Principal Distributed Systems Engineer

Principal Distributed Systems Engineer (Cloud + Edge + IoT) Location: Redwood City, CA (Bay Area) – Onsite Industry: AI-Driven Retail Technology Build the infrastructure powering the next generation of intelligent retail operations. We’re building a platform that connects physical retail stores, edge devices, and cloud intelligence into a single operational system. Our platform integrates RFID, IoT sensors, store hardware, distributed data systems, and AI-driven applications to give retailers real-time visibility and automation across thousands of stores. We’re looking for a hands-on Principal Engineer to architect and scale large distributed systems that operate across cloud and physical environments. If you enjoy solving hard systems problems that connect hardware, real-time data pipelines, and scalable cloud infrastructure , this role is for you. What You’ll Work On You’ll architect and build systems that connect: • RFID readers and IoT edge devices in physical stores • Real-time data pipelines processing millions of events • Distributed cloud services powering analytics and automation • AI-driven applications that optimize store operations This role sits at the intersection of:
Distributed systems
Edge computing
IoT device integration
Scalable SaaS platforms
AI-enabled operational software Responsibilities: System Architecture
Architect large-scale distributed systems across cloud and edge environments
Define scalable multi-tenant SaaS architectures
Lead technical design for high-throughput, real-time data platforms
Drive long-term architecture decisions and technical strategy Edge + Hardware Integration
Build reliable hardware-to-cloud communication systems
Integrate RFID, sensors, and IoT devices with backend platforms
Design real-time ingestion pipelines for store telemetry and operational data
Optimize reliability and performance across physical and cloud environments Cloud Platform Engineering Design and build cloud-native infrastructure on GCP , including:
Kubernetes
Docker / containerized services
Kafka-based event streaming
Redis
BigQuery
MongoDB You will also:
Implement scalable microservices architectures
Design systems for observability, reliability, and high availability Backend Development Develop backend services using:
Java (Spring Boot)
Python (FastAPI or similar)
Node / NPM frameworks You’ll help define:
API architecture
Event-driven system design
Distributed service patterns AI + Data Integration
Integrate ML models into production workflows
Build data pipelines supporting operational analytics
Apply AI insights to real-world retail workflows Requirements 10+ years building production software systems , including deep experience with:
Distributed systems
Cloud-native architectures
Multi-tenant SaaS platforms
Kubernetes and container orchestration
Kafka / event streaming systems
Redis, MongoDB, BigQuery
Java, Python, and modern backend frameworks You should also have:
Strong understanding of hardware–software interaction patterns
Experience designing high-scale systems that process real-time data Nice to Have
Experience with RFID or IoT device integration
Background in retail technology, logistics, robotics, or operational systems
Exposure to AI/ML systems in production
Experience building edge-to-cloud architectures What We’re Looking For We want someone who: • Is a hands-on builder and architect • Enjoys solving hard infrastructure and systems problems • Takes ownership and moves quickly • Thrives in fast-moving startup environments • Mentors engineers and raises the technical bar What Success Looks Like
Reliable integration between store hardware and cloud systems
Highly scalable distributed systems supporting large retail deployments
Clean, maintainable code powering mission-critical infrastructure