Principal Engineer - Catalog at iHerb

Job Summary

The Principal Engineer - Catalog operates at the intersection of deep technical execution and broad organizational influence. This role will resolve the most challenging architectural questions, set the AI-native engineering standard, and ensure iHerb's platform decisions compound over time rather than accumulate debt. Reporting to the VP of Engineering, this role collaborates closely with peer Principals, Engineering Managers, and VPs across the organization.

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

Job Expectations

• 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 Engineering Manager (EM) and cross-functional partners.
• Act as a hands-on contributor, writing production code, building proofs of concept, and validating architecture through functional software.
• Set and enforce technical standards for the Catalog team, driving code reviews and architecture reviews.
• Identify and resolve cross-cutting technical dependencies with peer engineering teams and shared platform services.
• Integrate catalog-specific patterns and lessons learned into iHerb's shared AI-driven SDLC golden path.
• Drive the most complex cross-cutting technical decisions across 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 initiatives by coordinating architecture reviews, aligning peer Principals and EMs, and resolving competing approaches.
• Mentor and elevate the technical standard 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 compounding institutional knowledge across the organization.

Note: The duties and responsibilities described above may provide only a partial description of this position. Other duties may be added as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required:

• 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 trade-offs, and guardrail strategies.
• Architecture at Scale: Experience designing and evolving large-scale distributed systems across multiple teams and years, including APIs, data pipelines, event-driven architectures, or high-traffic platforms.
• Cross-Org Technical Leadership: Proven track record of driving architectural standards, technical roadmaps, or platform initiatives that span multiple teams or organizations.
• Engineering Quality Mindset: Strong convictions 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.
• Backend Engineering: Deep experience with C#/.NET (strongly preferred), Go, Java, or Python, at production scale.
• Data Modeling & APIs: Proven experience designing data models and APIs for high-volume catalog, inventory, or e-commerce systems.
• Full-Stack Capability: Ability to contribute meaningfully to the frontend (React or equivalent) and own backend-to-UI architectural decisions.
• Platform Modernization: Experience driving a large-scale platform modernization or rewrite effort, including migration strategy and risk management.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multi-task.

Preferred:

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with Google Business Suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms) is 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 a related field is preferred, or a combination of education and equivalent work experience.

Judgment/Reasoning Ability

• Ability to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve problems quickly with sound judgment, poise, and diplomacy. Capable of determining when to escalate issues in a timely manner.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform essential job functions. This includes regular talking and hearing, frequent sitting, walking, climbing stairs, using hands and fingers, bending, stooping, and reaching. May occasionally lift or move office products and supplies up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

• The work environment is typically moderate in noise level. It is characterized as hectic, fast-paced with multi-level distractions, professional yet casual, and may be an office/warehouse environment. Ability to work extended hours as required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Anticipated Pay Scale: $204,000—$260,000 USD
• Benefits: Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, 401(k) plan, Time Off and Paid Sick Leave, paid holidays. Specific details governed by applicable plan documents. Restrict Stock Units and annual bonuses may be awarded based on eligibility and performance criteria.