Job Details

Position Purpose:

The Principal Software Engineer-AI Warehouse Systems will spearhead the design and development of advanced artificial intelligence solutions within Home Depot's Warehouse Management and Execution Systems (WMS/WES). By leveraging deep expertise in applied AI, machine learning, and algorithmic optimization, they will drive the creation of next-generation, intelligent warehouse processes that enhance efficiency, adaptability, and operational excellence across supply chain environments.

This role leads the integration of AI-driven predictive analytics, real-time decision-making engines, and intelligent automation into both cloud-native and on-premises platforms. Drawing on hands-on experience with conveyor software, PLC communications, robotics, and edge computing, they will architect resilient systems that connect physical devices-such as sensors, actuators, and industrial robots-with enterprise-grade software.

The Principal Software Engineer will navigate complex data landscapes and industrial protocols, orchestrating seamless interoperability between legacy hardware, modern microservices, and AI models. As a technical thought leader, they champion scalable, reusable code and uphold rigorous standards for code quality, system reliability, and technical documentation. They will facilitate collaboration across software, data science, electrical, and warehouse operations teams, translating complex AI requirements for diverse audiences and managing system risks, data integration constraints, and evolving business objectives.

This position ensures robust configuration of AI components, hyper-efficiency of algorithms, continuous system learning and performance optimization, resilience testing, and operational monitoring. With high expectations for system availability, data security, and disaster recovery, the Principal Software Engineer mentors junior talent, instilling best practices in AI, data engineering, and modern development frameworks to guarantee innovation, reliability, and scalability throughout Home Depot's automated warehouse solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• 70% Delivery & Execution

• Collaborates and pairs with other product team members (UX, engineering, and product management) to create secure, reliable, scalable software solutions

• Documents, reviews, and ensures that all quality and change control standards are met

• Writes custom code or scripts to automate infrastructure, monitoring services, and test cases

• Writes custom code or scripts to do "destructive testing" to ensure adequate resiliency in production

• Creates meaningful dashboards, logging, alerting, and responses to ensure that issues are captured and addressed proactively

• Contributes to enterprise-wide tools to drive destructive testing, automation, or engineering empowerment

• Identifies product enhancements (client-facing or technical) to create a better experience for the end users

• Identifies unsecured code areas and implements fixes as they are discovered with or without tooling

• Identifies, implements, and shares technical solutions that can be used across the organization

• Creates and architects foundational code elements that can be reused many times by a product

• Creates meaningful architecture diagrams and other documentation needed for security reviews or other interested parties

• Defines Service Level Objectives for product to constantly measure their reliability in production and help prioritize backlog work

• 20% Support & Enablement:

• Fields questions from other product teams or support teams

• Monitors tools and participates in conversations to encourage collaboration across product teams

• Provides application support for software running in production

• Proactively monitors production Service Level Objectives for products

• Works with vendors and the open-source community to help identify and implement feature enhancements in software products

• Works with other product teams to create API specifications and contracts for shared data

• Proactively reviews the performance and capacity of all aspects of production: code, infrastructure, data, and message processing

• Triages high-priority issues and outages as they arise

• 10% Learning:

• Participates in and leads learning activities around modern software design and development core practices (communities of practice)

• Learns, through reading, tutorials, and videos, new technologies and best practices being used within other technology organizations

• Attends conferences and learns how to apply new technologies where appropriate

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• Typically reports to the Software Engineer Manager or Sr. Manager, Technology Director, or Sr. Director.

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position, with frequent opportunities to move about. On rare occasions, there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Working Conditions:

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.

• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

• Mastery of an object-oriented programming language (preferably Java)

• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6-8 years of relevant software engineering experience, including substantive work in AI/ML, data science, or algorithmic systems within warehousing, logistics, or supply chain contexts

• Has experience creating single and multi-agent AI systems, orchestrating the multi-agent systems to solve complex tasks, and integrating these systems into external data sources

• Mastery of Python and experience with advanced machine learning frameworks (such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn)

• Advanced proficiency in designing and deploying AI/ML models for real-time warehouse optimization, predictive maintenance, and process automation

• Mastery of modern web application frameworks (Ruby on Rails, Spring MVC, Node.js) and microservice-based architectures

• Mastery of writing optimized SQL queries and proficiency with NoSQL databases, including data modeling and query performance optimization for large-scale operational datasets

• Deep proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and automation patterns, including integration of AI/ML solutions with cloud-native services

• Strong experience in edge computing and IoT protocols to support AI algorithms interfacing directly with warehouse devices and robotics

• Expertise with CI/CD toolchains for continuous integration and automated deployment of ML models and warehouse applications

• Proven experience implementing secure, high-availability, and disaster-recovery patterns in production systems

• Demonstrated success applying destructive and resilience testing methodologies for AI-enabled warehouse systems

• Advanced understanding of defensive coding and secure design principles for mission-critical environments

• Proficient in front-end frameworks (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AngularJS, ReactJS, JQuery), with the ability to visualize AI insights for operators and non-technical stakeholders

• Extensive experience integrating RESTful web services and real-time event-driven architectures within warehouse environments

• Demonstrated leadership in cross-disciplinary teams and mentoring, frequently translating advanced AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Experience with 12-factor methodology and related architectural patterns to ensure modular, scalable, and resilient deployment of AI applications

• Knowledge of the latest research and trends in warehouse AI: reinforcement learning, simulation-based optimization, computer vision (CV), and autonomous systems

Minimum Education:

• The knowledge, skills, and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Preferred Education:

• No additional education

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 6

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• No additional years of experience

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• None

Preferred Leadership Experience:

• None

Certifications:

• None

Competencies:

• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm

• Business Insight: Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences

• Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful

• Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances

• Global Perspective: Taking a broad view when approaching issues; using a global lens

• Interpersonal Savvy: Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people

• Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems

• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder

• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement

• Self-Development: Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels

• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations

Benefits offered include health care benefits, 401K, ESPP, paid time off, and success sharing bonus. For a full list of the various benefits The Home Depot offers, visit

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. - $140,000.00 - $240,000.00