Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Today, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is one of the United States' largest e-commerce retailers with some of the best known and most beloved brands in home furnishings. Our family of brands are Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, GreenRow and Mark and Graham. We currently operate retail stores globally. Our products are also available to customers through our catalogs and online worldwide.

  Williams-Sonoma has established a technology center in Pune, India to enhance its global operations. The India Technology Center serves as a critical hub for innovation and focuses on developing cutting-edge solutions in areas such as e-commerce, supply chain optimization, and customer experience management. By integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and machine learning, the India Technology Center plays a crucial role in accelerating Williams-Sonoma's growth and maintaining its competitive edge in the global market

 

Success in the role requires agility and results orientation, strategic and innovative thinking, a proven track record of delivering new customer-facing software products at scale, rigorous analytical skills, and a passion for automation and data-driven approaches to solving problems.

 

Director of eCommerce Engineering - 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, DevOps, 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 DevOps 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 eCommerce, 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 12+ years of experience in developing and delivering eCommerce 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 eCommerce platforms. Leadership and Team Management 5+ 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.

Technical and Professional Skills

Project and Technical Leadership Strong project management skills with the ability to lead and mentor technical professionals. Proven experience in scoping, prioritizing, and delivering projects on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives. Analytical and Decision-Making Skills Ability to systematically gather and analyze relevant data from diverse sources to address complex issues. Skilled in making prompt, insightful decisions under pressure and in ambiguous situations.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Business Relationships and Conflict Management Demonstrated ability to build trust-based business relationships across teams and external stakeholders. Proven capability to anticipate, mitigate, and resolve conflicts across workgroups to maintain team cohesion and productivity. Communication Excellence Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas effectively to technical and non-technical audiences. Experienced in delivering engaging presentations to different audiences, including senior leadership and external partners. Interpersonal Effectiveness Exceptional interpersonal skills, including team collaboration, negotiation, and mentorship. A team player who values diverse perspectives, respects all individuals regardless of seniority, and actively contributes to team success.

Operational and Organizational Skills

Execution and Results Orientation Proven track record in developing and executing detailed plans, managing budgets, and delivering results under tight deadlines. Demonstrated ability to handle complex, fast-paced projects with competing priorities. Vendor and Stakeholder Management Skilled in negotiating and managing vendor relationships, contracts, and service-level agreements (SLAs). Self-Motivation and Independence Self-driven with the ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively solve problems. Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments, making calculated decisions, and managing risks effectively. Educational Qualification Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent work experience will also be considered.

 

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, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases like MongoDB, 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 JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript, 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, WebSockets, and GraphQL. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack (frontend, backend, and database).

 

Platform and Infrastructure Expertise

4. Cloud and DevOps

Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or Azure. Experience with CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab 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 eCommerce 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.

6. Observability and Monitoring

Knowledge of logging and monitoring tools like ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana), Prometheus, Grafana, and Datadog. Experience in implementing robust error tracking and alerting mechanisms.

 

Architectural Expertise

7. System Design and Architecture

Proven experience in designing and delivering eCommerce platforms that are scalable, reliable, and fault-tolerant. Knowledge of event-driven architectures using Kafka, RabbitMQ, or similar tools. Expertise in load balancing, caching strategies (e.g., CDN, Redis, Memcached), and database partitioning.

8. API Management

Experience designing and implementing secure, versioned, and scalable APIs for both internal and external integrations. Knowledge of API Gateway technologies and API rate-limiting strategies.

 

Leadership and Team Management

9. Technical Leadership

Ability to guide the team in code reviews, setting coding standards, and adopting best practices in Java and Vue.js development. Hands-on experience in mentoring and growing engineering talent, specifically for eCommerce-focused teams.

10. Collaboration with Product and UX

Ability to collaborate with Product Managers and UX/UI Designers to align technical implementation with business goals and user experience. Experience in leading discussions on frontend performance optimization, UX responsiveness, and accessibility (WCAG standards).

Emerging Technologies and Trends

11. AI/ML and Personalization

Knowledge of AI/ML-driven personalization engines and recommendations for eCommerce platforms (e.g., product recommendations, search optimization).

12. Search and Catalog Optimization

Expertise in search technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr, or custom implementations for product catalogs.

Other Must-Have Skills

13. Performance Optimization

Proven experience in load testing, stress testing, and optimizing eCommerce platforms to handle millions of transactions.

14. Version Control and Collaboration Tools

Expertise with Git workflows, and tools like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab. Familiarity with Agile tools such as Jira & Confluence.