Lead Search Software Engineer

Dodge Construction Network (Dodge) is looking for a seasoned, hands-on search specialist with systems design and architecture exposure to work in our highly technical and intense development team. 

This is a full-time position and reports directly to the VP, Data Architecture. 

Preferred Location 

Qualified candidates should be based in or near Kochi and able to work from our Kochi office as part of a hybrid schedule.

Essential Functions 

Search Platform Engineering 

• Design, build, and maintain scalable search infrastructure using Apache Solr and/or OpenSearch, including schema design, indexing pipelines, and query parsing
• Optimize search relevance through tokenization strategies, stemming, custom analyzers, boosting rules, and query-time vs. index-time tuning
• Manage and maintain search cluster configuration, replication, and high-availability operations in production environments
• Diagnose and resolve search performance issues, including slow queries, indexing bottlenecks, and relevance degradation
• Evaluate and introduce improvements to search architecture as the platform and data volumes scale

Backend Engineering 

• Develop and maintain backend services and APIs in .NET (C#), applying asynchronous patterns and dependency-injection frameworks to build reliable, scalable components
• Write Python scripts for data processing, pipeline orchestration, and ML prototype integration with the search platform
• Collaborate with data engineering teams to design and optimize data ingestion and enrichment pipelines that feed search indexes
• Ensure code quality through unit, integration, and performance testing across all components

Cloud & Infrastructure 

• Deploy and manage search workloads on AWS using ECS/EKS, Lambda, S3, IAM, and CloudFormation or CDK
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines to support reliable, repeatable deployments of search services
• Apply container security best practices and contribute to infrastructure-as-code using Terraform or Pulumi where applicable
• Monitor system health, query performance, and infrastructure costs using AWS-native and third-party observability tools

AI-Assisted Development 

• Incorporate AI coding tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or Codex into daily development workflows to accelerate delivery and code quality
• Review and validate AI-generated code for correctness, security, and alignment with team standards
• Share effective AI-assisted development practices with teammates to improve team-wide productivity and velocity

Leadership & Collaboration 

• Act as the team’s subject matter expert on search technologies, providing guidance and mentorship to engineers across skill levels
• Conduct code reviews and uphold engineering standards across the team
• Translate complex search and relevance concepts into clear, accessible language for non-technical stakeholders and product partners
• Collaborate with product managers, data scientists, and other engineering teams to deliver search capabilities that power Dodge’s core products
• Operate effectively in Agile/Scrum environments, contributing to sprint planning, estimation, and continuous improvement practices

Education Requirement 

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and work experience. 

Required Experience, Knowledge and Skills 

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Apache Solr and/or OpenSearch (schema design, indexing pipelines, query parsing, clustering, replication)
• 3+ years of professional .NET (C#) development, including asynchronous patterns and dependency-injection frameworks
• Python proficiency for data processing, orchestration scripts, and ML prototypes
• Proven track record deploying workloads on AWS (ECS/EKS, Lambda, S3, IAM, CloudFormation or CDK)
• Solid understanding of search relevance concepts: tokenization, stemming, analyzers, boosting, query-time vs. index-time strategies
• CI/CD and automated testing expertise (unit, integration, performance)
• Excellent communication skills; able to simplify complex technical topics for non-technical stakeholders
• Must have worked with AI-assisted development tools (Claude, Copilot, Codex, etc.)

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and Skills 

• Knowledge of search in construction or AEC industry datasets
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Pulumi)
• Familiarity with container security best practices and AWS Well-Architected Framework
• Familiarity with other distributed search technologies

About Dodge Construction Network 

Dodge Construction Network exists to deliver the comprehensive data and connections the construction industry needs to build thriving communities. Our legacy is deeply rooted in empowering our customers with transformative insights, igniting their journey towards unparalleled business expansion and success. We serve decision-makers who seek reliable growth and who value relationships built on trust and quality. By combining our proprietary data with cutting-edge software, we deliver to our customers the essential intelligence needed to excel within their respective landscapes. We propel the construction industry forward by transforming data into tangible guidance, driving unparalleled advancement. 

Dodge is the catalyst for modern construction.