Hybrid Principal Software Engineer

at Walmart

• Job title: Principal Software Engineer
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $110,000 - $220,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: Distributed Systems, Python
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Hoboken, United States

About the role

• Principal Software Engineer leading the design of AI systems and ML pipelines at Walmart. Driving innovation in data-driven solutions for operational efficiency and performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of production-grade AI systems that transform large-scale data into intelligent, deployable solutions.
• Design and deploy end-to-end ML pipelines using Python (data ingestion → training → evaluation → deployment → monitoring).
• Build production-ready, deployable code for ML services (APIs, batch + real-time inference systems).
• Develop and implement reinforcement learning / feedback loop systems (e.g., human-in-the-loop, reward modeling, online learning).
• Architect computer vision and image analysis solutions (classification, embeddings, multimodal systems).
• Integrate ML models into scalable distributed systems serving millions of users in real time.
• Lead development of AI agents and multi-step reasoning systems powered by LLMs and structured ML pipelines.
• Establish MLOps best practices (CI/CD for ML, model versioning, monitoring).
• Continuously improve system performance through experimentation, feedback loops, and optimization.

Requirements

• 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.
• Extensive experience in software architecture, distributed systems, and scalable design patterns.
• Deep understanding of machine learning lifecycle: training, evaluation, deployment, monitoring.
• Hands-on experience with reinforcement learning or feedback-driven systems (bandits, RLHF, online learning).
• Expertise in coding standards, multiple programming languages, and secure software development lifecycle practices.
• Ability to conduct thorough requirement analysis, risk assessment, and solution scoping aligned with business objectives.
• Proven skills in test strategy development, automation tools, and defect management processes.
• Leadership in guiding technical teams, mentoring, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.