S

Shipt

Membership-based marketplace for same-day delivery

Senior Software Engineer - Shopper Backend

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$95k - $160k+ Annual bonus + Restricted stock units
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's
Birmingham, AL, USA+1 moreMore locations: Minneapolis, MN, USA
HybridBirmingham: in office at least 2 days/week, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Minneapolis: in office at least 1 day/week, Tuesday through Thursday.
Software EngineeringBackend Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 4 years of software development experience, with the ability to design, deploy, and own complex production services in a cross-functional Agile environment.
  • Experience building and scaling multi-region distributed architectures, microservices, or service-oriented architecture systems using Go, design patterns, and Kafka event-driven messaging.
  • Experience designing distributed data models and improving poorly performing code or database queries using Postgres, Snowflake, and caching technologies such as Redis.
  • Hands-on experience designing, building, and maintaining RESTful APIs for high-volume customer traffic using functional and object-oriented programming paradigms.
  • Experience mentoring junior or peer engineers, leading design sessions, providing code reviews, and communicating architectural concepts to cross-disciplinary teams.
  • At least 4 years of experience with backend REST services.
  • At least 4 years of experience with relational or NoSQL databases; distributed database design experience is preferred.
  • Experience with caching technologies such as Redis.
  • At least 2 years of experience with messaging queues such as Kafka.
  • Knowledge of computer science principles and design patterns such as Gang of Four.
  • At least 2 years of experience driving non-functional requirements for performance and load testing and scaling infrastructure.
  • Experience with observability, including logging and metrics.
  • 24/7 on-call experience handling production issues; the team rotates on-call every 3–4 weeks.
  • A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary squad to design, build, and deploy high-performance, multi-region services.
  • Take ownership of the production environment, drive architectural decisions, address non-functional requirements, and analyze metrics to deliver products for shoppers.
  • Lead complex technical challenges autonomously, mentor peers, share solutions across the organization, and contribute to the engineering culture.
Desired Qualifications
  • Distributed database design experience.

About the company

Shipt operates as a membership-based marketplace that enables same-day delivery of groceries, home products, and electronics from partner retailers. Customers order via mobile app or website, then a network of personal shoppers picks, packs, and delivers items to customers’ doors. The service offers a membership plan for unlimited deliveries on orders above a threshold, with a pay-per-order option for non-members. Shipt partners with major retailers (e.g., Target, Meijer, H-E-B, Costco) and is an independent subsidiary of Target since 2017. Its business model combines retail logistics with a gig-economy workforce, providing flexible shifts for shoppers who perform order fulfillment and last-mile delivery. In 2022, Kamau Witherspoon became CEO. The goal is to make convenient, fast shopping accessible across the United States by connecting shoppers, retailers, and customers through a scalable, on-demand delivery platform.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

$65.2M

Headquarters

Birmingham, Alabama

Founded

2014

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Ask Shipt launched September 9, 2026, ahead of holiday grocery demand.
  • ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity integrations push Shipt into planning workflows.
  • DSW and Michaels partnerships widen baskets beyond grocery and household staples.

What critics are saying

  • Instacart launched Clementine on September 9, 2026, matching Shipt's AI pitch.
  • Minnesota's 2025 settlement and 2026 PAGA case keep shopper classification expensive.
  • Target re-platforming would erase Shipt's retailer-neutral moat and standalone value.

What makes Shipt unique

  • Shipt pairs same-day delivery with personal shoppers across 100+ retail partners.
  • Ask Shipt turns photos and prompts into carts across Shipt.com and the app.
  • Sponsored Substitutions monetizes stockouts without breaking the human shopper experience.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Remote Work Options
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Food On Demand
Oct 14th, 2026
Inside Shipt's AI push.

