Principal Engineer

Join us and experience Bunnings from the other side of the counter!

What’s in it for you when you’re part of our team:

• Team discount at Bunnings and other Wesfarmers brands including Kmart, Target and Officeworks to name a few

• Free standard OnePass membership

• Access to over 100+ exclusive team member benefits across health, shopping, travel and stay, wealth, work and leave

• 12 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender

• Fun stuff like annual festive gifts, discounted food and drinks at our Bunnings Cafe, and travelling store team member opportunities

• We’re genuinely invested in your career and no matter where you start with us, that pathway is yours to build

About the role
Ready to set the technical agenda for engineering at scale? At Bunnings, we’re embedding modern platforms, automation, and AI capabilities at the heart of our business, and we are seeking a principal-level leader to shape the next era.

As a Principal Engineer, you’ll operate as both architect and hands-on technical leader, guiding our most significant digital, platform, and emerging technology initiatives from inception to impact.

What’s involved

• Define and own technical strategy for key platforms and systems, balancing speed, quality, and maintainability.
• Lead end-to-end design and delivery of business-critical solutions, from conceptual architecture to production deployment and continuous improvement.
• Partner with product, engineering, and business leaders to shape our technology roadmap and delivery programs.
• Provide deep technical leadership and mentorship, uplifting engineering and architecture capability across teams.
• Drive best practice in architecture, secure software development, testing, and DevOps, including cloud-native design (Azure/AWS) and CI/CD automation.
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies—including cloud, automation, data platforms, and AI/GenAI and apply them pragmatically where they unlock value.
• Lead technical governance, architectural reviews, and proactive management of technical debt.
• Champion a culture of experimentation, knowledge sharing, and pragmatic engineering.
• Influence recruitment, onboarding, and professional development across the technical community.

Who we’re looking for

You are a technical strategist and hands-on leader with the confidence to drive large-scale transformation. You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy solving deep technical challenges that unlock business value. You communicate with impact, whether you’re engaging an engineering squad, a senior executive, or a cross-functional working group.

You demonstrate:

• Depth in software and platform engineering, with the ability to shape system architecture, platform strategy, and delivery at scale.
• Strong hands-on experience across core programming languages (e.g., Python, C#, or Java) and frameworks.
• Expertise in architecting cloud-native, distributed systems and microservices (preferably Azure, with AWS/GCP as a plus).
• A strong grasp of SDLC, Agile, and DevOps, and the ability to elevate engineering discipline in others.
• The ability to mentor, coach, and develop senior engineers and architects, creating a high-performance, high-trust culture.
• A passion for learning, with an interest in emerging technologies such as automation platforms, AI/GenAI, orchestration tools, and enterprise data systems.

You’ll need:

• Significant experience (ideally 10+ years) in software engineering, with a strong track record of technical leadership in complex digital environments.
• Demonstrated experience architecting and delivering high-value solutions in areas such as platforms, automation, or AI-driven systems.
• Deep hands-on experience with modern cloud environments, microservices, and CI/CD automation.
• Proven ability to influence technical direction and business outcomes at scale.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

You’ll be part of a workplace where you’ll feel like you belong.

Bunnings strives to ensure everyone is treated fairly and our team are committed to supporting you at any stage of your recruitment journey. Be sure to let us know if you require an adjustment and we can provide the most appropriate support for you. If you have the experience, skills and a passion to grow but don't necessarily nail every single point in the job description, please still apply. Contact us at [email protected] and a member of the team will be in touch. 

About Us

Bunnings is the leading retailer of home improvement and lifestyle products in Australia and New Zealand. We’re a major supplier to project builders, commercial tradespeople and the housing industry operating from a network of stores, trade centres, frame and truss sites and online.

By joining our passionate and diverse team, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, develop, have fun and make a positive difference – to our customers and the communities where we live and work. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and build something great together, apply today.

Please note if you are offered a role with us, background checks may be required. This can include police, employment, medical and qualification checks. If a police check search returns a criminal record, Bunnings will assess whether the record impacts your ability to perform the key requirements of the role.