Job Role - Director of e Commerce Engineering
Location - Pune (Hybrid)
Experience - 16+ Years
Responsibilities
1. Leadership and Delivery
• Oversee and lead the engineering project delivery for the ECommerce Global Multi-Tenant Platform, ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance to support global business operations.
• Define and execute the engineering strategy, aligning with the company’s business goals and long-term vision for omnichannel retail.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables by establishing robust processes for code reviews, testing, and deployment.
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Actively collaborate with Product Management, Business Stakeholders, and other Engineering Teams to define project requirements and deliver customer centric solutions.
• Serve as a key point of contact for resolving technical challenges and ensuring alignment between business needs and technical capabilities.
• Promote seamless communication between teams to deliver cross-functional initiatives on time and within budget.
3. Talent Acquisition and Development
• Build a strong and diverse engineering team by attracting, recruiting, and retaining top talent.
• Design and implement a robust onboarding program to ensure new hires are set up for success.
• Coach team members to enhance technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of talent by building relationships with local universities, engineering communities, and industry professionals.
4. Performance Management
• Define clear, measurable goals for individual contributors and teams, ensuring alignment with broader organizational objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to provide personalized feedback, career guidance, and development opportunities.
• Manage performance reviews and recognize high-performing individuals, while providing coaching and support to those needing improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, where team members take ownership of their work and deliver results.
5. Technology Leadership
• Champion the adoption of best practices in software engineering, including agile methodologies, Dev Ops, and automation.
• Facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing and expertise in critical technologies, such as cloud computing, microservices, and AI/ML.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies that align with business goals, driving innovation and competitive advantage.
6. Continuous Education and Domain Expertise
• Develop and execute a continuous education program to upskill team members on both key technologies and the Williams-Sonoma business domain.
• Organize training sessions, workshops, and certifications to keep the team updated on the latest industry trends.
• Encourage team members to actively participate in tech conferences, hackathons, and seminars to broaden their knowledge and network.
7. Resource Planning and Execution • Accurately estimate development efforts for projects, taking into account complexity, risks, and resource availability.
• Develop and implement project plans, timelines, and budgets to deliver initiatives on schedule.
• Oversee system rollouts and implementation efforts, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions to business operations.
• Optimize resource allocation to maximize team productivity and ensure proper workload distribution.
8. Organizational Improvement
• Champion initiatives to improve the engineering organization’s culture, focusing on collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity.
• Continuously evaluate and refine engineering processes to increase efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.
• Promote team well-being by fostering a positive and supportive work environment where engineers feel valued and motivated.
• Lead efforts to make the organization a "Great Place to Work", including regular engagement activities, mentorship programs, and open communication.
9. System Understanding and Technical Oversight
• Develop a deep understanding of critical systems and processes, including platform architecture, APIs, data pipelines, and Dev Ops practices.
• Provide technical guidance to the team, addressing complex challenges and ensuring alignment with architectural best practices.
• Partner with senior leaders to align technology decisions with business priorities and future-proof the company’s systems.
10. Innovation and Transformation
• Play a pivotal role in transforming Williams-Sonoma into a leading technology organization by implementing cutting-edge solutions in e Commerce, Platform Engineering, AI, ML, and Data Science.
• Drive the future of omnichannel retail by conceptualizing and delivering innovative products and features that enhance customer experiences.
• Actively represent the organization in the technology community, building a strong presence through speaking engagements, partnerships, and contributions to open-source projects.
• Identify opportunities for process automation and optimization to improve operational efficiency.
11. Additional Responsibilities
• Be adaptable to perform other duties as required, addressing unforeseen challenges and contributing to organizational goals.
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitive landscapes to ensure the company remains ahead of the curve. Criteria: Experience and Expertise Extensive Industry Experience
• Total Experience 16+ years & min12+ years of experience in developing and delivering e Commerce mobile applications and retail store solutions with multiple concurrent tracks of development and operations.
• Proven success in leading initiatives that drive business outcomes, scalability, and innovation in e Commerce platforms. Leadership and Team Management
• 6+ years of experience in building and managing medium-scale teams (10–20 team members) of engineers, technical leads, and managers.
• Demonstrated ability to optimize team performance, foster a culture of collaboration, and implement career development initiatives. Project Lifecycle Management
• Skilled in managing projects through the entire lifecycle, from concept and design to development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Adept at balancing technical, business, and resource constraints to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Core Technical Criteria
1. Backend Expertise (Java) Strong Java Knowledge:
• Expertise in Java frameworks such as Spring & Spring Boot.
• In-depth understanding of RESTful API design, implementation, and optimization.
• Knowledge of microservices architecture and tools like Kubernetes, Docker, and API Gateway. Scalability and Performance: • Experience in building scalable, high-performance backend systems to handle high traffic. • Proficiency in tuning Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for optimal performance. Database Management: • Hands-on experience with relational databases like Oracle, My SQL, Postgre SQL, and No SQL databases like Mongo DB, Cassandra, or Redis.
• Ability to optimize database queries and manage large datasets effectively.
2. Frontend Expertise (Vue.js) Proficiency in Vue.js:
• Deep understanding of Vue.js components, Vuex (state management), Vue Router, and the ecosystem.
• Ability to optimize frontend code for performance, SEO, and user experience. Modern Web Development:
• Familiarity with Java Script (ES6+), Type Script, and tools like Webpack, Vite, or Rollup.
• Hands-on experience in responsive design, cross-browser compatibility, and progressive web apps (PWAs).
3. Full Stack Knowledge
• Understanding of frontend-backend communication patterns, including REST APIs, Web Sockets, and Graph QL.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack (frontend, backend, and database). Platform and Infrastructure Expertise
4. Cloud and Dev Ops
• Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or Azure.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Git Lab CI/CD, or equivalent tools.
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker) and orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
• Experience in implementing scalable, fault-tolerant architectures in a cloud environment.
5. Security and Compliance
• In-depth knowledge of e Commerce security standards, including PCI DSS compliance for payment processing.
• Experience in implementing security best practices, such as authentication (OAuth2, SSO), encryption, and secure API design. Architectural Expertise
6. System Design and Architecture
• Proven experience in designing and delivering e Commerce platforms that are scalable, reliable, and fault-tolerant.
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures using Kafka, Rabbit MQ, or similar tools.
• Expertise in load balancing, caching strategies (e.g., CDN, Redis, Memcached), and database partitioning.
7. API Management
• Experience designing and implementing secure, versioned, and scalable APIs for both internal and external integrations
