Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 600+ passionate team members.

What You’ll Do:

The Distinguished Engineer will lead our software, firmware systems' technical direction and architecture by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy scalable, high-performance solutions that drive our products forward. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Leads the design and implementation of robust, scalable software solutions that meet business requirements and quality standards. Including but not limited to architecting and developing firmware, microservices-based systems using technologies such as AWS, Lambda, Python, ensuring modularity, flexibility, IoT Core and maintainability.
• Provides technical leadership and mentorship to a team of software engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. 
• Conducts regular code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions to promote best practices and ensure high-quality code.
• Architects and maintains the technical roadmap for our software products, ensuring alignment with business goals and scalability for future growth. For instance, evaluates and recommends appropriate cloud-native technologies and architectures, such as serverless computing, for scalability.
• Collaborates with product managers, program managers, designers, and other stakeholders to define project requirements, scope, and timelines. 
• Translates business needs into technical requirements and guides the team in delivering solutions that meet user needs and market demands.
• Conducts performance analysis and troubleshooting to optimize system performance and maintain code quality. 
• Utilizes AWS tools for monitoring and performance tuning to identify and address bottlenecks proactively.
• Stays current with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies, and advocates for their adoption where appropriate. Experiments with new technologies and frameworks, such as GraphQL for API development or Flutter for cross-platform mobile app development, to improve product innovation and user experience.
• Drives innovation and process improvements within the engineering team, promoting agile methodologies, automation, and DevOps practices. Implement, and improve CI/CD pipelines using tools like CircleCI CI/CD to automate software delivery and improve release velocity.
• Communicates effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, presenting complex ideas and solutions clearly and concisely. 
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and sprint reviews to ensure alignment and transparency across the organization.
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and / or equivalent years of experience. 
• 12 years of experience in software engineering with a proven track record of delivering complex, high-quality software solutions.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, or C++, as well as modern web technologies (e.g., JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3).
• Deep understanding of software architecture principles, design patterns, and best practices, with experience in designing and implementing scalable, distributed systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, or Google Cloud, including services like EC2, S3, Lambda, etc.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, with experience leading cross-functional teams and driving technical initiatives from conception to delivery.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues and propose practical solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders at all levels.
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs) 

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• Experience working in an Agile/Scrum environment and familiarity with related tools (e.g., JIRA, Git) 

Benefits & Purrks: 

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance Discount
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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