AEM Developer - JCL/Sling API

Senior AEM Backend & EDS Developer :

Engineering - Full-Time - Remote

AEM 6.5 / AEMaaCS Edge Delivery Services Java / OSGi 8+ Years

ROLE OVERVIEW :

We are looking for a seasoned Senior AEM Backend & EDS Developer to architect, build, and maintain enterprise-grade digital experience platforms. You will drive the development of robust AEM backend components, lead AEM as a Cloud Service migrations, and spearhead the adoption of Adobe Edge Delivery Services (EDS) including migrations from AEMaaCS to EDS to deliver sub-second web experiences. You bring at least one live, production EDS site to your track record, and are comfortable owning delivery end-to-end across authoring, build, and CDN layers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

AEM Backend Development :

- Design and develop custom AEM components, templates, and workflows using Java/OSGi, Sling, and JCR.

- Build and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs backed by AEM Content Services and Sling Models.

- Architect content structures, DAM integrations, and replication topologies for high-availability environments.

- Implement and lead AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS) migrations content migration, index definitions, cloud-native configurations, and feature flag management.

- Conduct code reviews, enforce best practices, and mentor junior and mid-level engineers on AEM development standards.

Edge Delivery Services (EDS) Development & Migration :

- Own and deliver production EDS sites end-to-end from initial block library setup through to go-live and post-launch stabilisation.

- Lead end-to-end migrations from AEM as a Cloud Service to Adobe Edge Delivery Services, including content modelling, block library porting, and authoring workflow transition.

- Author and optimise block libraries using vanilla JS and CSS in alignment with EDS conventions.

- Integrate EDS with AEM authoring (Universal Editor, Sidekick) and third-party data sources via SharePoint/Google Drive pipelines.

- Monitor and improve Core Web Vitals LCP, CLS, and INP across EDS properties.

- Automate EDS build and deployment pipelines using GitHub Actions and AEM Cloud Manager.

CDN & Infrastructure - Akamai :

- Configure and manage Akamai CDN properties caching rules, edge logic, and cache invalidation strategies for AEM and EDS environments.

- Implement Akamai EdgeWorkers and Property Manager rules to optimise content delivery and enforce security policies.

- Collaborate with infrastructure teams on Akamai WAF, DDoS mitigation, and origin shield configuration.

- Troubleshoot cache-related performance issues across Akamai and AEM Dispatcher layers.

Architecture & Collaboration :

- Define and document technical architecture for AEM + EDS hybrid and full-EDS implementations.

- Partner with front-end engineers, UX designers, and solution architects to translate business requirements into scalable solutions.

- Drive adoption of observability tooling (Adobe Experience Platform Debugger, RUM, Akamai mPulse) for production monitoring.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Education & Experience :

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

- 8+ years of hands-on AEM development experience (AEM 6.4/6.5 and AEM as a Cloud Service).

- 3+ years working with Adobe Edge Delivery Services or AEM Franklin/Helix.

- At least one demonstrable production EDS site shipped and live be prepared to share the URL and discuss architecture decisions during the interview.

- Demonstrated experience leading AEMaaCS-to-EDS migration projects end-to-end.

AEM Backend Expertise :

- Deep proficiency in Java (8+), OSGi/Felix, Apache Sling, and JCR/Oak.

- Strong command of AEM component development HTL/Sightly, Sling Models, WCM Core Components.

- Experience with AEM Dispatcher configuration, CDN strategies, and caching policies.

- Hands-on with AEM Cloud Manager pipelines, environment configurations, and RDE (Rapid Development Environments).

- Hands-on experience with AEM Experience Fragments and Content Fragments for omnichannel content delivery.

- Proficiency in headless AEM delivery using Content Fragment models and the AEM GraphQL API including persisted queries, filtering, and pagination.

EDS / Franklin Expertise :

- Proven track record of building and shipping production EDS sites using block-based authoring.

- Deep understanding of AEMaaCS-to-EDS migration patterns content model mapping, block porting, redirect strategy, and authoring workflow changeover.

- Proficiency in vanilla JavaScript (ES2022+), Web Components, and progressive enhancement patterns.

- Understanding of EDS metadata, redirects, sitemap generation, and indexing pipeline.

- Experience with EDS performance auditing using Lighthouse CI and PageSpeed Insights.

Akamai & CDN :

- Hands-on experience configuring Akamai Property Manager, caching behaviours, and origin failover rules.

- Working knowledge of Akamai EdgeWorkers for server-side personalisation and request routing.

- Familiarity with Akamai mPulse or equivalent RUM tooling for CDN-level performance monitoring.

- Understanding of CDN cache invalidation strategies in the context of AEM publish/replication workflows.

DevOps & Tooling :

- Strong Git workflows, branching strategies, and code review practices.

- Experience with CI/CD pipelines GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or Adobe Cloud Manager.

- Comfortable with Docker-based local development environments (AEM SDK).

- Familiarity with unit and integration testing JUnit 5, Mockito, AEM Mocks (io.wcm).

NICE TO HAVE :

- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) Sites Developer or Backend Developer certification.

- Experience with headless AEM delivery via Content Fragments + GraphQL.

- Knowledge of Adobe Launch (Tags) and Target integration.

- Exposure to React/Next.js-based front-end stacks consuming AEM APIs.

- Contributions to open-source AEM or EDS projects.

(ref:hirist.tech)