Summary

As a member of the software development team, this role is responsible for the administration, customization, integration, and deployment of Aderant Expert, supporting the firm's core financial and practice management operations. The Sr. Aderant Engineer also manages and enhances a portfolio of interconnected applications and platforms that extend Aderant's capabilities, including systems supporting billing, timekeeping, rate management, and financial reporting across DLA Piper. This position plays a critical role in ensuring seamless data flow and system interoperability across the firm's financial technology landscape, partnering with cross-functional teams to design, implement, and maintain scalable solutions that improve operational efficiency, data integrity, and user experience.

Location

This position can sit in any of our U.S. offices and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Owns the administration, configuration, and ongoing optimization of Aderant Expert, including deep expertise across core modules and firm-specific customizations.
• Serves as the primary steward of Aderant core data, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and governance across financial, billing, and practice management domains.
• Leads troubleshooting and resolution of complex system and data-related issues, performing root cause analysis across Aderant and integrated systems.
• Designs, develops, and maintains backend solutions, including advanced SQL queries, stored procedures, and data models that support business processes, reporting, and system integrations.
• Develops and supports integrations between Aderant and adjacent systems using APIs, data pipelines, and middleware, ensuring reliable and efficient data exchange.
• Maintains ownership of all Aderant environments (development, test, and production), including release coordination, patching, maintenance schedules, and system health monitoring.
• Evaluates, plans, and contributes to cloud migration strategies for Aderant and related financial systems, including assessment of architecture, performance, security, and cost considerations.
• Partners with Finance, IT, and business stakeholders to translate functional requirements into scalable technical solutions that enhance operational efficiency and reporting accuracy.
• Provides technical leadership and mentorship to team members, promoting best practices in Aderant administration, data management, and backend engineering.
• Continuously identifies opportunities to improve system performance, data quality, and maintainability across the financial application landscape.

Desired Skills

• Five or more years of experience working with Aderant Expert is required, with advanced expertise in installation, patching, deployment, and ongoing system support in a production environment.
• Deep knowledge of Aderant Expert modules and underlying data structures is highly valued.
• Strong experience in backend development is essential, including writing and optimizing complex SQL queries, stored procedures, and working extensively with SQL-based data environments.
• Candidates must demonstrate the ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve issues across both application and data layers.
• Proven experience providing Aderant Expert end-user support and troubleshooting is required, along with the ability to diagnose root causes and implement scalable solutions.
• Experience supporting integrations between enterprise systems and ensuring data integrity across platforms is strongly preferred.
• Possesses strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• The role requires a high level of attention to detail, the ability to work independently, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• A demonstrated willingness to learn new technologies, including emerging cloud platforms and modern integration patterns, is expected.
• Experience evaluating or supporting cloud-based solutions for enterprise applications is a plus.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field.

Minimum Years of Experience

• 5 years of experience supporting and enhancing enterprise financial or practice management systems, including Aderant Expert, with a strong focus on backend development and data management.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties;
• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner;
• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product;
• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required;
• Foster positive work relationships;
• Comply with all firm policies and practices;
• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed;
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment;
• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm's discretion in the future.

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm's discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Application Process

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact [redacted].

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

The firm's expected hiring range for this position is $112,879 - $179,481 depending on the candidate's geographic market location.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate's experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntary and are not eligible for relocation assistance. Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm's direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

#LI-GB1
#LI-Hybrid