Senior Java Software Engineer – Search Team

Job Summary

Wiley is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join the Search Team, where you will design, build, and maintain backend search systems that serve millions of users globally. You will work on scalable, high-performance search solutions using Apache Solr and a modern backend technology stack including Java, Docker, and Kafka.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain core search platform components and backend systems.
• Build and enhance scalable services and features that improve search performance, relevance, and reliability.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across development, testing, and production environments.
• Participate in architectural discussions, technical design reviews, and code reviews.
• Improve software quality through automated testing, refactoring, and proactive management of technical debt.
• Take ownership of features and systems throughout their lifecycle, from design and implementation to deployment and ongoing support.
• Work independently while demonstrating a proactive, self-driven approach to identifying and implementing improvements.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and colleagues across multiple regions and time zones.

Must haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• Professional experience developing applications using Java, with strong understanding of object-oriented programming principles, data structures, software design patterns, and engineering best practices.
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs and backend services.
• Experience writing unit and integration tests using frameworks such as JUnit and Mockito.
• Hands-on experience working with Git and Linux-based environments.

Nice to haves

• Experience working with search technologies or within the information retrieval domain.
• Hands-on experience with Apache Solr, Elasticsearch, or other Lucene-based search platforms.
• Familiarity with distributed systems and event-driven architectures using technologies such as Kafka.
• Experience with containerization and cloud-native technologies including Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

What the company offers

• Meeting-free Friday afternoons allowing more time for heads down work and professional development.
• Robust employee programming to foster community, learning, and growth opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package and competitive compensation.
• Commitment to fair, transparent pay based on geographic location, skills, and competencies.

We refresh listings regularly, but some roles close early on the source platform.