Staff Software Engineer (level 5)

Adobe Adobe · Enterprise · San Jose, CA

Staff Software Engineer (Level 5) at Adobe, focused on backend development for Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO). The role involves designing, implementing, and maintaining core components of AJO, a real-time journey orchestration application built on Adobe Experience Platform. Key responsibilities include technical ownership, driving innovation, championing engineering excellence, operating large-scale distributed systems, and mentoring junior engineers. The position emphasizes building high-throughput, enterprise-grade solutions with a focus on performance, reliability, and customer experience, leveraging AI to create differentiated value.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design, implement, and maintain core components of AJO, with a focus on backend systems.
  2. Collaborate with engineering leadership to shape and rapidly deliver on a technical vision for efficiently addressing the complex needs of our enterprise customers with easy-to-maintain solutions. Create differentiated value through effective application of AI.
  3. Champion software engineering standards, including code quality, testing, and continuous integration/deployment.
  4. Lead in the architecture and operation of large-scale, globally distributed systems. Ensure high availability and low latency in enterprise environments.
  5. Mentor junior engineers, lead design reviews, and foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning across the team.

Skills

Required

  • BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field.
  • 10+ years of experience building, testing and operating complex software systems, focused on the backend.
  • Deep understanding of modern software development practices, distributed systems, and cloud-native architectures.
  • Proficiency in Java
  • Expert knowledge of streaming architectures (e.g., Kafka)
  • Expert knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases
  • Expert knowledge of caching frameworks
  • Expert knowledge of microservices
  • Expert knowledge of networking
  • Expert knowledge of security
  • Expert knowledge of containerized environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Data-driven attitude
  • Ability to break down complex problems and deliver elegant, maintainable solutions.
  • Demonstrated skill and enthusiasm for rigorous quality practices, observability, and incident response in production environments.
  • Sense of urgency in maintaining operational excellence.
  • Experience and interest in technical leadership and project management.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical partners.
  • Strong sense of ownership
  • Passion for building products that delight users.

Nice to have

  • Experience with AI/ML systems
  • Experience with enterprise software development
  • Experience building enterprise B2B or B2C products in the marketing automation, analytics, experimentation, decisioning, or personalization space

What the JD emphasized

  • Experience with AI/ML systems and enterprise software development is a strong plus.
  • Deep understanding of modern software development practices, distributed systems, and cloud-native architectures.
  • Proficiency in Java, with expert knowledge of streaming architectures (e.g., Kafka), relational and NoSQL databases, caching frameworks, microservices, networking, security, and containerized environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
  • Demonstrated skill and enthusiasm for rigorous quality practices, observability, and incident response in production environments.
  • Experience building enterprise B2B or B2C products in the marketing automation, analytics, experimentation, decisioning, or personalization space is a plus.