Principal Software Engineer

At eBay, we're more than a global ecommerce leader — we’re changing the way the world shops and connects. Our platform empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. We’re committed to creating economic opportunity for all while fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Principal Software Engineer – eBay Ads (Backend / Platform Engineering) Amsterdam, Netherlands About the Team

eBay Ads powers the advertising ecosystem that connects buyers with sellers through relevant and engaging ad experiences. Our teams build scalable platforms and services that support ad targeting, ranking, delivery, and measurement at global scale.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Principal Software Engineer to help shape the architecture and technical direction of eBay’s Ads platform. You will lead large‑scale initiatives, drive platform modernization, and build highly scalable distributed systems that directly impact eBay’s business and customer experience.

What You Will Accomplish

• Lead the design and evolution of large‑scale, low‑latency distributed systems
• Drive technical strategy and architecture across multiple engineering teams
• Build scalable services supporting ad serving, targeting, ranking, and reporting
• Partner closely with product, data science, ML, and analytics teams
• Improve system reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency
• Mentor engineers and influence engineering best practices across the organization
• Drive modernization initiatives and adoption of new technologies

What You Will Bring

• 10+ years of experience building large-scale distributed systems and APIs
• Strong expertise in system design, distributed architectures, and cloud technologies
• Experience with Java, Scala, or other JVM‑based technologies
• Deep understanding of messaging systems, databases, and real‑time platforms
• Proven technical leadership across complex cross‑functional initiatives
• Strong communication, collaboration, and mentorship skills
• Experience in Ads platforms or ML‑driven products is a plus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• Distributed systems and microservices
• REST/GraphQL APIs
• Kafka or similar messaging technologies
• RDBMS and NoSQL databases
• Cloud‑native and containerized environments

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on high‑impact systems at global scale
• Collaborative, inclusive, and innovative engineering culture
• Flexible working environment and strong wellbeing support
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits

Additional Details

eBay is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

eBay is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status.

If you have a need that requires accommodation, please contact us at We will make every effort to respond to your request for accommodation as soon as possible.

View our accessibility statement to learn more about eBay's commitment to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities.

We use cookies to enhance your experience and may use AI tools for administrative tasks in the hiring process. To learn how we handle your personal data and use AI responsibly, please visit our Talent Privacy Notice, Privacy Center, and AI Hiring Guidelines.