Sr Engineer - UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. Engineer - UI

Company: American Eagle Outfitters

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Job Type: Full time

Category: Engineering - Front-End / UI Development

Date Posted: 2026-04-13T16:52:39

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Engineer role focuses on modernizing American Eagle Outfitters' digital storefront by leading the architectural transition from legacy Ember.js to a Next.js ecosystem, impacting critical e-commerce platforms.

• You will be instrumental in developing clean, modular, and reusable code for AE.com's enterprise single-page web application, directly influencing user experience and conversion rates.

• A key aspect involves leveraging and experimenting with cutting-edge AI tooling across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to drive innovation and significantly enhance development efficiency.

• The role demands strong collaboration with cross-functional teams, guiding stakeholders to translate business vision into technical reality, and mentoring junior engineers to elevate team capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Engineer within a significant architectural overhaul, indicating a need for strong technical leadership, architectural vision, and hands-on development expertise in modern front-end frameworks, particularly Next.js and React.js. The emphasis on AI tooling suggests a forward-thinking engineering culture focused on automation and efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the development of clean, modular, and reusable code for the enterprise single-page web application at AE.com, ensuring high performance and maintainability.

• Architect and implement robust UI components and features, contributing to the modernization of legacy Ember components through a Next.js transformation.

• Design and construct A/B experiments to rigorously validate the viability and impact of feature enhancements on key business metrics.

• Drive innovation by actively leveraging and experimenting with AI tooling (e.g., Google Gemini, Qodo, Applitools, Atlassian Rovo) across the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to boost efficiency and explore new solutions.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and other engineers, to deliver smart, clean, and impactful technical solutions.

• Mentor and guide fellow engineers, sharing best practices in UI development, testing, and AI tool utilization to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

• Analyze, prioritize, and present technical findings, project risks, and potential solutions to stakeholders, ensuring alignment between business objectives and technical execution.

• Proactively identify areas for technical improvement within the UI space, leading initiatives from planning and definition through to execution and resolution.

• Create, document, and communicate comprehensive technical designs based on architectural recommendations, ensuring clarity and adherence to standards.

• Assist in or lead issue resolution for production support, ensuring the stability and reliability of the live e-commerce platform.

• Identify project risks and communicate proper mitigation plans effectively with project managers to ensure timely and successful project delivery.

• Advance engineering team efficiencies by driving process improvements and advocating for best practices in software development and AI integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on development, architectural leadership, and process improvement. The emphasis on AI tooling and A/B testing indicates a data-driven approach to feature development and optimization within the e-commerce context. Mentorship and stakeholder guidance are crucial for a senior-level role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Technology, or a related field.

Experience: 5+ years of relevant professional experience in software engineering.

Required Skills:

• 3+ years of experience working within agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

• Extensive experience implementing User Interfaces (UI) following an MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern.

• 2+ years of hands-on experience with a modern single-page application framework, such as Next.js, React.js, Vue.js, or Angular.js.

• Extensive experience utilizing RESTful APIs for data retrieval and manipulation in front-end applications.

• Proven experience architecting and implementing CSS for large-scale, responsive web applications that adapt seamlessly across various devices.

• Strong understanding of unit testing methodologies and experience writing effective unit tests to ensure code quality and functionality.

Preferred Skills:

• Extensive hands-on experience with Next.js, coupled with a deep understanding of its ecosystem and best practices.

• Proven success in developing, scaling, and applying robust design systems using tools like Storybook to bridge the gap between design and engineering.

• Hands-on experience with automation testing frameworks such as Playwright or similar.

• Experience with enterprise experimentation platforms like Optimizely or equivalent.

• Familiarity with Handlebars and understanding of legacy web architectures.

• Experience utilizing project management and version control tools such as Jira and Bitbucket.

• High transactional e-commerce experience, demonstrating an understanding of the unique demands of online retail platforms.

• Native app development experience (iOS/Android) to provide broader context for the digital ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize modern front-end frameworks, particularly Next.js and React.js, along with foundational web development skills. Experience with A/B testing platforms, design systems, and automation tools is highly valued, reflecting the company's focus on innovation and efficiency. E-commerce experience is a significant plus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable examples of complex UI components and features developed for large-scale web applications, showcasing modularity and reusability.

• Case studies detailing the implementation of single-page applications, highlighting architectural decisions, performance optimizations, and user experience improvements.

• Evidence of successful A/B testing initiatives, including the hypothesis, experiment design, implementation, and analysis of results impacting key business metrics.

