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

Role Senior Principal Software Engineer – Logistics Platforms at Zalando. The role is part of the Logistics Capabilities teams that develop and scale technology for Zalando’s logistics network, serving over 52 million customers across Europe. The team comprises over 200 engineers, scientists, product managers and analysts across multiple locations. The engineer will own the full development lifecycle for large‑scale, mission‑critical logistics systems, from design through deployment and operational excellence. Responsibilities - Architect and evolve logistics platforms: design and lead technical vision for mission‑critical logistics software, creating robust, scalable microservice architectures for warehouse and transportation operations. - Drive innovation with automation and AI: integrate automation, robotics and AI‑driven tools into in‑house systems to enhance fulfilment centre efficiency. - Define migration readiness and technical health: develop migration strategy for warehouse systems, establish criteria for migration readiness, evaluate technical health and scalability. - Provide technical leadership and mentorship: act as technical expert across the logistics domain, guide engineering teams and raise the technical bar. - Manage and execute complex initiatives: own multiple high‑impact technical initiatives from concept through delivery. - Foster cross‑functional collaboration: work closely with principal engineers, product managers and operational stakeholders to create a unified technical roadmap. Qualifications - Extensive experience designing, building and operating complex, large‑scale distributed systems. - Deep expertise in software architecture patterns such as Distributed Systems, Event‑Driven Architecture and REST. - Strong technical toolkit in JVM‑based languages (Java, Kotlin, Scala), cloud‑native development (AWS, Docker, Kubernetes) and relational databases (PostgreSQL). - Proven ability to lead technical projects, define long‑term vision and dive into detailed implementation. - Demonstrated capability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. - Exceptional leadership and communication skills, able to inspire teams and influence stakeholders at all levels. What We Offer - 27 days of holiday per year (full‑time) plus 2 paid volunteering days. - Hybrid working model with up to 60 % remote work. - Opportunity to work abroad for up to 30 days per year. - Employee share program and discounts on Zalando fashion and beauty products. - Relocation assistance (subject to agreement). - Family services, health and wellbeing options, mental health support and coaching. - Continuous development through training platforms and peer‑to‑peer reviews.