Director, Frontend Engineering (React.js)

About the Role

As a Front-End Engineering Leader at Petco, you’ll guide the technical vision, architecture, and execution of our customer-facing digital products—including Petco.com, our mobile web experience, and other connected commerce platforms.

You’ll lead a talented team of front-end engineers, championing best practices in React.js, Node.js, and Next.js, while building performant, accessible, and engaging experiences that help pet parents connect more deeply with their pets.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technical strategy, engineering excellence, and team mentorship.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the front-end engineering strategy and execution across Petco’s digital ecosystem.
• Define, evolve, and enforce best practices for front-end architecture, component libraries, and performance optimization.
• Collaborate closely with Product, UX, and Backend teams to deliver seamless and scalable user experiences.
• Guide architectural decisions on frameworks, libraries, and tooling—balancing innovation with long-term stability.
• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of front-end engineers; foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and accountability.
• Partner with backend teams on Node.js services and integrations to ensure end-to-end system efficiency.
• Drive initiatives around site performance, accessibility, observability, and maintainability.
• Influence Petco’s technology roadmap and advocate for technical investments that support scalability and innovation.
• Oversee engineering processes to ensure timely and high-quality delivery across multiple cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with leadership to align technical direction with business goals and customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field—or equivalent experience.
• 12 years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership or management role.
• Deep expertise in React.js, Node.js, and Next.js in high-traffic, large-scale environments (preferably e-commerce).
• Proven experience designing and implementing front-end architecture for modern web applications.
• Hands-on experience with AWS, CI/CD pipelines, and application observability tools.
• Strong understanding of web performance, SEO, accessibility (WCAG), and responsive design principles.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to align technical vision across engineering and business stakeholders.
• Passionate about Petco’s mission—and motivated to build technology that improves lives for pets and their parents.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Purpose-driven work that directly impacts the health and happiness of pets and their families.
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where you’re encouraged to bring your whole self to work.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, leadership development, and career growth.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and perks that support your wellbeing