Lead Software Engineer - Core Operations Services (AI-first, Encore)

Groupon is a marketplace where customers discover new experiences and services everyday and local businesses thrive. To date we have worked with over a million merchant partners worldwide, connecting over 16 million customers with deals across various categories. In a world often dominated by e-commerce giants, we stand out as one of the few platforms uniquely committed to helping local businesses succeed on a performance basis.

Groupon is on a radical journey to transform our business with relentless pursuit of results. Even with thousands of employees spread across multiple continents, we still maintain a culture that inspires innovation, rewards risk-taking and celebrates success. The impact here can be immediate due to our scale and the speed of our transformation.

We're a "best of both worlds" kind of company. We're big enough to have the resources and scale, but small enough that a single person has a surprising amount of autonomy and can make a meaningful impact. Lead Software Engineer - Core Operations Services (AI-first, Encore). This a technical leadership role in Groupon's core commerce systems handling 200K+ requests per minute, with significant contribution in the AI transformation.  About the Role 📍Hybrid from Valencia, Madrid, Prague, Warsaw or London Core Operations Services powers Groupon's global marketplace, managing API gateways, deal catalogs, user identity, and image services across Java, Ruby, and TypeScript stacks.

You'll contribute to the transition to typescript and Encore, collaborate across teams, and use AI tools to boost efficiency.​ Key Responsibilities Shape technical strategy with leadership for high-availability systems. Lead cross-team design reviews and migrations to TypeScript/Node.js. Use AI tools like Cursor and Claude natively and share best practices.

Articulate the importance of code quality in business language. Optimize strategies to maintain SLOs, observability, and documentation.​ Key Requirements 5+ years engineering; production at scale. Distributed systems experience (200K+ RPM); API design, observability. Hands-on coding with AI. Strong communication for technical/non-technical audiences.​ Nice to Have TypeScript/Node.js E-commerce or marketplace platforms.

Java/Ruby and modernization. Open source contributions or AI/ML production.​ What Success Looks Like Architectural decisions that accelerate team velocity. Gradual modular migration with planned minimal downtime. Increased team awareness and adoption of AI practices. Clear docs and alignment with business outcomes.​ We Are Interested In Experienced engineers who prioritize business context, embrace AI tooling, and deliver reliable systems in a transforming environment.  #LI-HybridGroupon is an AI-First CompanyWe’re committed to building smarter, faster, and more innovative ways of working—and AI plays a key role in how we get there.

We encourage candidates to leverage AI tools during the hiring process where it adds value, and we’re always keen to hear how technology improves the way you work. If you’re passionate about AI or curious to explore how it can elevate your role—you’ll be right at home here. Groupon’s purpose is to build strong communities through thriving small businesses.

To learn more about the world’s largest local e-commerce marketplace, click here. You can also find out more about us in the latest Groupon news as well as learning about our DEI approach. If all of this sounds like something that’s a great fit for you, then click apply and join us on a mission to become the ultimate destination for local experiences and services.

Beware of Recruitment Fraud: Groupon follows a merit-based recruitment process without charging job seekers any fees. We've noticed an increase in recruitment fraud, including fake job postings and fraudulent interviews and job offers aimed at stealing personal information or money. Be cautious of individuals falsely representing Groupon's Talent Acquisition team with fake job offers.

If you encounter any suspicious job offers or interview calls demanding money, recognize these as scams. Groupon is not responsible for losses from such dealings. For legitimate job openings (and a sneak peek into life at Groupon), always check our official career website at Groupon Careers

Groupon is a global e-commerce marketplace connecting millions of subscribers with local merchants by offering a variety of deals on activities, travel, goods, and services. Founded in 2008, Groupon has revolutionized the way people discover and save on things they love to do, see, eat, and buy in their cities. With a mission to provide unbeatable value for both consumers and businesses, Groupon continues to be a leading platform for connecting people with experiences and opportunities at...