Lead and Principal Java Engineer

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Lead and Principal Java Engineer based in the United States.** The Lead and Principal Java Engineer will drive the design and delivery of complex enterprise software solutions while remaining actively involved in hands-on development. This contract opportunity is suited to experienced engineering professionals who combine deep Java expertise with strong architectural judgment and technical leadership. You will guide the development of scalable, secure, and maintainable applications, including microservices, distributed systems, and cloud-native platforms. Working closely with engineering, product, and business stakeholders, you will translate business needs into robust technical strategies and implementation plans. The role spans the software development lifecycle, from architecture and design through coding, code reviews, testing, and production delivery. You will also mentor engineers, promote engineering best practices, and help teams navigate modernization initiatives and complex technical challenges. This remote opportunity offers the chance to contribute to enterprise-scale and mission-critical systems across a range of technical environments. ### Accountabilities - Lead the architecture, design, and hands-on implementation of complex enterprise software systems using Java and modern development frameworks. - Design, develop, and maintain scalable, secure, and reliable applications built with Spring Boot, microservices, REST APIs, and distributed system architectures. - Establish technical direction and architectural standards that support maintainability, performance, scalability, and long-term system evolution. - Collaborate with product managers, business stakeholders, and engineering teams to translate requirements into effective technical solutions. - Guide engineering teams throughout the software development lifecycle, from solution design and implementation to testing, deployment, and production support. - Conduct code reviews, promote coding standards, and ensure adherence to production-quality engineering practices. - Mentor and support engineers by sharing technical expertise, providing design guidance, and encouraging continuous improvement. - Evaluate architectural options, communicate technical decisions, and resolve complex engineering challenges. - Contribute to enterprise application modernization initiatives, including transitions toward distributed, cloud-native, and service-oriented architectures. - Where relevant to the assignment, help implement cloud-based solutions, event-driven architectures, messaging integrations, and automated delivery pipelines. - Partner with stakeholders to balance technical quality, delivery timelines, operational requirements, and business objectives. ## Requirements - Extensive hands-on experience in Java software engineering, including the design and implementation of enterprise-scale applications. - Strong expertise in Spring Boot and microservices architecture. - Proven experience designing scalable, secure, maintainable APIs and backend services. - Solid understanding of system architecture, distributed systems, service integration, and enterprise software design principles. - Demonstrated ability to make, document, and communicate architectural and technical decisions. - Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring engineers, and guiding software delivery teams. - Strong knowledge of code reviews, software testing, coding standards, and production-ready engineering practices. - Ability to collaborate effectively with product, business, and engineering stakeholders to align technical solutions with organizational needs. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex requirements and make sound technical decisions. - Preferred qualifications: Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, including ECS, EKS, Lambda, or related services. - Familiarity with Kafka, messaging technologies, and event-driven system architectures. - Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), DevOps practices, and automated deployment processes. - Background in modernizing large-scale enterprise applications and transitioning legacy systems toward modern architectures. - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote contract environment. - Eligibility to work in the United States, in accordance with applicable engagement requirements. ## Benefits - Indicative contract rate: $110–$140 per hour, depending on the assignment and relevant experience. - Remote work: Opportunities to work remotely within the United States. - Contract flexibility: Engagements may vary according to project scope, technical needs, and delivery requirements. - Technical variety: Potential involvement in enterprise modernization, cloud-native applications, distributed services, and high-throughput or mission-critical platforms. - Leadership opportunities: Scope to influence architecture, technical strategy, engineering standards, and team development. - Hands-on technical work: Opportunity to remain involved in implementation while guiding architectural and delivery decisions. - Cross-functional collaboration: Work with engineering, product, and business stakeholders on complex enterprise technology initiatives.