Senior Lead Software Engineer - Java Architect @ Palo Alto, CA 94304

We are seeking a Senior Lead Software Engineer - Java Architect with deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, microservices, and event-driven development., Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade Java applications with Spring Boot and microservices.

• Build and integrate secure, scalable RESTful APIs.
• Translate payment-validation, enrichment, routing, and exception-handling requirements into technical solutions.
• Develop event-driven applications using Kafka and IBM MQ.
• Implement reliable transaction workflows, including idempotent message handling and resilient integrations.
• Ensure architecture aligns with established standards.
• Create automated unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, static analysis, and code-quality gates.
• