Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Engineer with a strong background in Apache Solr and Java to lead our engineering and customer-led initiatives.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring the reliability, scalability, and performance of our search platform while providing expert-level troubleshooting and resolution for critical production issues.

This role will involve designing the architecture for new platforms while reviewing and recommending improved approaches for existing systems to drive continuous improvement and efficiency.

• Lead engineering and support activities for Solr-based search applications, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal performance.

• Design and develop the architecture of new platforms, while reviewing and recommending better approaches for existing platforms.

• Continuously enhance search ranking, query understanding, and retrieval effectiveness.

• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve complex technical issues in Solr, Java-based applications, and supporting infrastructure.

• Perform deep-dive analysis of logs, performance metrics, and alerts to proactively identify and prevent incidents.

• Optimize Solr indexes, queries, and configurations to improve search performance and system reliability.

• Work closely with development, operations, and business teams to drive improvements in system stability and operational efficiency.

• Implement monitoring tools, dashboards, and alerting mechanisms to enhance observability and proactive issue detection.

• Work with AI-powered search technologies, including:

  • Vector databases

  • RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) models

  • NLP techniques

  • LLM-based search enhancements

• Collaborate on capacity planning, system scaling, and disaster recovery strategies for mission-critical search systems.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in software development and production support, with a focus on Apache Solr, Java, and databases such as Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.

• Strong understanding of Solr indexing, query execution, schema design, configuration, and performance tuning.

• Experience in designing and implementing scalable system architectures for search platforms.

• Proven ability to review and assess existing platform architectures, identify areas for improvement, and recommend optimized architectural approaches.

• Proficiency in Java, Spring Boot, and microservices architecture.

• Experience working with Linux/Unix-based environments, including shell scripting and production system debugging.

• Hands-on experience with monitoring and observability tools, such as:

  • Prometheus

  • Grafana

  • Splunk

  • ELK Stack

• Expertise in troubleshooting performance issues, including Solr optimization, JVM tuning, and memory management.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, along with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure in fast-paced environments.

• Certifications in Solr, Java, or cloud technologies are a plus.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package.

• Opportunities for professional development, continuous learning, and training programs.

• A collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth.

• Access to health and wellness programs to support employee well-being.

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