McMaster-Carr is a privately held e-commerce company trusted by industrial customers for over 120 years. We help professionals-from engineers to facilities teams-work more efficiently and precisely by offering the right products, delivering them quickly, and making it easy to find what they need. Our industry-leading website and logistics systems bring over 300,000 customers to our site daily-and we're just getting started.
How You'll Make an Impact
Our technology team builds the software that powers our e-commerce experience and our world-class operations. From customer-facing web features to distribution center automation, we design and scale critical systems that enable McMaster-Carr to deliver same-day or next-day orders reliably and efficiently.
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll work on projects like:
- Building modern web experiences using React, Storybook, and experimentation frameworks to improve how customers find what they need and solve problems.
- Optimizing front-end and back-end code and infrastructure to make performance a competitive advantage.
- Designing scalable automation systems that integrate with third-party technologies and streamline distribution center operations.
- Creating custom software and algorithms that improve speed, accuracy, and quality across fulfillment and shipping.
- Exploring the integration of GenAI tools to improve customer support and internal workflows
What You'll Do
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll play a key tech leadership role on high-impact projects. You will:
- Own the full lifecycle of projects-from research and design to development, deployment, and iteration.
- Write high-quality, maintainable, and scalable code using object-oriented design and SOLID principles.
- Improve system architecture, testing, and monitoring to ensure reliability and performance.
- Mentor other engineers through code reviews, technical guidance, and knowledge sharing.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, product, and UX teams to ensure business value and user impact.
- Contribute to long-term technical strategy while remaining close to the details of execution.
This role is a pathway to senior technical leadership or people management-your growth is determined by your impact, not by tenure.
Cash Compensation
- Total cash compensation is generally around $235,000 to $310,000 and includes a profit sharing based on company profitability.
- You will also receive a relocation stipend and signing bonus.
Benefits
Growth & Learning
- 100% tuition reimbursement
- Informal and formal mentorship
- Employee resource groups
Health & Wellbeing
- Medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision plans with no monthly premiums
- Inclusive, all-gender benefits
Family & Future
- Paid parental leave for all new parents
- Adoption and surrogacy assistance
- First-time home buyer assistance
- Industry-leading company-funded retirement accounts
Time Off
- Paid vacation and personal time
Who You Are
We're looking for curious, driven engineers who thrive in collaborative environments and love solving hard problems. Ideal candidates will have:
- Experience designing and delivering large-scale, service-oriented systems.
- Strong proficiency in compiled languages such as C#, Java, C++, or Rust.
- A thoughtful, analytical approach to problem-solving and software design.
- Clear, confident communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Interest in mentoring, coaching, and growing as a leader.
EOE/M/F/VET/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
This position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship by McMaster-Carr.
Top Skills
What We Do
McMaster-Carr is an e-commerce company offering more than half a million products used to keep business in motion. With more than 300,000 daily visits to our website, customers from a variety of industries turn to us when they need to build, design, repair or maintain just about anything because we are the complete, one-stop source for industrial supplies.
Technology teams play a vital role in McMaster-Carr’s success. The software that drives our business is developed in-house by a growing team of versatile engineers. Whether the project is automating distribution operations, improving browsing features on our app or integrating a new data center to serve five national facilities, people flourish when they love to learn and pursue ambitious goals.
McMaster-Carr’s diverse business creates the opportunity to explore new technologies and develop expertise that is both broad and deep. Growth is supported by an inclusive culture of development seen in mentorship, reading groups, guilds and town halls that create community. They pursue career growth through learning and advancement in technical and project leadership.
Why Work With Us
Curious people thrive at McMaster-Carr. Engineers build technical knowledge through learning groups, book clubs, and one-on-one mentoring. Diverse projects offer experience with a wide range of technologies to encourage career-long learning. Great work is celebrated in an inclusive workplace dedicated to equity, growth and employee well-being.
Gallery
McMaster-Carr Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Lead Software Engineers and other technology roles benefit from a mix of onsite collaboration with teams and remote work. Other roles may be fully onsite depending on responsibilities.