Inside Shipt's AI push. Shipt, the third-party delivery platform whose retail partners include Target and Sprouts Farmers Market, recently introduced a suite of tools to make the ordering process more personalized and convenient. The retail-focused 3PD platform launched Ask Shipt in September, an AI-powered shopping assistant that turns customers' prompts, recipes and photos into personalized shopping carts. At the start of the summer, the Alabama-based company announced Shipt Kits, a feature that suggests pre-filled carts designed to save customers time when shopping for specific events like watch parties and holiday parties. "Our primary focus is not necessarily changing the customer behavior, but it's about making the shopping for everyday essentials feel easier [and] feel more intuitive," Alia Kemet, Shipt's chief marketing officer, told Food On Demand. "If there's one thing that we'd like customers to experience, it's to lessen that fatigue, so we will continue to develop and to enhance both of these, and build upon them. The new offerings add features similar to those of restaurant-oriented 3PD giants, reflecting a broader trend among delivery platforms. In June, DoorDash introduced Ask DoorDash, a conversational AI shopping and ordering assistant. In November 2024, the platform announced that guests could select recipes from a catalog, instantly filling their carts with the required ingredients. Uber Eats, meanwhile, introduced Cart Assistant earlier this year, an AI-powered grocery basket builder that accepts text and image inputs and uses past orders to personalize recommendations. Unpacking Shipt Kits With customer-ready, pre-built collections ranging from fall comfort meal kits to watch-party lists, Kemet said Shipt Kits ultimately aims to leverage AI, consumer behavior and guests' shopping patterns to take the guesswork out of online grocery and retail ordering. Shipt Kits launched ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; the feature rolled out in early June, a week before the global soccer tournament formally kicked off. Initially, Kemet said, the bundle-focused feature relied more on general convenience than on personalization, but now Shipt is leaning into more personalized kit suggestions. "We were leading up to this big soccer event, and we saw that increase in average basket sizes, and so we wanted to hurry up and get that done," Kemet said, referring to Shipt Kits' launch June 4. "But what we didn't do is pull all the personalization that we wanted to pull into it. So, currently, we're working on making them even more personalized than they are by using your past shopping behavior." A key focus of that personalization is offering substitute suggestions tailored to the needs of kit buyers. The goal, Kemet said, is to increase order volumes, drive sales growth and gain deeper insights into consumer preferences. "We talk to our members regularly; every single week, we're getting insights back," Kemet said. "If their lives aren't becoming easier because they're using Shipt, then we're not meeting our goal by leveraging things like Ask Shipt or Shipt Kits." Kemet said she expects more seasonal Shipt Kits slates as the feature matures. Future kits could include "Love Island" watch-party bundles in the summer, when the next season of the reality TV series is set to premiere, as well as those tied to popular movie releases. "There are new occasions coming up every day, and we're seeing new things from our customers every week," Kemet said. "We need to optimize as the customer changes. We need to keep at the speed of our customer, and that's what we intend to do." Meet Shipt's new AI assistant Shipt launched Ask Shipt September 9, describing the agentic assistant as designed to improve customers' shopping and list-creation experiences. Ask Shipt builds carts in response to customer prompts, with recommendations that can take into account store inventory and members' past purchases from that store, according to an emailed statement from Shipt. Ask Shipt launched September 9, an agentic assistant aimed at improve customers' shopping and list-creation experiences. Such prompts could include "What's an easy dinner idea for a family of five for under $35? One person is a picky eater" or "Fill my cart with my pantry staples and make sure to add in some extra snacks for Friday's family movie night." "I do a lot of easy meals for my family, and the whole idea of Shipt Kits, and even the Ask Shipt [is] about making life easier and removing that mental load," Kemet said. The tool develops recommendations based on prompts from Shipt users, such as pasting a recipe link, requesting meal inspiration, or seeking dinner options with budget constraints or dietary restrictions. Keep up with Food On Demand! Demographic Information

Mass Market Retailers
Oct 13th, 2026
Shipt and Sprouts Farmers Market team to bring the flavors of fall and fresh, specialty groceries to customers nationwide.

