Target

Principal Engineer

Target$170K — $220K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 15+ years in software engineering with a focus on production-scale systems.
  • Experience in large-scale customer-focused platforms and marketplaces.
  • Proficiency in frontend frameworks (React, Next.js, TypeScript) and backend languages (Go, Python, Java, Node.js).
  • Demonstrated expertise in distributed systems and microservices architecture.
  • In-depth understanding of GraphQL, including schema design and orchestration.
  • Experience with Config-Driven/Server-Driven UI and dynamic content platforms.
  • Knowledge of cloud-native architecture and CI/CD practices.
  • Familiarity with observability tools like Datadog and New Relic.
  • Proficient in data modeling across various database systems.

Responsibilities

  • Define and scale Shipt's marketplace architecture and technical vision.
  • Lead end-to-end system design for customer-facing experiences.
  • Architect and implement GraphQL orchestration patterns for data efficiency.
  • Guide the development of resilient backend microservices and APIs.
  • Champion AI-native engineering practices within the team.
  • Drive evolution of UI using Config-Driven and Server-Driven patterns.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure scalability and resilience.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible family members.
  • 401(k) plan enrollment available for employees.
  • Discretionary vacation for exempt employees, plus paid holidays and sick leave.
  • Eligibility for an annual bonus.
  • Potential for restricted stock units based on role.
Full Job Description
Impact
Shipt is transforming how people discover, shop for, and receive everyday essentials. The Member Marketplace is the front door to that experience-spanning discovery, personalization, pricing, loyalty, cart, checkout, and post-order engagement across web and app. We are looking for a Principal Engineer, Full-Stack Marketplace Platform to help define and scale the next generation of Shipt's marketplace architecture. This is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for shaping both the customer-facing experience layer and the backend platform capabilities that power it.

You will set technical direction across modern frontend architecture, backend services, GraphQL orchestration, Config-Driven UI, pricing, loyalty, experimentation, and AI-native engineering workflows. You will partner closely with Engineering, Product, Design, Data Science, and business stakeholders to build systems that are scalable, resilient, observable, and fast to evolve. This role is Ideal for a senior technical leader who thrives at the intersection of product engineering, distributed systems, platform thinking, and hands-on architectural execution.

While no two days are the same, you will own the technical vision and architecture for key areas of Shipt's Member Marketplace platform across web, app, APIs, and backend services. You will lead end-to-end system design for customer-facing marketplace experiences, ensuring frontend and backend architectures evolve together. You will drive the evolution of Config-Driven / Server-Driven UI patterns to support flexible, reusable, and dynamic experiences across web and app surfaces. You will architect and scale GraphQL orchestration patterns, including schema design, federation strategies, data-fetching efficiency, caching, and platform governance. You will guide the design of resilient backend microservices and APIs that support high-scale marketplace domains such as pricing, promotions, loyalty, personalization, and order experiences. You will also champion AI-native engineering practices across Marketplace Engineering, including AI-assisted development, automated testing, documentation, code review workflows, and reusable engineering agents/tools.

What You'll Need to Be Successful

  • 15+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong track record of designing and shipping production-scale systems across frontend and backend domains.
  • Deep experience leading architecture for large-scale customer-facing platforms, marketplaces, commerce systems, or high-traffic digital products.
  • Strong full-stack technical depth, including modern frontend frameworks such as React, Next.js, TypeScript, and backend services built in languages such as Go, Python, Java, or Node.js.
  • Proven experience designing and scaling distributed systems, microservices, APIs, event-driven architectures, and low-latency platform capabilities.
  • Strong understanding of GraphQL, including schema design, federation, orchestration, caching strategies, and frontend/backend contract governance.
  • Experience with Config-Driven UI, Server-Driven UI, metadata-driven applications, or dynamic content platforms.
  • Experience building or evolving platform capabilities in domains such as pricing, promotions, loyalty, personalization, experimentation, search/discovery, or checkout.
  • Strong understanding of cloud-native architecture, including AWS or GCP, Kubernetes, Docker, infrastructure as code, and modern CI/CD practices.
  • Experience with observability and operational excellence, including tools such as Datadog, OpenTelemetry, Sentry, New Relic, or similar platforms.
  • Strong data modeling experience across relational databases, NoSQL systems, caching layers, and event streams.


Pay Range: $170,000 - $220,000

Please note that the salary range above is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location.

Skills & Education

This list includes key skills used in this job but is not inclusive of all skills needed for the role. Please see any required education below.

Back-End Development, Front End Architecture, Web DevelopmentBachelor's Degree or equivalent experience | Required

Work Arrangement

To foster connection while offering continued flexibility, hybrid team members have the following in-office expectations:

Hybrid roles in Birmingham, AL typically work in-office at least 2 days per week, with core in-office days on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Hybrid roles in Minneapolis, MN typically work in-office at least 1 day per week on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Hybrid roles in San Francisco, CA typically work in-office at least 1 day per week between Monday and Thursday.

Certain roles may require in-office presence on a full-time basis. Please work with your recruiter to learn more about the classification of this role.

Employees (and eligible family members) are covered by medical, dental, vision and more. Employees may enroll in our company's 401k plan. Employees will also be eligible to receive discretionary vacation for exempt team members, paid holidays throughout the calendar year and paid sick leave. Other compensation includes eligibility for an annual bonus and the potential for restricted stock units based on role.

About Target

Target Careers

Joining Target means more than just securing a job—it's an opportunity to foster a career filled with growth, innovation, and leadership. As one of the most recognized retail brands in the world, Target offers a range of job opportunities that cater to a variety of skills and professional interests. Whether you're looking for your first internship or a significant leadership role, Target provides a platform where your career can flourish.

Work You'll Do

At Target, every team member plays a critical role in driving our mission forward. You'll be part of a culture that values diversity, leadership, and professional growth. Our team is committed to innovation and being at the forefront of the retail industry. From in-store positions to corporate roles, each job at Target is geared towards enhancing our service and organizational success.

Join Our Dynamic Team

Target is not just a company; it's a community where you can build a meaningful career. Our team members enjoy comprehensive benefits that support both their professional and personal lives, including health coverage, educational resources, and exclusive employee discounts. Moreover, Target is dedicated to leadership and diversity training, ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to succeed and lead.

Innovate and Lead

With Target, you're encouraged to innovate and take charge of your career path. Our leadership programs help aspiring managers and executives gain the necessary skills to advance and make impactful decisions. By joining Target, you're stepping into a role that supports growth and leadership through hands-on experience and state-of-the-art training programs.

Explore Job Opportunities

Whether you're refining your resume or preparing for an interview, Target's career resources are designed to help you succeed. Explore a wide range of open positions on our Jobs page, from customer service experts to supply chain specialists. Each position offers a chance to experience Target's unique culture and contribute to our community-focused mission.

Stay Connected

Networking at Target goes beyond the professional sphere—it builds lasting relationships that help propel your career forward. Stay up-to-date with the latest company news, job openings, and industry insights by joining our career network. Personalize your job alerts to match your interests and skills, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to grow with us.

Join Our Team

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Learn more about Target
Size
450,000 employees
Market Cap
$66.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.3 billion
Founded
1962
5 Year Trend
+8.6%
Revenue
$93.5 billion
NASDAQ

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