Senior Backend Engineer - Java & AWS / Kubernetes

About the role

Fully onsite McLean, VA location.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and support backend application capabilities, including Java-based microservices, REST APIs, event-driven distributed services, AMQ-based messaging integrations, data access layers, platform modernization components, and production enhancements.
• Apply strong hands-on engineering skills to build scalable, secure, resilient, observable, and maintainable backend services using modern software design patterns and cloud-native practices.
• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, architects, business stakeholders, and cross-functional technology teams to clarify requirements, align on technical approaches, manage dependencies, and deliver business outcomes.
• Build and enhance backend services using Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, microservices architecture, event-driven design patterns, AMQ messaging, MongoDB, relational databases, Kubernetes, AWS, CI/CD pipelines, containerization, integration patterns, and automated testing frameworks.
• Create proofs of concept, demos, and prototypes to evaluate emerging technologies, validate new ideas, and accelerate adoption of modern engineering patterns and platform capabilities.
• Follow and strengthen software engineering standards, including clean code, scalable design, code reviews, automated testing, deployment discipline, application security, observability, documentation, and operational readiness.
• Ensure backend solutions are delivered with appropriate compliance, auditability, security, resiliency, accessibility, data quality, performance, and production support considerations.
• Support production operations by participating in incident triage, root-cause analysis, application monitoring, logging, alerting, recovery practices, and continuous improvement of backend service reliability.
• Contribute as a senior individual developer by independently solving complex technical problems, improving existing codebases, reducing technical debt, and helping establish reusable backend engineering patterns.
• Promote a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence by sharing knowledge, documenting solutions, and supporting effective delivery within the team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related software engineering experience with strong hands-on backend development expertise in enterprise application environments.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex backend technology initiatives across microservices, APIs, AMQ-based messaging, integration services, data platforms, cloud-native deployments, platform modernization, and production enhancements, with very seasoned hands-on experience designing and implementing AWS-based, event-driven distributed systems.
• Required hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, microservices architecture, MongoDB, AMQ or similar messaging platforms, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and SQL or relational databases; very seasoned experience in AWS and event-driven distributed systems is required, and Kubernetes experience is a must.
• Strong background in backend software engineering, API design, data modeling, MongoDB schema design, event-driven architecture, asynchronous messaging, enterprise integration patterns, application security, performance tuning, resiliency, and delivery of scalable digital products for business and end-user needs.
• Experience applying software engineering standards, including clean architecture, scalable design, secure coding practices, automated testing, peer reviews, deployment discipline, compliance standards, auditability, observability, and production readiness.
• Proven ability to evaluate technical options, contribute to architecture and design discussions, independently implement solutions, and create proofs of concept or demos to validate new ideas and emerging backend technologies.
• Experience supporting production applications, including incident triage, debugging, root-cause analysis, resiliency improvements, logging, monitoring, alerting, and continuous improvement of application and platform reliability.
• Strong individual contributor mindset with the ability to take ownership of complex deliverables, collaborate effectively, mentor peers informally, and raise the engineering quality of the codebase.
• Ability to work effectively with Product Owners, architects, business stakeholders, vendors, and internal engineering teams to clarify requirements, resolve dependencies, and deliver high-quality backend software solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience; advanced degree preferred.

Keys to success in this role

• Deliver high-quality backend solutions with strong ownership across design, development, testing, deployment, and production readiness.
• Demonstrate deep hands-on expertise in Java, Spring Boot, MongoDB, AMQ, APIs, event-driven distributed microservices, CI/CD, automated testing, and cloud-native engineering practices, with very seasoned AWS experience and mandatory Kubernetes expertise.
• Independently solve complex technical problems, simplify designs where appropriate, reduce technical debt, and improve maintainability of backend services.
• Maintain focus on production quality, platform resiliency, performance, observability, auditability, and operational excellence throughout the software delivery lifecycle.
• Communicate effectively with Product Owners, architects, business stakeholders, and engineering partners to align on requirements, technical approaches, dependencies, and delivery expectations.
• Use engineering metrics, production support learnings, code quality signals, and operational feedback to improve backend service reliability and delivery effectiveness.
• Bring strong engineering discipline, curiosity, and accountability while collaborating with the team to deliver secure, scalable, and maintainable backend capabilities.

Pay

$70 - 90 per hour

Schedule

9am to 5pm