Shipt and Sprouts Farmers Market team to bring the flavors of fall and fresh, specialty groceries to customers nationwide. Shipt is offering its monthly membership for just $0.99 per month for the first four months exclusively to new members October 13, 2026. 9:19 AM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - From weeknight meal prep and better-for-you snacks to game-day spreads, Friendsgiving festivities and holiday hosting, the fall season brings new routines, special occasions, and seasonal flavors to consumers' grocery lists. To make it easier to find inspiration and shop for everything the season holds, Shipt, the same-day delivery company, today announced a new partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market, bringing one of the nation's leading natural and organic grocery retailers to the Shipt Marketplace. Customers can now shop from more than 500 Sprouts locations nationwide for same-day delivery through Shipt, with access to the retailer's extensive assortment of better-for-you products, from seasonal fresh produce, organic groceries, unique specialty products, vitamins and supplements, and healthy, convenient lunch options all year-round. As consumers look to make the most of the season while keeping an eye on spending, eight in ten plan to adopt a budgeting strategy this year, according to PwC's Holiday Outlook 2026. To help customers save while discovering fresh and specialty products from Sprouts, Shipt is offering eligible new customers four months of membership for just $0.99 per month for a limited time* and 50% off their first Sprouts order of $35 or more** (max $20 savings) with code SPROUTS50, making it easier than ever to shop Sprouts through Shipt all season long. "Fall is such an exciting season for my family and I know I'm not alone. Our routines are shifting, calendars are full and the grocery lists seem to be getting longer," said Katie Stratton, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at Shipt. "By bringing Sprouts to the Shipt Marketplace now, we're giving customers, like myself, a new fresh destination to shop for everything from everyday wellness essentials to the products that make seasonal moments feel special, all paired with the personalized care, convenience, and value that set Shipt apart." Through Sprouts on Shipt, customers can discover fun fall favorites like pumpkin spice protein cereal, apple cider, festive baking ingredients and fresh foods for cozy meals at home. Ask Shipt, Shipt's new AI shopping assistant, can also recommend products based on dietary preferences, suggest ingredient swaps, and provide inspiration for everything from weeknight meals to holiday gatherings in seconds. Features like Shipt Kits and Preferred Shopper add an extra layer of personalized convenience. "At Sprouts, we help customers live and eat better by making healthy living accessible with a wide selection of fresh, natural and organic products, alongside unique and seasonal finds that make shopping fun and worth it," said Mandy Rassi, Chief Customer Officer at Sprouts Farmers Market. "Through our new partnership with Shipt, customers have another convenient way to explore our assortment and shop for products that fit their tastes, dietary preferences, and lifestyles."

Matrix Global LLC
Oct 8th, 2026
Shipt names Raj Kapoor as new chief executive officer.