• Projects that showcase experience with RESTful API integration, illustrating how data is fetched, processed, and displayed effectively within the UI.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow designs and optimization strategies for front-end development processes, particularly in the context of migrating from legacy systems (Ember.js) to modern frameworks (Next.js).

• Documentation of how AI tooling was integrated into the SDLC to automate tasks, improve code quality, or accelerate development cycles.

• Examples of technical design documents created for new features or architectural changes, outlining the approach, considerations, and implementation plan.

• Process documentation related to unit testing and quality assurance, demonstrating a commitment to code reliability and stability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to showcase projects that highlight their expertise in modern front-end frameworks, particularly Next.js, and their ability to manage complex migrations. Practical examples of AI tool utilization in the SDLC, A/B testing, and responsive design are crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Sr. Engineer - UI in Pittsburgh, PA, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is $100,000 - $140,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Care Benefits: Including medical, vision, and dental insurance plans.

• Wellness Programs: Initiatives and resources to support employee well-being.

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan: With company matching contributions.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Providing financial protection for employees and their families.

• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP): Opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Including vacation days and holidays.

• Paid Sick Leave: To support employee health and recovery.

• Parental Leave: Benefits to support new parents.

• Generous Employee Discount: On American Eagle Outfitters products.

• Summer Fridays: Offering a shorter workday or day off during summer months.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available due to the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Senior UI Engineer in a major metropolitan area like Pittsburgh, considering the specified experience level and the tech-forward nature of the role. Benefits are extensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and financial security, with specific perks like employee discounts and Summer Fridays enhancing the overall package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail - Apparel & Accessories. American Eagle Outfitters operates as a leading global specialty retailer known for its portfolio of popular apparel brands, including American Eagle and Aerie, with a strong presence in denim and youth culture.

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees). This indicates a robust organizational structure, extensive resources, and opportunities for significant impact within a well-established company.

Founded: 1977. With a long history, AEO has evolved significantly, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the dynamic retail market.

Team Structure:

• The UI Engineering team is likely part of a larger Engineering department, potentially organized into product-focused squads or feature teams.

• This Senior Engineer reports to an Associate Manager - Engineering, suggesting a clear reporting line and opportunities for mentorship and guidance from leadership.

Methodology:

• The company is actively undergoing an architectural overhaul, transitioning from Ember.js to Next.js, indicating a commitment to adopting modern software development practices and technologies.

• There's a strong emphasis on leveraging AI tooling and machine learning to automate tasks, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

• Agile development methodologies are a cornerstone, ensuring iterative development, flexibility, and continuous improvement in delivering features and experiments.

Company Website: https://www.aeo-inc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: AEO's culture is described as "Better Together," emphasizing collaboration, mutual success, and associate growth. The company's commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access is also a significant cultural pillar. The retail industry context means the UI engineering team plays a direct role in customer engagement and revenue generation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Engineer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position within the engineering hierarchy. It requires significant technical expertise, experience in architectural decisions, and the ability to mentor others. The focus on leading a major architectural transition and experimenting with AI signifies a role with substantial technical challenges and growth potential.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Engineer reports to an Associate Manager - Engineering. This provides a direct line of mentorship and career guidance, offering opportunities to learn about team management, project prioritization, and strategic decision-making within the engineering department.

Operations Impact: The UI Engineering team directly impacts the customer experience on AE.com, influencing engagement, conversion rates, and ultimately, revenue. By leading the Next.js transition and implementing innovative features, this role will have a tangible effect on the company's digital storefront performance and its ability to compete in the e-commerce landscape. The focus on A/B testing and AI further emphasizes the data-driven approach to optimizing customer journeys and business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in Next.js, React.js, and associated ecosystem tools, potentially becoming a subject matter expert or architect for front-end technologies.

• AI & ML Integration: Gain hands-on experience and leadership in applying AI/ML tools to the SDLC, a rapidly growing field with significant career advancement potential.

• Architectural Leadership: Lead future architectural initiatives and technology adoption strategies for the digital platform.

• Mentorship & Team Leadership: Progress into more formal leadership roles, such as Tech Lead or Engineering Manager, by developing strong mentoring and team-building skills.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Broaden understanding of e-commerce operations, from product management to backend systems, through extensive collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Sr." title and the critical nature of the architectural transition, this role offers significant opportunities for technical leadership and impact. The emphasis on AI and modern frameworks positions the candidate for growth in high-demand areas of software engineering.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid, meaning employees are expected to work from the office on certain days and remotely on others. This offers a blend of in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Pittsburgh, PA. This provides access to a vibrant tech community and a central hub for American Eagle Outfitters' operations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest an environment where teamwork and communication are valued. Expect opportunities to engage with colleagues both in person and virtually.

