable, reliable, and high-quality solutions. Members collaborate closely to ensure seamless integration and optimal device software performance, contributing to efficient operations and enhanced customer experiences across multiple retail environments. The team emphasizes strong project and stakeholder management to meet strategic milestones effectively.
  What you'll do:
  • Lead platform-level execution of software, ensuring alignment with domain priorities and roadmap milestones.
  • Oversee shared infrastructure, tooling, and Device frameworks to support scalable, secure development.
  • Drive full software development lifecycle across multiple teams, championing DevOps architecture and CI/CD practices.
  • Implement cloud cost optimization and automation to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Mentor engineers, guide architectural decisions, and promote technical quality and compliance.
  • Manage stakeholder relationships to align engineering efforts with business goals and track key performance metrics.
  • Foster continuous improvement through innovation, feedback, and cross-team collaboration.

  What you'll bring:
  • Extensive experience in platform engineering leadership, delivering scalable, cloud-native architectures and reusable tooling.
  • Experience in developing low level Device 
  • Proven ability to drive full software development lifecycle, including CI/CD, testing, monitoring, and incident response.
  • Expertise in designing distributed systems optimized for real-time data processing.
  • Strong technical judgment with a track record of making informed architectural decisions and managing trade-offs.
  • Demonstrated leadership in mentoring engineers and influencing cross-team architectural standards.
  • Excellent collaboration skills with cross-functional stakeholders to define technical requirements and success metrics.
  • Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and maintaining high-quality software solutions.

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.
Bentonville, Arkansas US-10343: The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00
Sunnyvale, California US-11349: The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00 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... 2501 Se J Street Ste B, Bentonville, AR 72712-7761, 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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Frequently asked questions

Q: What skills or qualities help someone succeed as a Principal Java Software Engineer?

A: To succeed as a Principal Java Software Engineer, key technical skills include expertise in Java programming, proficiency in design patterns, and experience with agile development methodologies. Soft skills such as strong leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are also crucial, as they enable the engineer to mentor junior team members, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive technical decisions. By combining these technical and soft skills, a Principal Java Software Engineer can drive technical innovation, lead high-performing teams, and make significant contributions to the company's software development efforts.

Q: What is the career path for a Principal Java Software Engineer?

A: A Principal Java Software Engineer typically follows a career progression from entry-level roles such as Junior Java Developer or Software Engineer, to mid-level positions like Senior Java Developer or Technical Lead, and eventually to senior leadership roles like Principal Engineer or Technical Architect. Key opportunities for skill development and professional growth in this role include mastering advanced Java technologies, leading cross-functional teams, and developing expertise in software design patterns, architecture, and DevOps practices. Long-term career prospects for a Principal Java Software Engineer may include transitioning into technical leadership roles, such as Director of Engineering or CTO, or pursuing specialized roles like Java Technical Evangelist or Cloud Architect.



Walmart job posting for a Principal, Software Engineer - Java in Decatur, AR with a salary of $110,000.0 to $220,000.0 Annually, 3.0 star rating from 2792 Breakroom reviews, ranked #25 in national retailers, with a map of Decatur location.