Shipt names Raj Kapoor as new chief executive officer. Shipt has appointed Raj Kapoor as its next chief executive officer, with the leadership change taking effect Oct. 18. Kapoor previously served as Shipt's chief operating officer before joining Target, while current CEO Kamau Witherspoon is departing after more than four years leading the company. Key takeaways. * Raj Kapoor will become Shipt's chief executive officer on Oct. 18. * Kapoor previously served as Shipt's chief operating officer from 2022 to 2025. * Kamau Witherspoon is leaving the CEO position after more than four years. * Kapoor most recently served as senior vice president of marketplace at Target. * Witherspoon will remain in his role through late October to support the transition. Shipt appoints Raj Kapoor as chief executive officer. Kapoor will return to Shipt as CEO after serving as the company's chief operating officer from 2022 to 2025. Shipt announced the appointment Oct. 7, with Kapoor scheduled to assume the CEO role on Oct. 18. The appointment places a former senior Shipt operator back at the company's top executive position. During his previous tenure, Kapoor oversaw day-to-day operations and worked across the company's relationships with customers, shoppers, drivers and retail partners. Kapoor's return follows a leadership period under Witherspoon that lasted more than four years. Witherspoon will remain with Shipt through late October to support the transition before leaving the company. Shipt operates as an independently operated subsidiary of Target. The company provides same-day delivery services and also operates Target Last Mile Delivery, which supports next-day parcel delivery for Target guests. The change gives Shipt an incoming CEO with previous experience inside the company's operating organization. Similar transitions have recently placed executives with operational backgrounds into top leadership roles, including planned CEO succession at WM and other large U.S. businesses. Kapoor returns with previous Shipt operating experience. Kapoor joined Shipt's leadership team as chief operating officer in 2022 and remained in that position through 2025. His responsibilities included the company's operating activities and fulfillment capabilities. During his time as COO, Kapoor worked on the company's fulfillment engine and service operations. Shipt said he helped scale those capabilities and improve quality and service across the platform. His previous role also gave him direct experience with the company's operating relationships. Shipt's platform connects customers with retailers through its delivery service, while shoppers and drivers support order fulfillment. Kapoor is returning to the company after spending the period since 2025 at Target. His previous Shipt responsibilities therefore preceded his most recent work within the same corporate structure. The CEO appointment keeps that experience within the organization while moving Kapoor from an operating role to overall executive leadership. His prior responsibilities provide direct familiarity with Shipt's operations and business model. Kapoor's previous Shipt responsibilities. As COO, Kapoor was responsible for day-to-day operations and worked on fulfillment capabilities serving customers, shoppers, drivers and retailers. Shipt said he helped scale the company's fulfillment engine and improve quality and service. Kapoor also worked in leadership roles outside Shipt before and after his time at the company. His professional background includes roles at Lyft and SquareTrade, according to Shipt's announcement. Kamau Witherspoon prepares to leave the CEO role. Witherspoon became Shipt's CEO more than four years ago and will leave the role as Kapoor takes over. He has worked across the Target enterprise for more than 15 years. During his tenure at Shipt, Witherspoon led changes to the company's delivery offerings. Shipt said the company expanded its same-day and next-day delivery services during his leadership. The company also integrated its marketplace as a benefit within Target Circle 360, Target's loyalty program. Shipt also invested in features including Preferred Shopper during Witherspoon's tenure. Witherspoon will remain in his position through late October even though Kapoor is scheduled to become CEO on Oct. 18. The overlap is intended to support the leadership handoff between the outgoing and incoming executives. Witherspoon said he had worked alongside Kapoor and expressed confidence in Kapoor's familiarity with the company and its team. He also credited Shipt's technology and operating capabilities developed during his tenure. The transition therefore involves a defined handoff rather than an immediate departure on the date Kapoor assumes the CEO position. Witherspoon's continued involvement through late October provides additional time for the change in executive leadership. Kapoor brings Target marketplace experience to Shipt. Before returning to Shipt, Kapoor served as senior vice president of marketplace at Target beginning in 2025. His work there included responsibilities involving Target Plus, Target's marketplace business. Shipt said Kapoor worked on growth, assortment expansion and customer and partner experiences at Target Plus. That role followed his three years as Shipt's COO. The Target experience adds a second part to Kapoor's executive background at the time of his appointment. He has worked within Shipt's delivery operations and subsequently held a senior marketplace role at its parent company. Target acquired Shipt in 2017, and Shipt now operates as an independently operated subsidiary of Target. The companies remain connected through Shipt's delivery services and Target Last Mile Delivery operations. Kapoor said his priorities as CEO include improving convenience for customers, supporting shoppers and drivers, working with Target and other partners, and strengthening business performance across Shipt's offerings. His appointment therefore brings together experience from both sides of the relationship: direct leadership within Shipt and more recent marketplace responsibilities at Target. The combination of operating and marketplace experience is also relevant to other retail leadership changes. Retail CEO transitions and operating strategy have recently included executives moving from specialized senior roles into broader company leadership. Leadership transition takes effect in October. Kapoor's appointment becomes effective Oct. 18, while Witherspoon will remain in his role through late October. Shipt's headquarters is in Birmingham, Alabama, and the company also has hubs in San Francisco and Minneapolis. Kapoor will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and is expected to travel regularly to Birmingham and Minneapolis as part of his role leading Shipt. Shipt operates two core fulfillment offerings. Its same-day delivery service connects members with more than 120 retailers, while Target Last Mile Delivery supports next-day parcel delivery for Target guests. The company said its same-day delivery service is available to 80% of the U.S. population. Shipt also operates annual memberships that provide access to same-day delivery and other member benefits. The leadership transition comes with Kapoor moving from his recent marketplace position at Target back into the company where he previously served as COO. His CEO appointment gives him responsibility for Shipt's overall operations, strategy and performance after having previously managed its operating functions. Shipt's announcement also identified Sarah Travis, Shipt's board chair and Target's chief digital and revenue officer, as part of the company's leadership oversight. Travis said Kapoor brings commercial and operating experience to the CEO role. Kapoor's scheduled start date and Witherspoon's planned departure create a defined timeline for the Shipt leadership transition. The change places an executive with prior company operating experience at the top of the organization while maintaining a short transition period with the outgoing CEO. Frequently asked questions. Who is the new Shipt CEO? Raj Kapoor is the incoming Shipt CEO. He previously served as Shipt's chief operating officer from 2022 to 2025 before becoming senior vice president of marketplace at Target. When will Raj Kapoor become Shipt CEO? Kapoor is scheduled to become Shipt's CEO on Oct. 18, 2026. Kamau Witherspoon will remain in his role through late October to support the transition. Who did Raj Kapoor succeed as Shipt CEO? Kapoor will succeed Kamau Witherspoon, who has served as Shipt's CEO for more than four years. Witherspoon is leaving the company after more than 15 years across the Target enterprise. What was Raj Kapoor's previous role at Shipt? Kapoor served as Shipt's chief operating officer from 2022 to 2025. He was responsible for day-to-day operations and worked on the company's fulfillment capabilities and service operations. How long did Kamau Witherspoon serve as Shipt CEO? Witherspoon served as Shipt CEO for more than four years. During his tenure, the company expanded its same-day and next-day delivery offerings and integrated its marketplace into the Target Circle 360 loyalty program. Spread the love

PR Newswire
Oct 7th, 2026
Shipt appoints Raj Kapoor as CEO, former COO returns to lead delivery company

