STEM OPT Principal Software Engineer Jobs
Principal Software Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT if your degree maps to an approved CIP code in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to authorize your 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months total to build senior-level experience before pursuing H-1B sponsorship.
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As a Principal Engineer in Walmart’s Fraud and Risk platform, you will define and drive the architecture of next-generation fraud and risk prevention systems at massive scale. You will lead the design of platforms that combine real-time decisioning, entity intelligence, agentic AI, and human-in-the-loop workflows.
This role requires deep technical leadership, owning architecture across systems and enabling teams to build scalable, intelligent, and explainable fraud prevention platforms.
About Team: The Inkiru team's mission is to detect and prevent Fraud in real time and enable a safe shopping experience for all our customers online and in-store. We are a team of passionate Engineers, Data scientists and Product managers who love to challenge each other but work together to build a platform to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. As an engineer on the team, you will help build systems that can process data at the scale of Walmart to derive insights in milliseconds that power lightning-fast detection of fraudsters. You will have the opportunity to work closely with our data scientists, Product Managers, business partners and systems engineers to drive the definition and implementation of platform services, applications and analytics tools for our predictive intelligence platform.
What you'll do:
Define Architecture for Fraud & Risk Platforms
- Lead system design for real-time fraud detection and policy enforcement
- Architect entity resolution and graph intelligence systems
- Design agentic AI platforms for automated fraud analysis and reasoning
- Shape case management and orchestration systems for investigations
Drive AI-Native System Design
- Define patterns for integrating ML models and AI agents into production
- Lead development of explainability frameworks for fraud decisions
- Enable scalable systems for model deployment, evaluation, and iteration
Own Cross-System Strategy
- Align architecture across Gateway, Platform, and Data Science teams
- Define integration patterns for real-time and batch systems
- Ensure systems meet requirements for latency, reliability, and scalability
Lead Technical Direction
- Drive architectural standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices
- Guide teams through complex technical decisions and tradeoffs
- Establish long-term technical vision aligned with business goals
Mentor & Influence
- Mentor senior and staff engineers across teams
- Influence hiring, engineering culture, and technical excellence
- Act as a thought leader in fraud, risk, and AI-driven systems
What you'll bring:
Proven track record of architecting and scaling large distributed systems
- Deep expertise in system design, platform engineering, and microservices architecture
- Strong experience with real-time decision systems and high-throughput architectures
- Experience architecting systems that operationalize ML models at scale
- Strong understanding of ML-driven decisioning systems and tradeoffs (rules vs models)
- Familiarity with fraud/risk systems, identity systems, or trust & safety domains
- Experience with entity resolution, graph systems, or behavioral analytics (strong plus)
- Ability to drive alignment and influence across organizations
- Strong technical judgment with a focus on long-term scalability and maintainability
About Walmart Global Tech
Imagine working in an environment where one line of code can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people. That’s what we do at Walmart Global Tech. We’re a team of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts and service professionals within the world’s leading retailer who make an epic impact and are at the forefront of the next retail disruption. People are why we innovate, and people power our innovations.
We are people-led and tech-empowered. We train our team in the skillsets of the future and bring in experts like you to help us grow. We have roles for those chasing their first opportunity as well as those looking for the opportunity that will define their career. Here, you can kickstart a great career in tech, gain new skills and experience for virtually every industry, or leverage your expertise to innovate at scale, impact millions and reimagine the future of retail.
Walmart’s culture is a competitive advantage, and it’s fostered by being together. Working together in person allows us to collaborate, align quickly and innovate with greater speed. We use our campuses to create purposeful connection rooted in deepening understanding and investing in the development of our associates.
Our hubs: Walmart is a global company with offices across the United States and around the world. Our global headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, with primary hubs in the San Francisco Bay area and New York/New Jersey.
Benefits:
Beyond our great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers, and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting, and valuing unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas, and opinions – while being inclusive of all people.
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed in the role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The full Job Description can be made available as part of the hiring process.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:
- Stock
Minimum Qualifications
Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 5 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Preferred Qualifications
Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.
Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 3 years' experience in software engineering or related area. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
809 11th Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-4731, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
Position Summary
As a Principal Engineer in Walmart’s Fraud and Risk platform, you will define and drive the architecture of next-generation fraud and risk prevention systems at massive scale. You will lead the design of platforms that combine real-time decisioning, entity intelligence, agentic AI, and human-in-the-loop workflows.
This role requires deep technical leadership, owning architecture across systems and enabling teams to build scalable, intelligent, and explainable fraud prevention platforms.
About Team: The Inkiru team's mission is to detect and prevent Fraud in real time and enable a safe shopping experience for all our customers online and in-store. We are a team of passionate Engineers, Data scientists and Product managers who love to challenge each other but work together to build a platform to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. As an engineer on the team, you will help build systems that can process data at the scale of Walmart to derive insights in milliseconds that power lightning-fast detection of fraudsters. You will have the opportunity to work closely with our data scientists, Product Managers, business partners and systems engineers to drive the definition and implementation of platform services, applications and analytics tools for our predictive intelligence platform.
