Site and Search Lead - Open Search, SOLR & Adobe Experience Manager

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

The Senior Developer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing search solutions using OpenSearch or Solr within the Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) ecosystem. This role requires advanced technical skills in search technologies, AEM integration, and performance tuning to deliver robust search functionalities and enhance the content management experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Search Architecture & Integration:
  • Search Solution Design: Architect and implement search solutions using OpenSearch or Solr within the AEM platform. Design systems to handle large-scale content and user queries efficiently.
• AEM Integration: Integrate OpenSearch or Solr with AEM to enhance content search capabilities.
  • Implement custom connectors and modules for seamless data flow between AEM and the search engine.
• Indexing & Content Management:
• Indexing Strategy: Develop and manage advanced indexing strategies for AEM content, including custom content types, metadata, and full-text search capabilities.
• Content Ingestion: Implement robust data ingestion pipelines for indexing AEM content, including structured and unstructured data.
• Query Optimization & Performance Tuning:
  • Advanced Query Development: Craft and optimize complex search queries for efficient content retrieval. Implement custom ranking and scoring algorithms to improve search relevance.
• Performance Tuning: Monitor and enhance search performance, including query speed, indexing efficiency, and system resource utilization. Use profiling and monitoring tools to diagnose and address performance issues.
• Search Engine Internals:
  • Deep Technical Expertise: Utilize in-depth knowledge of OpenSearch or Solr internals to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues. Develop custom extensions and plugins to extend search functionalities.
  • System Optimization: Optimize search engine configurations, including shard management, replication, and caching, to improve system performance and scalability.
• Data Integration & ETL Processes:
  • Integration with AEM: Ensure seamless integration of search solutions with AEM’s content repository and workflow systems. Implement ETL processes for efficient data synchronization and transformation.
  • API Development: Develop and maintain APIs for interaction between AEM and the search engine, facilitating data exchange and custom functionality.
• Monitoring & Scaling:
  • System Monitoring: Implement and manage monitoring solutions to track system health, performance metrics, and usage patterns. Set up alerting and automated responses for system anomalies.
  • Scalability Planning: Develop strategies for scaling search infrastructure to accommodate growing data volumes and user loads. Plan and execute scaling solutions for both search engines and AEM environments.
• Documentation & Best Practices:
  • Technical Documentation: Create and maintain detailed documentation for search configurations, customizations, and integration processes.
  • Best Practices: Establish and promote best practices for search implementation, including security, data management, and performance optimization.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field. Advanced degrees or certifications in search technologies and AEM are a plus.
• Extensive experience (4 - 6 years) with OpenSearch or Solr, including advanced configuration, performance tuning, and custom development.
• Proven experience (4- 6 years) with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), including integration with search technologies and content management.

SKILLS

• Search Technologies: Deep knowledge of OpenSearch or Solr, including schema design, query development, and data indexing.
• AEM Expertise: Hands-on experience with AEM, including content modeling, workflows, and integration with external systems.
• Programming Languages: Proficiency in Java, Python, or other relevant languages for search engine customization and AEM integration.
• Data Management: Experience with data integration and ETL processes, including data synchronization and transformation.
• Analytical Skills: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze and address complex search-related and content management challenges.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, content managers, and product stakeholders.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 01/14/2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance. Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.