VP Digital Engineering

About The Team

It’s an exciting time in technology, and that buzz is felt throughout PetSmart! We are continuing to grow at a faster pace and we want to continue to provide best-in-class experiences for pets and pet parents.

Our Technology team has 6 different departments: Information Security, Service Delivery, Business Enabling Systems, eCommerce & Marketing Technology, Data and Stores, Services & Supply Chain.

Whether it’s online or in our stores, the work that the IT team does is instrumental in PetSmart’s success. We have a strategic and actionable plan underway and are looking for associates who are just as excited about it as we are.

About the Location

Collaborative Work Environment:

At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

About The Job

The Vice President of Digital Engineering is a transformational leader responsible for defining and delivering PetSmart’s digital engineering vision, strategy, and roadmap to power exceptional, omni-channel experiences that support PetSmart’s vision to be the favorite pet retailer and mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets.This role leads the evolution of a modern, cloud-first, microservices-based digital platform while scaling a high-performing engineering organization grounded in customer-first thinking, innovation, and excellence in execution. The VP will drive continuous improvement and re-platforming initiatives to enable speed, quality, and innovation across the software development lifecycle. A critical mandate of this role is to embed AI across both engineering and customer experience—accelerating development through AI-enabled practices while leveraging AI to deliver personalized, intelligent, and seamless experiences that drive growth, loyalty, and engagement across channels.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Strategy & Platform Transformation

• Define and execute the digital platform vision, strategy, and roadmap, aligned to enterprise growth and omni-channel priorities.
• Lead the ongoing evolution and improvement of our cloud-first, composable, microservices-based architectures.
• Enable seamless integration of digital and in-store experiences, supporting a unified customer journey.
• Influence enterprise investments to support scalable growth and long-term customer loyalty.
  
  

Customer Experience & Commercial Impact

• Partner with Product and business leaders to deliver industry-leading, personalized digital experiences that inspire and engage customers.
• Enable capabilities that support assortment discovery, conversion, and retention across digital channels.
• Drive measurable improvements in customer satisfaction, engagement, and revenue performance.
  
  

Enterprise Collaboration & Omnichannel Enablement

• Partner across IT, Product, Store Operations, and Supply Chain to deliver integrated omni-channel solutions.
• Support initiatives that enhance both digital and in-store experiences, ensuring consistency and quality across touchpoints.
• Act as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, aligning digital engineering with enterprise strategy.
  
  

Engineering Excellence & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end engineering across the full software development lifecycle.
• Establish and scale modern engineering practices (Agile, DevSecOps, CI/CD) to ensure high-quality, high-velocity delivery.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
  
  

AI-Driven Engineering & Productivity

• Drive adoption of AI across the software development lifecycle to increase engineering productivity and delivery speed.
• Leverage automation and intelligent tooling to improve efficiency across digital assets and platforms.
• Establish standards for responsible, secure, and scalable AI implementation in the digital space.
  
  

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and develop a best-in-class engineering organization, aligned with PetSmart’s Values in Action.
• Foster an environment where teams are empowered, accountable, and continuously learning.
• Attract, retain, and develop top engineering talent.
  
  

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Ensure performance, scalability, reliability, and security of digital platforms.
• Define and track KPIs that drive business outcomes, productivity, and customer impact.
• Manage vendor and partner relationships to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions.
  
  

Qualifications

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive experience in digital or eCommerce engineering.
• Proven track record leading large-scale platform and organizational transformation.
• Deep experience in omnichannel retail environments.
  
  

AI & Emerging Technology

• Experience applying AI/ML in engineering processes and/or customer-facing solutions.
• Keen understanding of how AI drives productivity, innovation, and customer engagement.
  
  

Technical Expertise

• Deep expertise in microservices, APIs, and composable commerce architectures.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep understanding of digital platforms, data, and personalization ecosystems.
  
  

Leadership & Business Acumen

• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Proven strategic, financial, and operational leadership.
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive alignment.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  
  

Direct Reports

• 2 Directors of eCommerce Engineering
• 1 Sr. Manager of eCommerce Architecture
  
  

Additional Job Considerations

• This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
• Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
• On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.
• This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.
  
  

About The Culture

At PetSmart, Anything for Pets begins with our people. Every associate plays a vital role in creating meaningful experiences for pets and their families, and we empower our teams with the tools, resources, and opportunities to grow and succeed.

We’re more than a workplace, we’re Team PetSmart. Together, we grow, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to be the best in all we do. Our culture is built on belonging and shared purpose, where every voice and experience matters. Guided by our values, we strive to do what’s right, lead responsibly, and bring our passion for pets to life every day. Not sure if you meet 100% of the position requirements and whether you should apply? We’d still like to hear from you and encourage you to apply with us! You might be the right fit for this role or another opportunity across Team PetSmart.

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

• Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
• On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
• “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
• Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
• Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mothers Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more
  
  

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.

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