What you'll do:
Define Architecture for Fraud & Risk Platforms
- Lead system design for real-time fraud detection and policy enforcement
- Architect entity resolution and graph intelligence systems
- Design agentic AI platforms for automated fraud analysis and reasoning
- Shape case management and orchestration systems for investigations
Drive AI-Native System Design
- Define patterns for integrating ML models and AI agents into production
- Lead development of explainability frameworks for fraud decisions
- Enable scalable systems for model deployment, evaluation, and iteration
Own Cross-System Strategy
- Align architecture across Gateway, Platform, and Data Science teams
- Define integration patterns for real-time and batch systems
- Ensure systems meet requirements for latency, reliability, and scalability
Lead Technical Direction
- Drive architectural standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices
- Guide teams through complex technical decisions and tradeoffs
- Establish long-term technical vision aligned with business goals
Mentor & Influence
- Mentor senior and staff engineers across teams
- Influence hiring, engineering culture, and technical excellence
- Act as a thought leader in fraud, risk, and AI-driven systems
What you'll bring:
Proven track record of architecting and scaling large distributed systems
- Deep expertise in system design, platform engineering, and microservices architecture
- Strong experience with real-time decision systems and high-throughput architectures
- Experience architecting systems that operationalize ML models at scale
- Strong understanding of ML-driven decisioning systems and tradeoffs (rules vs models)
- Familiarity with fraud/risk systems, identity systems, or trust & safety domains
- Experience with entity resolution, graph systems, or behavioral analytics (strong plus)
- Ability to drive alignment and influence across organizations
- Strong technical judgment with a focus on long-term scalability and maintainability
About Walmart Global Tech
Imagine working in an environment where one line of code can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people. That’s what we do at Walmart Global Tech. We’re a team of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts and service professionals within the world’s leading retailer who make an epic impact and are at the forefront of the next retail disruption. People are why we innovate, and people power our innovations.
We are people-led and tech-empowered. We train our team in the skillsets of the future and bring in experts like you to help us grow. We have roles for those chasing their first opportunity as well as those looking for the opportunity that will define their career. Here, you can kickstart a great career in tech, gain new skills and experience for virtually every industry, or leverage your expertise to innovate at scale, impact millions and reimagine the future of retail.
Walmart’s culture is a competitive advantage, and it’s fostered by being together. Working together in person allows us to collaborate, align quickly and innovate with greater speed. We use our campuses to create purposeful connection rooted in deepening understanding and investing in the development of our associates.
Our hubs: Walmart is a global company with offices across the United States and around the world. Our global headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, with primary hubs in the San Francisco Bay area and New York/New Jersey.
Benefits:
Beyond our great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers, and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting, and valuing unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas, and opinions – while being inclusive of all people.
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed in the role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The full Job Description can be made available as part of the hiring process.
At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:
- Stock
Minimum Qualifications
Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 5 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Option 2: 7 years’ experience in software engineering or related area.
Preferred Qualifications
Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.
Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer information systems, software engineering, or related area and 3 years' experience in software engineering or related area. We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart’s accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.
Primary Location
809 11th Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-4731, United States of America
Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.
See all 91+ Principal Software Engineer jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Software Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Principal Software Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your STEM degree's CIP code appears on the USCIS STEM Designated Degree Program List. A mismatch between your transcript's listed field and an approved code will disqualify you from the 24-month extension, regardless of your job title.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask the recruiter for the company's E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer database directly. A Principal Engineer offer from a non-enrolled employer means you can't activate your STEM OPT extension, even if the role and degree match perfectly.
Use O*NET to frame your training plan
The I-983 requires specific learning objectives tied to your role. Pull the Principal Software Engineer occupation profile from O*NET to identify the core tasks and skills DOL expects, then map your planned work assignments to those categories when completing Section 3.
Target employers with structured H-1B sponsorship pipelines
Principal-level roles often come with longer hiring cycles. Prioritize companies whose job postings explicitly reference visa sponsorship or whose engineering leadership tracks have a history of filing LCAs, since your 36-month window still requires eventual H-1B selection to maintain status.
Search for verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Filter for Principal Software Engineer openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers verified against E-Verify enrollment and DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you're applying to companies already set up to support your STEM OPT authorization.
File your STEM OPT extension well before OPT expires
USCIS recommends filing Form I-765 at least 90 days before your initial OPT end date. If your extension application is pending when OPT expires, a timely-filed application gives you up to 180 days of continued authorization while USCIS adjudicates.
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Find Principal Software Engineer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Principal Software Engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in an approved STEM field such as computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or a related discipline with an eligible CIP code. The job itself must also constitute practical training in that field. Principal Software Engineer roles typically qualify because they require and directly apply a STEM degree's core competencies, but your DSO confirms the match before endorsing the I-20.
How do I verify that a hiring employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
You can search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name or E-Verify Company ID to confirm enrollment status before you sign an offer. Enrollment must be active at the time your STEM OPT extension begins. If a company is not enrolled, your extension cannot be authorized regardless of how well the role aligns with your degree, so confirm this before the offer stage, not after.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Principal Software Engineer?
The I-983 requires you and your employer to document the specific duties, learning objectives, and supervision structure for your role. For a Principal Software Engineer, this typically covers system architecture responsibilities, technical leadership activities, and the engineering competencies you'll develop. Your employer's supervising engineer signs the plan, and your DSO must approve it before your extension is authorized. USCIS may audit the plan, so objectives should be concrete and tied to your degree field.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my H-1B petition is selected in the lottery?
If your H-1B petition is selected and filed for an October 1 start date, the cap-gap rule extends your STEM OPT authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working under cap-gap status if your employer filed before your STEM OPT end date. USCIS issues an updated I-20 reflecting the cap-gap extension period, which serves as your work authorization documentation during that time.
Where can I find Principal Software Engineer jobs that support STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Principal Software Engineer openings filtered for employers with E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filing history, which are the two baseline requirements for STEM OPT authorization. Searching there reduces the risk of pursuing roles at companies that can't legally support your extension, saving time during a period when your authorization timeline is fixed and non-negotiable.
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