• Technology & Tools: As a Sr. Engineer, you will have access to modern development tools and technologies, including advanced AI tooling, robust testing frameworks, and standard development environments necessary for building and maintaining a large-scale e-commerce platform.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow engineers, product managers, and designers will be available, fostering knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement allows for some flexibility in managing work hours and location, supporting a balance between professional responsibilities and personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model at American Eagle Outfitters in Pittsburgh is designed to offer the benefits of both in-office collaboration and remote flexibility, catering to modern workforce expectations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on relevant experience with modern front-end frameworks (Next.js,

React.js), architectural transitions, and AI tooling.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more technical interviews, which may include:

  • Coding Challenges: Live coding sessions focusing on algorithm design, data structures, and front-end development best practices (e.g., component creation, API integration).
  • System Design: Discussions on architecting scalable and performant UI solutions, particularly related to the Next.js migration and handling large e-commerce traffic.
  • Behavioral Questions: Assessing your experience with agile methodologies, cross-functional collaboration, problem-solving, and mentorship.

• Portfolio Review: Be prepared to walk through selected projects from your portfolio, highlighting your contributions, technical decisions, and the impact of your work. This is a critical stage for a Senior Engineer role.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A final interview with the hiring manager and potentially other senior team members to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Next.js/React.js Expertise: Feature projects that demonstrate your proficiency with these frameworks, especially complex applications or architectural features.

• Highlight Architectural Migrations: If you have experience migrating from legacy systems (like Ember.js) to modern frameworks, present this as a key case study.

• Demonstrate AI Tool Integration: Include examples or detailed descriptions of how you've used AI tools to enhance the SDLC, improve efficiency, or solve complex problems.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., performance improvements, conversion rate increases from A/B tests, development time saved).

• Explain Technical Decisions: Be ready to articulate the "why" behind your technical choices, the trade-offs considered, and the rationale for your approach.

• Focus on Collaboration: For team-based projects, describe your role, how you collaborated with others, and how you contributed to the team's success.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice Coding Problems: Refresh your knowledge of common data structures, algorithms, and JavaScript/TypeScript challenges relevant to front-end development.

• Prepare System Design Scenarios: Think about how you would architect a large-scale e-commerce UI, considering scalability, performance, SEO, and maintainability.

• Articulate AI Use Cases: Be ready to discuss specific applications of AI in software development, beyond just code generation, and how they can benefit a retail environment.

• Develop Mentorship Examples: Prepare specific examples of when you have mentored junior engineers or guided technical discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh practical experience and the ability to articulate technical strategy and execution, especially concerning the Next.js migration and AI integration. A strong portfolio is essential for a Senior Engineer role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Next.js/React.js: The core framework for the modern digital storefront. Deep understanding and practical experience are essential.

• Ember.js: Familiarity with legacy components being migrated is a plus.

• JavaScript/TypeScript: Proficiency in modern JavaScript (ES6+) and ideally TypeScript for robust application development.

• HTML5/CSS3: Advanced skills in semantic HTML and modern CSS for responsive and performant UIs.

• RESTful APIs: Expertise in consuming and integrating with backend services.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools like Optimizely (preferred) or similar enterprise experimentation platforms to validate feature effectiveness.

• Analytics Tools: Familiarity with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) for tracking user behavior and performance metrics.

• Dashboarding Tools: Experience with creating and interpreting data visualizations for performance monitoring and stakeholder reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• AI Tooling: Hands-on experience with AI tools across the SDLC, such as Google Gemini, Qodo, Applitools, and Atlassian Rovo, for tasks like code generation, testing, and workflow automation.

• Automation Frameworks: Experience with tools like Playwright (preferred) or Selenium for automated testing of UI functionalities.

• Design System Tools: Proficiency with Storybook for developing, documenting, and maintaining UI component libraries.

• Version Control: Git, typically used with platforms like Bitbucket.

• Project Management: Jira for issue tracking and project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on modern front-end development with Next.js and React.js, augmented by cutting-edge AI tooling for efficiency and automation, and robust testing and experimentation platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Experimentation: A willingness to explore and adopt new technologies, especially AI tooling, and to rigorously test new ideas through A/B experiments.

• Efficiency & Automation: A drive to automate mundane tasks, optimize workflows, and continuously improve development processes using technology.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A commitment to working effectively with cross-functional teams, sharing knowledge, and supporting team members to achieve collective goals.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to writing clean, modular, and reusable code, ensuring high performance, reliability, and maintainability of the digital platform.

