Spark developer (San Jose/CA)

role and responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Spark Scala Developer.The candidate will have a deep understanding of distributed computing, data pipelines, and real-time and batch data processing architecture.
Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and optimize big data applications using Apache Spark and Scala.

• Architect and implement scalable data pipelines for both batch and real-time processing.

• Collaborate with data engineers, analysts, and architects to define data strategies.

• Optimize Spark jobs for performance and cost-effectiveness on distributed clusters.

• Build and maintain reusable code and libraries for future use.

• Work with various data storage systems like HDFS, Hive, HBase, Cassandra, Kafka, and Parquet.

• Implement data quality checks, logging, monitoring, and alerting for ETL jobs.

• Mentor junior developers and lead code reviews to ensure best practices.

• Ensure security, governance, and compliance standards are adhered to in all data processes.

• Troubleshoot and resolve performance issues and bugs in big data solutions.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• 12+ years of total software development experience.

• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on experience with Apache Spark and Scala.

• Strong experience with distributed computing, parallel data processing, and cluster computing frameworks.

• Proficiency in Scala with deep knowledge of functional programming.

• Solid understanding of Spark tuning, partitions, joins, broadcast variables, and performance optimization techniques.

• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP (especially EMR, Databricks, or HDInsight).

• Hands-on experience with Kafka, Hive, HBase, NoSQL databases, and data lake architectures.

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, Git, Jenkins, and automated testing.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience with Databricks, Delta Lake, or Apache Iceberg.

• Exposure to machine learning pipelines using Spark MLlib or integration with ML frameworks.

• Experience with data governance tools (e.g., Apache Atlas, Collibra).

• Contributions to open-source big data projects are a plus.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Software infuses core business operations with intelligence-from machine learning to generative AI-to help make organizations more responsive, productive, and resilient. IBM Software helps clients put AI into action now to create real value with trust, speed, and confidence across digital labor, IT automation, application modernization, security, and sustainability. Critical to this is the ability to make use of all data, because AI is only as good as the data that fuels it. In most organizations data is spread across multiple clouds, on premises, in private datacenters, and at the edge. IBM's AI and data platform scales and accelerates the impact of AI with trusted data, and provides leading capabilities to train, tune and deploy AI across business. IBM's hybrid cloud platform is one of the most comprehensive and consistent approach to development, security, and operations across hybrid environments-a flexible foundation for leveraging data, wherever it resides, to extend AI deep into a business.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualifiedapplicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexualorientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability,neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is alsocommitted to compliance with all fair employment practices regardingcitizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being

• Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs

• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law

• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals

• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

This position is eligible for participation in an IBM Sales Incentive plan. Actual incentive opportunity will be based on performance and the eligible Target Incentive, as addressed in the applicable plan, all of which is subject to change. The compensation range listed for this position is the IBM Reference Salary that is used when you are not actively participating in a sales plan. Your actual base pay plus incentive opportunity will be determined by the Incentive Plan assigned to you.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.