Technical Lead - Collections Explorer, Reimagining Discovery

Job Description

Harvard Library and Harvard University IT are advancing the Reimagining Discovery initiative to transform how researchers, students, and the global community discover and explore Harvard's distinctive collections. This work includes the development of Collections Explorer, an AI-enhanced discovery application, and supporting metadata infrastructure to improve access and discovery of collections through modern hybrid search and user-centered discovery experiences. The IT Project Technical Lead provides hands-on technical leadership for this project by leading architectural and design decisions, collaborating with team members in technical matters, and guiding implementation, integration, and production readiness for a system that combines modern web application development, metadata pipelines, applied AI techniques, and hybrid search technologies. 

The IT Project Technical Lead establishes project specifications and technical direction, creates a framework of technical standards and procedures, oversees software quality and system development and modifications, guides team members with troubleshooting technical issues, analyzes existing operations to identify risks and redundancies, and conducts comprehensive assessments to develop solutions for Collections Explorer and related Reimagining Discovery initiatives.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Architect and design technical solutions and ensure technical quality and standards. This includes making architectural decisions and guiding technical design.
• Maintain awareness of relevant AI and machine learning advancements, research papers, and tools to inform project direction. Lead technical decision making and make judgment calls on technical implementation details and choices as needed.
• Lead technical decisions related to search, retrieval, APIs, metadata processing, and AI/LLM enabled features, ensuring AI-enabled capabilities are designed and implemented with appropriate attention to evaluation, transparency, privacy, security, bias, hallucination risk, and responsible use.
• Estimate and plan work, ensuring they align with the project's overall goals. Breakdown high-level requirements into tasks and estimating time/effort required. Assist with project planning and scheduling.
• Develop and review code written by other engineers to ensure it meets quality standards and aligns with design/architecture as needed. Ensure the reliability and accuracy of the AI-driven discovery features through testing, evaluation, and monitoring.
• Troubleshooting and problem solving. Helping to debug and resolve technical issues/problems that arise during development.
• Set and reinforce coding standards and best practices. Ensure consistent coding style, patterns, naming conventions etc. across the codebase.
• Support production readiness, including reliability, performance, monitoring, logging, error handling, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with the project manager and act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams as needed to communicate project status and issues.
• Track and manage technical debt. Identify technical debt and prioritize its resolution.
• Ensure appropriate technical documentation for code, architecture, processes etc.
• Adhere to Harvard University's IT technical standards and best practices.
• Abide by and follow the Harvard University IT Code of Conduct.
• Other duties as necessary. 

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications are the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role.

• Minimum of seven years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

The following qualifications are strongly preferred. If you meet some, but not all, you are still encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn.

• Minimum of two years of experience working with Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI) technologies including proficiency in data preprocessing and transformation, feature engineering, and model evaluation methods.
• Minimum of two years' experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products and minimum of one year of experience with software design and architecture.
• Experience with search, information retrieval, data pipelines, metadata systems, AI/ML-enabled applications, or related technologies.
• Experience with API-oriented application development.
• Familiar with fundamental security principles and secure software development practices.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical collaborators.
• Knowledge of Python and the FastAPI framework, React/NextJS and API tooling.
• Experience with search platforms and retrieval technologies such as Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, or hybrid search approaches.
• Experience designing or supporting metadata pipelines, data transformation workflows, APIs, or integrations between source systems and discovery applications.
• Familiarity with LLM-enabled application patterns, retrieval-augmented generation, prompt/response evaluation, guardrails, and responsible AI practices.
• Knowledge of software development tracking tools such as Jira and GitHub.
• Knowledge of continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) software orchestration principles.
• Relevant working experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience working in libraries, archives, museums, cultural heritage, higher education, research, or other complex information environments.
• Demonstrated team performance skills, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor.
• Attitude that supports an Agile working environment and familiarity with Scrum framework
• Knowledge of information technology applications, processes, software and equipment
• Highly specialized knowledge of a specific technology
• Familiarity with WCAG 2.1 AA standards for web accessibility. 

Certificates and Licenses:

• Completion of Harvard IT Academy specified foundational courses (or external equivalent) preferred

Additional Information

• Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office setting
• Appointment End Date:
  This is a fully benefited, full-time Harvard University position that has been funded through 6/30/28. There is the possibility of renewal, contingent upon your work performance meeting the needs of the department and the continued availability of funding designed to support the position. 
• Hybrid: Onsite as needed with advance notice.
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:
  Please provide a cover letter and resume as one document with your application.
  This position has a 180-day orientation and review period.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Salary Grade: 059