Lead Software Engineer
About this role
Together we make breakthroughs possible.Ā
At OCLC, we build technology with a purpose: to connect libraries and make knowledge accessible worldwide, because we believe that what is known must be shared. Our teams work with complex global datasets, AI and machine learning, hybrid cloud solutions, and other technologies that connect people and organizations to the information they need. We value the power of unique perspectives and experiences to unlock innovation. At OCLC, your ideas matter, whether you have two years of experience or 20. Youāll learn, create, and problem-solve with technologists, product developers, librarians, researchers, marketing pros, and support teams around the world.Ā
Why join OCLC?Ā
OCLC is consistently recognized as a best place to work by several independent programs. WeĀ recognize and reward people and results with a comprehensive Total Rewards package. This means competitive compensation that reflects your unique contributionsāperformance, experience, and skillsāalong with exceptional benefits, including best-in-class health coverage, retirement plans with generous company contributions, and a commitment to your overall well-being.
We know the best ideas donāt always happen at a desk. Take a walking meeting around our 100-acre campus or enjoy lunch on the patio. Weāre committed to your successāboth personally and professionally. Hybrid work environment: For many roles, three days a week on-site, with occasional additional days based on business needs.Ā
Free use of our on-site ļ¬tness center, gym sports, group exercise classes, and game roomĀ
Onsite catering and cafeteria subsidized by OCLCĀ
Health and wellness eventsĀ
Work environments with individual and team spaces and the latest technology toolsĀ
Paid parental leave and adoption assistanceĀ
Tuition reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibilityĀ
Company-subsidized pricing on local tickets and membershipsĀ
Join us in transforming how people everywhere access information and be part of a mission-driven team that makes a global impact.Ā
The job details are as follows:
As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be responsible for leading software development initiatives. You will independently design, develop, and test complex software programs and systems. You will also collaborate with team members, mentor junior engineers, and provide technical guidance to ensure the delivery of high-quality software solutions. You will also collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define, refine, and implement features and enhancements.Responsibilities:
Own and evolveĀ large-scale data flows end-to-endābatch processing, transformation, clustering, and publication of datasets and indexesāensuring they are reliable, documented, and ready for modernization.Ā
Drive modernizationĀ of data-flow architecture: evaluate and introduce new techniques, patterns, and tooling; make build-vs-buy and technology choices; set direction others can implement against.Ā
Lead solution designĀ for batch and distributed processing: data quality checks, indexing strategies, replay/idempotency patterns, and integration with existingĀ Java/SpringĀ services and APIs.Ā
Develop and tune Apache SparkĀ workloads: implement batch jobs, diagnose failures, and improve performance through profiling, troubleshooting, and optimization.Ā
Build and maintain scripting and orchestration at scaleĀ usingĀ bashĀ (required) and related automation; coordinate long-running jobs through enterprise scheduling and operational runbooks.Ā
Establish technical standardsĀ for batch and data-flow engineeringāscripting patterns, monitoring, failure handling, and operational handoffāand influence practices beyond your immediate team.Ā
CollaborateĀ with product managers, leadership, and engineering teams to align roadmaps with product needs and translate organizational goals into executable technical strategy.Ā
Troubleshoot and resolveĀ complex production issues in data flows and batch systems; implement preventive, systemic improvementsānot one-off fixes.Ā
Leverage and exploreĀ AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, code generation, smart testing) where appropriate; help assess effectiveness and support adoption.Ā
ChampionĀ agile methodologies, lead technical and design reviews, and foster cross-team collaboration.Ā
Maintain awarenessĀ of security, data governance, and quality standards in an enterprise context.Ā
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Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in computer science or related discipline, or equivalent work experience.
7+ years of software development experience .
Demonstrated professional strength inĀ Java: shipping, maintaining, and evolving production servicesānot occasional or peripheral use.Ā
StrongĀ bash scripting at scaleĀ in production data-flow and batch environments; comfort maintaining and extending large script-based systems.Ā
Hands-on experience withĀ Apache Spark: developing batch workloads andĀ troubleshooting/tuningĀ performance and reliability (depth in patterns matters; specific cluster or vendor context can be learned on the job).Ā
Proven experienceĀ owning large-scale batch processing and data flows: design, operation, troubleshooting, and evolutionāincluding publishing datasets or indexes at scale.Ā
Experience withĀ batch orchestration and job schedulingĀ in production (enterprise schedulers, dependency chains, failure recovery, and operational runbooks).Ā
Ability to work withĀ messy, evolving data: inconsistent schemas, multiple sources, and changing requirements; design for robustness and incremental improvement.Ā
Working Conditions:Ā Normal office environment.
ADA/EAA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be the principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.
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