Backend Engineer

Job DescriptionJob Title: Senior Backend Engineer - Java, AWS & Kubernetes Location: McLean, VA (On-site) Employment Type: Contract (W2 through ZipStaff - No C2C or 1099) About the OpportunityZipStaff is seeking a highly skilled Senior Backend Engineer to design, build, and support scalable Multifamily application platforms and cloud-native services for a leading housing finance organization.

In this role, you will be a strong individual contributor focused on hands-on engineering across Java-based microservices, event-driven distributed systems, APIs, MongoDB, AMQ, Kubernetes, AWS, and CI/CD automation. You will deliver secure, resilient, observable, and production-grade backend capabilities that support critical business processes across loan acquisition, asset management, securitization, risk, and portfolio operations. What You’ll Do:

• 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, and platform modernization components.
• 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, and automated testing frameworks.
• Create proofs of concept, demos, and prototypes to evaluate emerging technologies and accelerate adoption of modern engineering patterns.
• 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 meet compliance, auditability, security, resiliency, performance, and production support requirements.
• Support production operations through incident triage, root-cause analysis, monitoring, logging, alerting, recovery practices, and continuous reliability improvement.
• Independently solve complex technical problems, improve existing codebases, reduce technical debt, and help establish reusable backend engineering patterns.
• Promote a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence.

• 8+ years of related software engineering experience with strong hands-on backend development expertise in enterprise environments.
• Hands-on expertise with Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, microservices architecture, AWS, and event-driven distributed systems (required).
• Kubernetes experience is mandatory.
• Strong experience with MongoDB, AMQ (or similar messaging platforms), CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and SQL/relational databases.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex backend initiatives across microservices, APIs, messaging, integration services, data platforms, and cloud-native deployments.
• Strong background in API design, data modeling, event-driven architecture, asynchronous messaging, enterprise integration patterns, application security, performance tuning, and resiliency.
• Experience applying software engineering standards (clean architecture, secure coding, automated testing, peer reviews, observability, production readiness).
• Proven ability to evaluate technical options, contribute to architecture discussions, independently implement solutions, and create proofs of concept.
• Experience supporting production applications (incident triage, debugging, root-cause analysis, monitoring, alerting).
• Strong individual contributor mindset with ownership of complex deliverables and informal mentoring of peers.
• Some hands-on use of AI for software engineering practices.
• Ability to work on-site in McLean, VA.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future., * Experience in the mortgage, housing finance, or broader financial services industry.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with compliance, auditability, and regulated-environment delivery practices.

ZipStaff partners with leading organizations to connect skilled technology professionals with high-impact contract opportunities. We focus on quality matches and long-term success.