Principal Engineer - Catalog

About the Role

As a Principal Engineer on the Catalog team, you will operate at the nexus of deep technical execution and broad organizational influence. You will tackle the most challenging architectural questions, establish the AI-native engineering bar, and ensure iHerb's platform decisions foster long-term compounding value rather than accumulating technical debt. Reporting to the VP of Engineering, you will collaborate closely with peer Principals, Engineering Managers, and VPs across the organization.

This role is instrumental in owning the end-to-end technical strategy for iHerb’s product catalog platform, one of the company's most business-critical systems. You will lead the catalog modernization effort, define service boundaries and data models, and set the full-stack engineering standard for the Catalog team.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the catalog platform architecture, including service design, data modeling, API contracts, and technology choices across the stack.
• Lead the technical scoping and execution of the catalog modernization effort, coordinating with the Catalog EM and cross-functional partners.
• Contribute hands-on by writing production code, building proofs of concept, and validating architecture through working software.
• Set and enforce technical standards for the Catalog team, driving code and architecture reviews.
• Identify and resolve cross-cutting technical dependencies with peer engineering teams and shared platform services.
• Incorporate catalog-specific patterns and lessons into iHerb’s shared AI-driven SDLC golden path.
• Drive complex, cross-cutting technical decisions impacting multiple teams and shared platform services.
• Establish and evolve iHerb’s AI-driven SDLC golden path, including shared standards, Claude Code skills, guardrails, and automation patterns.
• Lead complex multi-team technical efforts by coordinating architecture reviews, aligning peer Principals and EMs, and resolving competing approaches.
• Mentor and elevate the technical capabilities across the engineering organization through code reviews, architecture reviews, and direct coaching of senior engineers.
• Represent engineering in cross-functional discussions with product, data science, security, and infrastructure teams.
• Document architectural decisions in the shared knowledge base to foster institutional knowledge compounding.

Requirements

• AI-driven SDLC: Demonstrated use of AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor) to ship production systems. Ability to articulate workflow changes, quality tradeoffs, and guardrail strategies.
• Architecture at Scale: Experience designing and evolving large-scale distributed systems across multiple teams and years (APIs, data pipelines, event-driven architectures, high-traffic platforms).
• Cross-Org Technical Leadership: Proven track record of driving architectural standards, technical roadmaps, or platform initiatives spanning multiple teams or organizations.
• Engineering Quality Mindset: Deeply held principles regarding code quality, observability, CI/CD, test automation, and maintaining velocity without accumulating hidden debt.
• Communication and Influence: Ability to write clear architecture documents, present to technical and non-technical audiences, and build consensus without formal authority.
• Experience working in distributed teams across the US, China, and Latin America.
• Deep backend engineering experience in at least one of: C#/.NET (strongly preferred), Go, Java, or Python at production scale.
• Proven experience designing data models and APIs for high-volume catalog, inventory, or e-commerce systems.
• Full-stack capability: Ability to contribute meaningfully to frontend (React or equivalent) and own backend-to-UI architectural decisions.
• Experience driving large-scale platform modernization or rewrite efforts, including migration strategy and risk management.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multi-task.

Equipment Knowledge

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with Google Business Suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms) preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Generally requires a minimum of 10+ years of software engineering experience, with a significant portion at senior, staff, or principal IC level.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field preferred, or a combination of education and equivalent work experience.

Judgment/Reasoning Ability

• Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve problems quickly using sound judgment, poise, and diplomacy.
• Ability to use judgment and reasoning skills and determine when to escalate issues in a timely manner.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform essential job functions. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to sit, walk, climb stairs, use hands/fingers, bend, stoop, and reach. May occasionally lift or move office products and supplies up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

• Moderate noise level.
• Hectic, fast-paced with multi-level distractions.
• Professional, yet casual work environment.
• Office / Warehouse environment.
• Ability to work extended hours as required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Anticipated Pay Scale: $204,000—$260,000 USD
• Benefits: Eligible for medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance programs, 401(k) plan, Time Off, Paid Sick Leave, and paid holidays. Eligibility criteria apply.
• Additional: Potential for Restricted Stock Units and annual bonuses based on eligibility and performance criteria.
• For more information on iHerb benefits, visit us at iHerbBenefits.com.

About iHerb

iHerb is on a mission to make health and wellness accessible to all, offering Earth’s best-curated selection of health and wellness products at the best possible value, delivered with the most convenient experience. As the world’s largest eCommerce platform dedicated to vitamins, minerals, and supplements, iHerb has been simplifying the purchase of high-quality products for over 25 years, shipping over 50,000 products from 1,800+ brands to customers in 180+ countries. Their vision is to become the #1 destination for health and wellness globally. iHerb's 5 Shared Values unite their global team: Focus on the Customer, Empower Our People, Be Entrepreneurial & Pivot Quickly, Embrace Diversity & Inclusion, and Strive for Simplicity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

iHerb is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. iHerb provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment.