Senior Backend Developer (Kotlin/Java, Kafka, Spring Boot) - Mechanization Team

Make a Difference as a Senior Backend Developer in the Mechanization Team

Help build the backend behind a smarter, greener, and highly automated supply chain. As a Backend Engineer in our Mechanization Team, you will contribute to the integration of mechanized Distribution Centers (DCs) with our digital supply chain platforms, enabling reliable and scalable order fulfilment through automation and real-time system orchestration.

You will help transform traditional warehouse and fulfilment processes into a modern, event-driven technology landscape using Kotlin/Java, Microservices, and Kafka.

This is how you will reinvent food retail:

• Build and maintain Kotlin-based microservices that integrate with mechanized DC systems supporting order fulfilment and warehouse execution
• Design event-driven integrations using Kafka to enable real-time communication between supply chain platforms and automation systems
• Develop technical solutions aligned with our business process architecture, warehouse operations, and automation landscape
• Create proofs of concept, write clean and secure code, implement automated testing, and ensure high code quality and reliability
• Contribute to highly available and resilient systems operating in 24/7 production environments
• Further enhance and shape technical standards, integration patterns, and best practices within the cluster
• Share your expertise across the Supply Chain Execution cluster and the broader AH Retail Technology Platform
• Actively help the team improve its engineering practices, delivery speed, and operational excellence.

You will join the Supply Chain Execution cluster, specifically the Mechanization Team, which focuses on integrating software systems with warehouse mechanization and automation solutions (e.g. conveyors, sorters, AS/RS, picking robots, WMS/WCS integrations). The cluster is responsible for planning and executing the movement of goods:

• From suppliers to Distribution Centers
• From Distribution Centers to stores and customers

All of this happens in mission-critical environments with 24/7 availability, meaning your work directly impacts store availability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency across Albert Heijn.

Your new team and office. Together with your team of Product Owners, Backend Developers, and Mobile Developers, you will work on inspiring projects to accelerate our transition into a hybrid Food & Tech company. We want to leverage data and technology to future-proof food shopping and give our customers accessibility to healthy food more easily available for everyone. At Albert Heijn, you team up with inspiring peers in the data, digital and tech domains. A community of diverse individuals who share a common goal: to create digital solutions that make (online) shopping simpler and more inspiring. Are you ready to reinvent the way millions of people buy and enjoy their food? We invest heavily in data, digital and tech. And that includes investing in your career! Our teams work in a hybrid way: both from home as well as in the office. We are located right next to the train station Zaandam.

The recipe for maximum impact:

• A Technology/IT Engineering Master or Bachelor degree
• 8+ years of experience working as a backend Developer in a complex Technology environment
• Broad technical knowledge including Kotlin/Java (11+), Microservices, Cloud (preferably Azure and OCI), Automated testing, API and non-functional requirements such as scalability and technical security
• Knowledge on event streaming and messaging platform (Kafka) is a big plus
• Knowledge and experience on Agile
• An outstanding command of English
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead and motivate people
• Already located in The Netherlands

What we offer: At Albert Heijn we aim to grow, and this is only possible if you grow along with us. As we work together to build our brand and your career, you can count on (based on 40 hours per week):

• An annual salary up to 100K including holiday allowance and a flexible bonus, depending on your level of seniority and experience
• A minimum of 20 days paid vacation, optionally 12.5 days extra. Do you want to take that extra time off, or would you rather convert the extra days into discounts or sell them for cash? You’re the end boss!
• Flexible working hours
• Access to a challenging training curriculum – AH Tech Academy
• An excellent pension plan where we as an employer contribute 4.5 times more than you as an employee
• A travel allowance or a NS-business card for traveling to and from Zaandam by train
• Attractive discounts on various insurance policies
• 10% staff discount on groceries in all Albert Heijn stores, to a maximum of €300 per year
• A free Mijn Albert Heijn Premium membership with many benefits
• A company laptop and telephone

We’re Albert Heijn, food retail reinventors. 🚀 More than 135 years of experience, over 125,000 colleagues, and more than 1,250 stores in the Netherlands and Flanders. We are the leading online food retail platform, building, running, and loving it.

Together we make eating better the easy choice. For everyone. Albert Heijn wants more people to eat fresher, healthier and more sustainable food. Eating brings us together, keeps us healthier and contributes positively to the world. Our mission is: Together we make eating better the easy choice. For everyone.

Albert Heijn the Netherlands is B Corp certified. This underscores our purpose, through which we aim to contribute to a healthier, more social, and sustainable society. B Corp certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency.

Ready to contribute to our mission? Do you want to play an active role in changing the food retail landscape as we know it? Then hop on board and join us on our expedition. A technical assessment will be part of our selection process.

"I realized how much impact you can truly have as an individual, working for such a huge international company.”
Robert Němec Solution Architecture Manager

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Christy Elgee Manager of Cyber Defense and Operations, Ahold Delhaize USA

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