Staff Software Engineer - Retail & AI Transformation

Senior Staff Software EngineerIntellibus is building a strategic transformation partnership with a $7B+ U.S. grocery retailer, aiming to grow to a $20–30M+ annual relationship in coming years. We seek a senior leader with deep retail/grocery context, executive client leadership, and technology transformation experience to incubate, lead, and grow this engagement.The Staff Software Engineer will drive technology-led transformation across complex retail and omnichannel environments with strong software engineering and architectural expertise combined with retail business processes, digital commerce, and AI-driven innovation understanding.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & ArchitectureLead architecture, design, and development of scalable, resilient, high-performance enterprise applications.Define architectural patterns, engineering standards, and best practices for distributed systems and microservices.Design and implement APIs and integrations using REST and GraphQL.Drive technical roadmaps, architecture reviews, technology evaluations, and build-versus-buy decisions.Modernize legacy systems, simplify complex architectures, and improve scalability.Mentor engineers and provide technical direction across teams.Retail & Omnichannel TransformationCollaborate with retail business and tech stakeholders to understand challenges in digital commerce, store operations, merchandising, inventory, and customer experience.Design tech solutions enabling seamless omnichannel experiences across digital and physical retail channels.Evaluate systems for modernization, automation, and operational improvements.Integrate enterprise applications, APIs, data platforms, and customer-facing systems.Translate business requirements into scalable architectures and implementation plans.AI & Digital TransformationIdentify opportunities to apply generative AI, machine learning, intelligent automation, and AI agents in retail.Collaborate with AI/data teams to integrate intelligent capabilities into workflows.Evaluate emerging AI technologies considering feasibility, scalability, security, and business value.Define AI-enabled solutions for automation, personalization, forecasting, and efficiency.Establish engineering practices for AI integration, governance, monitoring, and readiness.Consulting & Stakeholder EngagementWork directly with business leaders, product managers, architects, engineers to understand objectives and constraints.Facilitate discovery, assess workflows, and identify tech-led transformation opportunities.Present architectural recommendations and trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.Connect business priorities with engineering execution to ensure measurable outcomes.Lead cross-functional problem solving and influence broader decisions beyond project teams.Engineering Excellence & DeliveryDevelop and maintain high-quality software using modern languages, frameworks, and practices.Improve system reliability, performance, observability, security, and maintainability.Drive automated testing, CI/CD, monitoring, and incident management improvements.Ensure enterprise integrations comply with security, authentication, authorization, and data protection.Own complex technical problems from discovery through production support.Required Qualifications10+ years in software engineering, architecture, or enterprise technology with Staff-level leadership.Strong experience in retail tech, grocery, digital commerce, omnichannel platforms, or retail transformation.Proven expertise designing and delivering complex enterprise applications, integrations, distributed systems.Deep understanding of AI transformation, generative AI, intelligent automation, and AI-enabled solutions.Consulting experience or partnering with senior business/technology stakeholders.Ability to lead architecture decisions, influence multiple teams, and mentor senior engineers.Experience modernizing legacy systems and delivering scalable, secure, reliable production apps.Strong communication, problem-solving, and executive stakeholder engagement skills.Technical SkillsBackend: Java, Spring Boot, Python, C#/.NET, or similar enterprise tech.Architecture: Microservices, distributed systems, RESTful APIs, GraphQL.Cloud: Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform.Containers/Infrastructure: Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform.Databases: SQL (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle), NoSQL.Integration: Event-driven architecture, Kafka, message patterns, ETL/ELT pipelines.AI: Generative AI, LLM integration, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, workflow automation.Engineering Practices: CI/CD, automated testing, Agile, Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps.Monitoring: New Relic, Dynatrace, Azure Monitor.Security: OAuth 2.0, SSO, secure API design.Preferred QualificationsExperience delivering technology transformation in large retail or grocery.Exposure to omnichannel commerce, POS, order management, inventory, merchandising, supply chain.Integration of AI solutions into retail enterprise workflows.Experience with executive stakeholders on tech strategy, architecture, transformation roadmaps.Documented improvements in performance, efficiency, customer experience, or business outcomes.Cross-functional leadership in consulting or transformation environments.Success MetricsScalable technology solutions aligned with retail priorities.Seamless integration across omnichannel platforms and systems.Practical AI opportunities realized into production.Improved engineering efficiency, reliability, and performance.Influential architecture and technology leadership across teams.Deliver measurable business value via engineering and transformation leadership.Location and Work ArrangementCandidates must be based in or able to work from Phoenix, AZ. The role supports a hybrid working environment. Travel expenses are covered.Interview ProcessQuick Introduction - 15-minute video call. Skills & Problem-Solving - Short proctored assessment (under 1 hour) and Google Docs presentation. Technical & Leadership Conversations - Two to three 30-minute video interviews, potentially a final client conversation. Offer and onboarding.Application NotesInterested candidates should apply to be contacted within the hour.