principal engineer, Coffeehouse Design & Development, Global Coffee & Sustainability Job Summary and MissionFrom the very beginning, Starbucks has set out to be a different kind of company - one that not only celebrated coffee and its rich heritage but also fostered a sense of human connection. We are recognized for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and lead through service to others. Coffeehouse Design & Development and Global Coffee and Sustainability sit at the core of delivering meaningful impact for our partners and customers. From designing future-ready coffeehouses to enabling the end-to-end "bean to cup" lifecycle and sustainability initiatives, this work drives real, visible outcomes. If you thrive on learning, value tangible results, and think systemically, the Technology team is looking for you Join us in shaping the future of Starbucks - where technology, data, and AI converge to deliver exceptional experiences for partners and customers worldwide.
Summary of Key ResponsibilitiesAs a
Principal Engineer within
Coffeehouse Design & Development and Global Coffee and Sustainability, you will play a critical role in shaping Starbucks' technology ecosystem to enable scalable, innovative, and AI-driven solutions. You will lead architectural strategy, guide technical decisions, and ensure alignment with business objectives and enterprise standards.
- Architectural Leadership: Develop and evolve technical architecture and design strategies based on business needs, lessons learned, and emerging trends.
- Discovery & Feasibility: Lead initial discovery and proof-of-concept (POC) efforts to assess solution feasibility, technology fit, and alignment with Coffeehouse Design & Development platforms.
- Collaboration & Influence: Partner with enterprise system teams to define technology recommendations and best practices for application design, cloud, integrations, monitoring, reporting, and data services.
- AI Integration:
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI and machine learning for predictive analytics, workflow optimization, and intelligent automation.
- Collaborate with data science teams to design architectures that support AI-driven insights and scalable ML models.
- Ensure AI solutions adhere to ethical guidelines, data privacy standards, and enterprise governance.
- Standards & Frameworks: Deliver key architectural artifacts, including Major Decision Frameworks (MDFs), solution frameworks, design patterns, technical standards, and guidelines.
- Roadmap Development: Create and maintain engineering and platform roadmaps informed by business priorities and stakeholder input.
- Thought Leadership: Advise on a broad range of technologies, staying current with industry trends and assessing long-term impacts, total cost of ownership (TCO), and business implications.
- Strategic Thinking: Challenge assumptions, consider opposing viewpoints, and evaluate short- and long-term financial and operational impacts.
- Leadership Presence: Represent Coffeehouse Design & Development Technology in cross-functional settings with empathy, clarity, and influence.
- Delivery Alignment: Stay connected to delivery teams to ensure architectural integrity and long-term sustainability of solutions.
Success CriteriaTo excel in this role, you will:
- Build organizational alignment rooted in Starbucks' Mission and Values.
- Demonstrate empathy and active listening to bridge gaps in understanding.
- Communicate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely, adapting to audience needs.
- Show agility and creativity in adjusting strategies based on feedback.
- Exhibit a bias for action while ensuring thoughtful, aligned solutions.
- Foster knowledge sharing and connection-building across the organization.
- Provide insights into best practices, measurements, and emerging technologies to strengthen the technical ecosystem.
- Champion AI adoption and ensure its integration enhances business outcomes and partner experiences.
Capabilities- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Deep technical expertise across enterprise architecture, integrations, and cloud platforms.
- Strong understanding of AI/ML technologies , data pipelines, and model deployment.
- Ability to inspire and build buy-in across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills.
- Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on innovation and scalability.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (Master's preferred).
- 12+ years in software development; 10+ years in systems development and integrations.
- 8+ years architecting middleware, RESTful APIs, and services on public cloud (Azure/AWS).
- Expertise in system engineering for packaged and custom applications.
- Familiarity with integration patterns (event-driven, APIs, job scheduling, flat files).
- 8+ years in UI/Web development (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, React).
- 8+ years working with relational and NoSQL databases.
- Experience with AI/ML platforms , data engineering, and model lifecycle management
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
- Experience with agile and waterfall methodologies, release management.
- Knowledge of retail functions (Market Planning, Lease Management, Construction, Design, Repair & Maintenance) is a plus.
Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.
Starbucks Coffee Company is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at or .
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