Senior Principal Software Engineer - Logistics Capabilities (all genders) LS

Role: The Logistics Capabilities teams at Zalando develop and scale the technology for our entire logistics network, powering the fulfilment of orders for over 52 million active customers across Europe. More than 200 Software Engineers, Applied Scientists, Product Managers, and Product Analysts work in Berlin, Dortmund, Erfurt, and Moenchengladbach across more than 30 teams. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, you will own the full development lifecycle for large-scale, mission-critical systems from design to deployment and operational excellence. Responsibilities: - Architect and evolve logistics platforms: design and lead the technical vision for mission-critical logistics software, creating robust, scalable microservice architectures for warehouse and transportation operations. - Drive innovation with automation and AI: spearhead the integration of automation, robotics, and AI-driven tools into in-house systems to enhance fulfilment centre efficiency. - Define migration readiness and technical health: own the migration strategy for warehouse systems, establish criteria for migration readiness, and evaluate platform scalability. - Provide technical leadership and mentorship: act as a technical expert across the logistics domain, guiding engineering teams and raising the technical bar for the entire organisation. - Manage and execute complex initiatives: take ownership of multiple high-impact technical initiatives from concept to successful implementation and delivery. - Foster cross-functional collaboration: work closely with principal engineers, product managers, and operational stakeholders to create a unified technical roadmap. Qualifications: - Proven extensive experience in designing, building, and operating complex, large-scale distributed systems. - Deep expertise in software architecture patterns, including Distributed Systems, Event-Driven Architecture, and REST. - Strong technical skills in JVM-based languages (Java, Kotlin, Scala), cloud-native development (AWS, Docker, Kubernetes), and relational databases like PostgreSQL. - Tech-oriented leader with the ability to define a long-term technical vision while diving deep into challenges to drive them to completion. - Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously, from planning through to delivery. - Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders. What We Offer: - 27 days of holiday per year to start (full-time employees) - 2 paid volunteering days per year - Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week - Work from abroad for up to 30 working days per year - Employee shares program - 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, and discounts on external partners - Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement) - Family services, including counselling and support - Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass) - Mental health support and coaching - Development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer reviews