The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press seeks a Software Architect to lead the development of next-generation technology for AP's search and productization platform. This critical role is responsible for designing and implementing APIs that provide a high-performance and accurate search experience to systems that deliver multimedia news to AP's customers.

As a Software Architect, you will architect, develop, and maintain the back-end services and APIs that power AP's search platform. These systems handle massive amounts of data and serve thousands of AP customers with real-time news content. Your expertise will ensure an exceptional user experience through effective solutions that prioritize ease of use, high performance, large-scale system design, security, information retrieval, and natural language processing.

We need a sharp and self-motivated architect with strong programming fundamentals and hands-on application development experience who can immediately start working on API applications deployed in AWS. The architect will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions and deliver solutions to meet project deadlines and priorities in an agile development environment. 

Reports to the Director of Software Development. 

Technical Environment:

AWS (API Gateway, Lambda, S3, SNS/SQS, EC2, DynamoDB), Golang, Python,  Elasticsearch, DevOps, Jenkins, CI/CD tools, GIT

 Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance AP's search and productization platform.
• Develop robust APIs and backend services using Golang, Python, Elasticsearch.
• Ensure seamless integration and deployment of applications in an AWS cloud environment.
• Architect scalable and efficient solutions for data retrieval and processing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver solutions that meet project deadlines and priorities.
• Provide architectural leadership to evolve the search platform with new innovations in cloud and AI technologies.

Qualifications: 

• Four-year university degree in Computer Science/Engineering.
• 10+ years of job-related experience specifically in the technical environment specified above.
• Strong experience in Golang and/or Python programming
• Knowledge of Elasticsearch query DSL, relevance ranking, filters, analyzers and indexing
• Knowledge of sematic search, NLP, and AI models for enhancing search quality
• Extensive knowledge of AWS cloud environment.
• Experience in writing code for APIs hosted in an AWS environment.
• Knowledge of Domain Driven Design concepts and microservices.
• Experience with implementing system security and hardening.
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft SQL Server, DynamoDB, MongoDB
• Experience designing RESTful web services.
• Experience in developing architecture diagrams using tools like Lucidchart or similar.
• Coordinate and contribute to architectural and design discussions.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Good project & time management skills.
• Ability to communicate ideas in both technical and user-friendly language.
• Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail.
• Proven analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English language is required. Authorization to work in the United States for any employer is mandatory.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000 - contingent on experience and other job-related factors.  Employees are eligible to participate, according to the terms of the official plan documents, in a 401(k) plan, employer-sponsored health insurance plan, and are eligible for paid time off and holidays in accordance with AP policy.

Application deadline is 11:59 PM ET on October 28, 2024. 

AP seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or status as a veteran. We encourage members of historically underrepresented communities to apply.