• Customer Focus: Understanding that UI development directly impacts customer experience and business outcomes, leading to decisions that prioritize user satisfaction and conversion.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with product managers, designers, and other engineering disciplines, requiring strong communication and partnership skills.

• Process Improvement Driven: A culture that encourages proactive identification and implementation of process improvements to enhance team productivity and code quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in code reviews, technical discussions, and potentially internal presentations to share learnings and best practices, especially around new technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at AEO emphasizes a forward-thinking approach, valuing innovation, efficiency, and collaborative problem-solving, particularly in the context of modernizing their digital presence and leveraging AI.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Architectural Migration Complexity: Successfully migrating a large-scale e-commerce platform from Ember.js to Next.js while maintaining site stability and performance presents significant technical and logistical challenges.

• AI Tool Integration & ROI: Effectively integrating and measuring the return on investment for new AI tooling across the SDLC requires careful planning, experimentation, and adaptation.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Ensuring that the rapid pace of innovation, experimentation, and AI adoption does not compromise the core stability and reliability of a high-traffic e-commerce site.

• Mentoring and Upskilling: Guiding and upskilling junior engineers, as well as other team members, in adopting new technologies and methodologies like Next.js and AI tools.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Next.js Ecosystem: Extensive hands-on experience with Next.js, its features, and best practices for enterprise applications.

• AI/ML in SDLC Practical Application: Gaining practical experience with cutting-edge AI tools and understanding their real-world impact on software development efficiency and innovation.

• E-commerce Architecture: Developing a comprehensive understanding of the technical architecture and operational demands of a large-scale e-commerce platform.

• Leadership and Mentorship Skills: Honing skills in guiding technical discussions, mentoring junior engineers, and contributing to architectural decisions.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending relevant tech conferences or workshops focused on front-end development, AI, and e-commerce.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial challenges that are directly tied to significant growth and learning opportunities, particularly in areas of modern web architecture and AI integration.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Next.js Migration Strategy: "Describe your approach to leading the migration of a complex single-page application from Ember.js to Next.js. What are the key technical considerations, potential risks, and how would you ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to users?"

• AI Tooling in SDLC: "How have you leveraged AI tools in your development workflow, or how would you propose integrating them into our SDLC to improve efficiency and innovation? Provide specific examples beyond basic code generation."

• A/B Testing for Feature Validation: "Walk us through an example of an A/B test you designed and implemented. What was the hypothesis, how did you set up the experiment, and what were the key learnings and business impacts?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Cultural Fit with 'Better Together': "How do you embody the 'Better Together' culture in your work? Provide an example of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve a common goal."

• Mentorship Approach: "Describe your experience mentoring junior engineers. What is your philosophy on fostering growth and development within a team?"

• UI Innovation in Retail: "Beyond functional requirements, how do you think UI innovation can drive customer engagement and revenue for a retail brand like American Eagle Outfitters?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project presented, clearly outline the problem, your role and contributions, the technical solution (especially Next.js/React.js architecture, API integrations, AI tool usage), and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Focus on Migration Experience: If you have relevant migration experience, make this a central theme. Detail the challenges, your strategic approach, and the outcomes.

• Demonstrate AI Tooling Use: Clearly articulate how AI tools were used, the specific problem they solved, and the benefits achieved (e.g., faster development, improved code quality, better test coverage).

• Visual Aids: Use mockups, diagrams, or live demos (if feasible and appropriate) to illustrate your work and technical concepts effectively.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your code, architectural decisions, and problem-solving process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership in modern front-end development, strategic thinking regarding architectural change, and a practical understanding of AI's role in software engineering within an e-commerce context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the official application portal on the American Eagle Outfitters careers site.

• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your expertise in Next.js/React.js, architectural transitions (especially from legacy systems), and your experience with AI tooling or A/B testing. Prepare concise case studies for each, highlighting challenges, your solutions, and quantifiable results.

• Tailor Your Resume for Operations Keywords: Ensure your resume highlights experience with "Next.js," "React.js," "UI development," "single-page applications," "RESTful APIs," "agile development," "A/B testing," and any AI/ML tools used in the SDLC. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Practice Your Technical Narrative: Rehearse explaining your portfolio projects, focusing on your role, technical decisions, collaboration, and the impact of your work. Be ready to articulate your approach to the Next.js migration and AI tool integration.

• Research AEO's Digital Presence: Familiarize yourself with AE.com and Aerie.com. Understand their current UI, user experience, and any recent feature updates. Consider how your skills align with their business objectives and how you would contribute to their ongoing digital transformation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.