Principal Software Engineer
CarMaxAbout the role
About this job
At CarMax, we are industry disruptors. At the heart of our innovation is new digital products. Working on many different aspects of the customer experience, our Principal Engineers research and discover new opportunities and shape products to fulfill them. From inception to completion, you will develop tools and technology, learning quickly from our spirit of experimentation. You will have a direct impact on improving the performance of our business and ensuring customers can buy the vehicles they want in a way that is right for them!
What you will do - Essential Responsibilities
Design and develop scalable backend APIs and services that power the Nexus platform using modern cloud-based technologies
Collaborate with product management, systems architecture, and partner engineering teams to develop innovative solutions that solve complex business problems
Lead technical initiatives and mentor engineers, providing guidance on best practices, architecture decisions, and implementation approaches
Drive technical excellence across the team by establishing coding standards, conducting code reviews, and championing engineering best practices
Develop cloud solutions using services, functions, and other key cloud platform components
Implement continuous integration and DevOps practices, including automated testing, monitoring, and alerting
Stay on top of industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve our technical capabilities and ensure our solutions remain cutting-edge
Collaborate effectively with multiple teams across the organization to deliver cohesive, high-quality solutions
Market your innovative ideas internally and evolve them according to feedback and critique within an agile environment
About Nexus
Nexus is building intelligent data platforms that transform how critical business information is managed, shared, and leveraged across CarMax. Our mission is to deliver scalable, intelligent data experiences that create business impact and enable data-driven decision making. We're focused on building systems that handle complex data at scale, creating the foundation for insights that will transform how the business operates.
Purpose of the role
We are seeking a Principal Engineer who will help architect and build the technical foundation of our data platform. It takes a passion for technology and leadership to develop ground-breaking products that handle complex data at scale. Working collaboratively and creatively as part of a close-knit product team, you will be part of the development process from end to end: consulting users, carrying out experiments, tackling complex technical challenges around data management and API design, and implementing scalable solutions. You can balance technical excellence with business goals and know how to deliver backend solutions that enhance business value. As a Principal Engineer with leadership aspirations, you will not only write code but also guide technical direction, mentor team members, and help shape the future of our engineering organization. Creative, curious, and highly analytical, you never stop learning and thrive on building systems that unlock new possibilities.
Qualifications and Requirements
Basic Qualifications
Strong teamwork and leadership skills, ability to learn quickly, excellent written and spoken communication required
8+ years of experience with .NET Core/C#/Microsoft Azure offerings
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, a related field, or equivalent alternative education, skills, and/or practical experience is required
Strong teamwork skills, ability to learn quickly, excellent written and spoken communication required.
Demonstrated ability or strong interest in technical leadership and mentoring engineers
Experience in the following Required
Strong expertise in REST API design and development
Knowledge and passion towards backend architecture, app tier/service layer methodologies
Experience with SQL Server and NoSQL database technologies
Experience integrating cloud-based technologies and solutions (PaaS/IaaS/CaaS)
Experience with version control systems (Git, GitHub, etc.)
Experience working with Agile and DevOps methodologies
Knowledge of JSON and XML concepts, frameworks, and standards
Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code
Experience implementing security best practices for AP
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