Senior Director, Software Engineering

About the Team

The Ads division at Walmart is the fastest growing segment, expanding approximately 40% annually, ranking as the second largest retail media business in its industry. It supports Walmart's commercial ecosystem by serving advertisers, suppliers, and customers at scale. The Chennai-based AdTech engineering team is pivotal, crafting an advanced proprietary technology stack including DSP, SSP, DMP, and real-time auction systems. Known for pioneering innovation and AI-driven transformations, this agile team combines the spirit of a startup with Walmart's substantial scale.

Role Overview

As the Site Lead for Ads and Walmart Plus (W+) in Chennai, you will define the site's vision, culture, operational cadence, and oversee talent acquisition and retention. You will represent the site in discussions with global leaders. You'll also lead Offsite Ads engineering efforts from Chennai, determining technical strategies, multi-year plans, and architectural direction for DSP, SSP, DMP, and real-time auction platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with product, business, and engineering leaders in the US to set priorities, coordinate cross-geographic execution, and drive accountability.
• Lead the Chennai team currently consisting of roughly 30 members via managers and senior tech leads while cultivating leadership pipelines and succession plans.
• Ensure operational excellence in high-scale ad serving platforms focusing on availability, latency, reliability, security, privacy, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee robust large-scale data processing for targeting, measurement, attribution, and reporting with rigorous data quality and governance protocols.
• Champion AI/ML innovation across advertising platforms and promote AI-first engineering methods to enhance advertiser results and developer efficiency.
• Translate business strategies and advertiser requirements into prioritized investment portfolios evaluated consistently for business value.
• Implement engineering best practices including architecture reviews, quality assurance, DevOps/SRE, and responsible AI frameworks.
• Manage multiple parallel programs and business initiatives, including budgeting, headcount management, and risk assessment.
• Leverage internal and external partnerships to achieve strategic goals and sponsor community outreach and engagement efforts.
• Drive continual improvements by researching industry trends and integrating best practices into development and operations.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment across geographies to deliver superior customer service worldwide.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degrees preferred.
• Over 18 years of software engineering experience, including extensive leadership of large multi-layered engineering teams (managers of managers) and distributed teams.
• Deep expertise in AdTech covering DSP, SSP, DMP platforms, real-time bidding/auctions, audience targeting, measurement, and attribution; experience with Offsite/programmatic advertising is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in scaling high-throughput, low-latency real-time serving systems and managing large-scale batch and streaming data processing.
• Hands-on knowledge of big data and distributed computing tools like Spark, Kafka, and NoSQL databases such as Cassandra, coupled with strong DevOps/SRE capabilities.
• Applied experience with AI/ML in advertising domains (bid optimization, relevance, personalization) and utilizing AI for engineering productivity gains.
• Proven ability to establish and execute multi-year technical roadmaps, manage financial responsibilities, and influence executives with strong communication presence.
• Experience collaborating with global leadership, spanning time zones, and prior roles as a site or country leader are advantageous.
• Track record in hiring senior professionals, developing leadership talent, and nurturing an inclusive and high-performance workplace culture.

About Walmart Global Tech

Walmart Global Tech is a diverse community of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity professionals, and service experts who impact the lives of millions by driving innovation in retail. We nurture learning and career growth at every level, from newcomers to experienced professionals, empowering innovation at scale and shaping the future of retail.

Work Environment

This role is based in the Chennai office where collaboration and innovation thrive, with flexibility to balance professional and personal life.

Benefits and Culture

Our comprehensive compensation package includes performance incentives. Additional benefits feature maternity and parental leave, paid time off, health coverage, and more. We strive to build a culture of belonging where associates are respected and valued for their unique identities, experiences, and perspectives. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our operation across the 19 countries where Walmart works.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to an inclusive workforce that values diversity and ensures equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. Our inclusive environment fosters engagement, enhances business outcomes, and supports the communities we serve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field with at least 7 years of experience in software engineering or a related discipline.
• Option 2: At least 9 years of software engineering experience plus 4 years in supervisory roles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science or related field with 5 years of experience in software engineering.
• Experience and knowledge in creating accessible digital experiences compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and digital accessibility best practices.
• Commitment to developing accessible products that align with Walmart's standards to promote an inclusive culture.

Location

This position is located at Tower 1, Part of 1st, 2nd to 4th Floors, International Tech Park Radial Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.