diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 7b098d12..1a7cd92f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     branches:
       - "*"
-env:
-  ACTIONS_ALLOW_USE_UNSECURE_NODE_VERSION: true
 
 jobs:
   Get-CI-Image-Tag:
@@ -22,23 +20,30 @@ jobs:
         java: 
           - 21
           - 23
-    name: Build and Test
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+        os:
+          - ubuntu-24.04-arm  # arm64-preview
+          - ubuntu-24.04  # x64
+    name: Build and Test Linux
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     container:
       # using the same image which is used by opensearch-build team to build the OpenSearch Distribution
       # this image tag is subject to change as more dependencies and updates will arrive over time
       image: ${{ needs.Get-CI-Image-Tag.outputs.ci-image-version-linux }}
       # need to switch to root so that github actions can install runner binary on container without permission issues.
-      options: --user root
+      options: ${{ needs.Get-CI-Image-Tag.outputs.ci-image-start-options }}
 
     steps:
+      - name: Run start commands
+        run: ${{ needs.Get-CI-Image-Tag.outputs.ci-image-start-command }}
+
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }}
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+          distribution: 'temurin'
 
       - name: Build and Test
         run: |
@@ -57,17 +62,18 @@ jobs:
         java: 
           - 21
           - 23
-    name: Build and Test
+    name: Build and Test Windows
     runs-on: windows-latest
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Setup Java ${{ matrix.java }}
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           java-version: ${{ matrix.java }}
+          distribution: 'temurin'
 
       - name: Build and Test
         run: |
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 332ae8d4..dae8d76b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 buildscript {
     ext {
         opensearch_group = "org.opensearch"
-        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-SNAPSHOT")
+        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-alpha1-SNAPSHOT")
         isSnapshot = "true" == System.getProperty("build.snapshot", "true")
-        buildVersionQualifier = System.getProperty("build.version_qualifier", "")
+        buildVersionQualifier = System.getProperty("build.version_qualifier", "alpha1")
         kotlin_version = System.getProperty("kotlin.version", "1.9.25")
     }
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ apply plugin: 'java'
 apply plugin: 'jacoco'
 apply plugin: 'signing'
 apply plugin: 'maven-publish'
-apply plugin: 'com.github.johnrengelman.shadow'
+apply plugin: 'com.gradleup.shadow'
 // apply plugin: 'io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt'
 apply plugin: 'org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm'
 apply plugin: 'org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.allopen'