Location: Addison, IL (Hybrid: Tues–Thurs Onsite)

Level: Senior / Principal Engineer (12–15+ years’ experience)

Overview

Our client is seeking a Principal Backend Engineer to help lead the transformation of a monolithic SAP Hybris system into a modern, cloud-native, and personalized commerce experience. This role blends deep backend engineering knowledge with architectural thinking, ERP integrations, and a strong product mindset.

You will play a key part in reimagining how backend services are exposed and extended via APIs, enabling dynamic personalization and performance tuning. Working closely with cross-functional leaders, this role will influence platform design, vendor evaluations, and the long-term roadmap for a scalable, user-tailored commerce system.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Evolution & Architecture

• Architect scalable backend services to decouple SAP Hybris and Commerce Cloud components from monolithic patterns.
• Lead decision-making around commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions vs. custom build options (e.g., evaluating tools like Bloomreach for experience layer integrations).
• Define patterns and standards that enable AI-driven personalization capabilities atop an API-first commerce architecture.

Service Design & Implementation

• Guide how to surface SAP Commerce Cloud services (e.g., pricing engine, catalog search) behind robust APIs.
• Contribute to and review services built using Java, Node.js, or TypeScript, focusing on clean architecture and cloud-native patterns.
• Support the shift to containerized services orchestrated via Kubernetes.

ERP & System Integrations

• Design and implement integrations with SAP S/4HANA and other ERP systems for seamless backend commerce data flow.
• Ensure integration layers follow resilient, scalable design using asynchronous patterns where appropriate.

Engineering Best Practices

• Embed operational excellence through ITSM-aligned development (e.g., bite-sized, traceable, and auditable changes).
• Promote observability, deployment hygiene, and maintainability of backend services.

Core Requirements

• 12–15+ years of backend engineering experience, with strong emphasis on eCommerce systems.
• Deep expertise in Java and/or Node.js, along with TypeScript in backend contexts.
• Experience with SAP Hybris, SAP Commerce Cloud (CCv2), and ERP platforms like SAP S/4HANA.
• Solid understanding of API gateway architecture, containerization, and Kubernetes.
• Ability to design and guide systems in cloud environments, with a cloud-native mindset.
• Strong knowledge of search engines (e.g., Solr, OpenSearch) and experience fine-tuning relevancy models.
• Familiarity with personalization technologies, AI-driven recommendations, and user segmentation strategies.
• Comfortable working with COTS vendors or building platform components in-house from scratch.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience decoupling monolithic commerce platforms into modular microservices.
• Exposure to commerce search optimization, dynamic pricing, and behavioral data modeling.
• Hands-on experience with personalization engines or front-end content orchestration tools.
• Familiarity with best practices in ITSM, change management, and continuous delivery pipelines.