Shipt has appointed Raj Kapoor as its next chief executive officer, effective 18 October 2026. Kapoor previously served as Shipt's chief operating officer from 2022 to 2025, where he scaled the fulfilment engine and led day-to-day operations. Since 2025, he has been senior vice president of marketplace at Target. Kapoor succeeds Kamau Witherspoon, who led Shipt for over four years through a strategic transformation that expanded same-day and next-day delivery offerings. Witherspoon will remain in his role through late October to support the transition. Shipt, an independently operated Target subsidiary, powers same-day delivery for more than 120 retailers and operates Target Last Mile Delivery. The service is available to 80 per cent of the US population and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

DC Presswire
Sep 22nd, 2026
Shipt and Congressional Hunger Center announce new year-long partnership to address the Root Causes of hunger.

Shipt and Congressional Hunger Center announce new year-long partnership to address the Root Causes of hunger. Supporting the Hunger Center's Root Causes Initiative, the partnership will fund new research to help communities understand various dimensions of food security This tool and partnership exemplify the work we're passionate about: uplifting and empowering those striving to make an impact in their communities every day." - Ricardo Vargas WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - As Hunger Action Month calls attention to the millions of Americans facing food insecurity, the Congressional Hunger Center and Shipt today announce a new year-long partnership focused on understanding and addressing the conditions that cause hunger in the first place. Shipt, a Birmingham, Ala.-based retail technology company powering same-day delivery, is now the new Cornerstone Sponsor of the Hunger Center's Root Causes strategic initiative. The partnership reflects a shared belief that ending hunger requires more comprehensive solutions beyond simply ensuring food is available in an emergency. Food insecurity is shaped by a complex combination of economic, social, and environmental factors such as employment, affordable housing and health care, and physical access to nutritious food. Shipt's sponsorship will aid the work of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows in solving the root causes of hunger in the U.S. It will also support the development of new research designed to simultaneously measure three interconnected dimensions of food insecurity, including whether households can financially afford food, whether they are able to consistently access a balanced and nutritious diet, and whether they experience persistent anxiety and uncertainty about their ability to obtain food. "Since the Hunger Center opened its doors in 1993, we've seen so many promising programs, initiatives, and projects designed as life preservers for people experiencing hunger," said Shannon Maynard, executive director at the Congressional Hunger Center. "These programs save lives. But we've also seen that if you don't consider the contributing factors of the problem, the people they serve are left treading water. By listening to and following the leadership of people with firsthand lived experience of poverty and hunger, and by trying to understand the underlying causes of the problem, we can create the solutions that will end hunger in our lifetime." The research tool will be developed in Michigan with potential for broader replication in other cities. By bringing these dimensions together in a single measure, the project aims to shed light on some of the holistic challenges of hunger so that communities, practitioners, and policymakers can better understand and gain more actionable insights to solve it. For Shipt, the partnership builds on the company's commitment to ensure that nutritious food is accessible - regardless of ZIP code. With the belief that the greatest change happens by those closest to the issues, they achieve this work by investing in community-led programs, partners and solutions. Shipt's social impact work recognizes that food access is not solely a question of whether food exists within communities, but whether people can afford and access it in ways that work for their lives. "We're incredibly excited to partner with the Congressional Hunger Center in support of the Root Causes strategic initiative and help drive research around the lived experiences of those facing food insecurity," shared Ricardo Vargas, chief people & community officer at Shipt. "Food insecurity impacts millions across the country, and we believe that this challenge cannot be solved with short-term solutions or quick fixes alone. This tool and partnership exemplify the work we're passionate about: uplifting and empowering those striving to make an impact in their communities every day." The partnership comes during Hunger Action Month, started by Feeding America(TM) and observed each September to raise awareness and promote action to end hunger in America. About the Congressional Hunger Center Founded in 1993 by bipartisan Members of Congress, the Congressional Hunger Center is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger by developing leaders, advancing research and policy solutions, and strengthening food systems in the U.S. and globally. Through fellowships, internships, and educational programs, the Hunger Center invests in the next generation while working to address the root causes of food insecurity. About Shipt Shipt's technology connects customers with local shoppers who handpick and deliver items from their favorite local and national stores. As a company that connects people to the things they need, Shipt is uniquely positioned to help reduce barriers to food access. Shipt's social impact work aims to plant the seeds for sustainable transformation through empowering and amplifying local leaders, supporting innovative research, and using our technical expertise to close logistical gaps. Since 2022, Shipt-supported organizations have supplied over 5.3 million meals and served nearly 1.2 million food-insecure individuals. Laura Tarre Congressional Hunger Center [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.