Lead Software Engineer

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. You'll learn, create, and problem-solve with technologists, product developers, librarians, researchers, marketing pros, and support teams around the world.

Why join OCLC?

OCLC is consistently recognized as a best place to work by several independent programs. We recognize and reward people and results with a comprehensive Total Rewards package. This means competitive compensation that reflects your unique contributions-performance, experience, and skills-along 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 don't always happen at a desk. Take a walking meeting around our 100-acre campus or enjoy lunch on the patio. We're committed to your success-both personally and professionally. Hybrid work environment: For many roles, three days a week on-site, with occasional additional days based on business needs.

• Free use of our on-site tness center, gym sports, group exercise classes, and game room

• Onsite catering and cafeteria subsidized by OCLC

• Health and wellness events

• Work environments with individual and team spaces and the latest technology tools

• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance

• Tuition reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

• Company-subsidized pricing on local tickets and memberships

Join us in transforming how people everywhere access information and be part of a mission-driven team that makes a global impact.

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 evolve large-scale data pipelines: ingestion, transformation, clustering, and publication of datasets and indexes; ensure pipelines are reliable, documented, and maintainable.
• Lead solution architecture for data pipelines: design and implement scalable ETL, data quality checks, and indexing strategies; make build-vs-buy and technology choices for data processing.
• Drive technical standards for data engineering: establish patterns for scripting at scale, automation, monitoring, and operational runbooks; influence engineering practices across the organization.
• Collaborate with product managers, leadership, and engineering teams to align pipeline roadmaps with product needs and translate strategic vision into technical solutions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex pipeline and data issues in production; implement preventive measures and systemic improvements.
• Leverage and explore AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, code generation, smart testing) where appropriate; help assess effectiveness and support organizational adoption.
• Champion agile methodologies, lead technical and data-design reviews, and foster cross-team collaboration.
• Maintain awareness of security, data governance, and quality standards in an enterprise context.

Technical expertise

• Proven experience with large-scale data pipelines: ETL design and implementation, batch and/or streaming processing, and publishing datasets or indexes at scale.
• Strong scripting and automation at scale in production data pipelines (e.g., Python, bash, or similar); comfort maintaining and extending large script-based systems.
• Experience with big data tooling and patterns: e.g., Hadoop, Spark, MapReduce, or equivalent frameworks for distributed processing and large datasets.
• Ability to work with messy, evolving data: inconsistent schemas, multiple sources, and changing requirements; design for robustness and incremental improvement.
• Deployment/operations: Experience with modern deployment and CI/CD (e.g., GitLab, Ansible, containerization) in production or staging environments.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical and architecture decisions for data systems, influence cross-functional teams, and mentor peers from an individual contributor role.
• Experience owning critical pipelines or data systems end-to-end: design, run, troubleshoot, and evolve.
• Proven ability to work across product, architecture, and engineering stakeholders in a matrixed environment.

Working Conditions: 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.