Developer

Join a high-impact engineering team working on a major platform modernization that powers fast, accurate price updates through REST APIs and Kafka-based event processing. This senior contractor role offers the chance to contribute to both a new architecture and an established production system while collaborating with teams across the U.S. and India. Responsibilities Build and enhance backend services that support high-volume pricing workflows and timely price publishingDevelop, support, and optimize REST APIs used in enterprise-scale applicationsDesign and implement Kafka producer and consumer solutions for event-driven processingContribute to both a modernized platform and an existing production codebaseWork with relational and distributed databases to support reliable application performanceTroubleshoot issues independently, write quality code, and deliver production-ready solutionsCollaborate with engineering partners across multiple locations and time zonesParticipate in meetings during Minneapolis/Central Time business hours Skills Strong senior-level experience in Java backend developmentWorking knowledge of Kotlin or the ability to become productive quickly in KotlinHands-on experience with Apache Kafka in production, including both producers and consumersExperience building and supporting high-volume RESTful APIsExperience with relational databases such as Oracle and/or PostgreSQLFamiliarity with distributed NoSQL databases such as CassandraAbility to ramp up quickly on a large existing codebase with minimal guidanceStrong communication, collaboration, and independent problem-solving skills Preferred Skills Experience with modular monorepo architecturesExperience working in framework-light or framework-free Java environmentsFamiliarity with RocksDBExperience supporting high-throughput, event-driven, or large-scale distributed systemsBackground in retail, pricing, or eCommerce platformsExperience contributing to architecture, design, or technical ownership in enterprise applications Horizontal is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply if you’re excited about the opportunity and meet the core qualifications. By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.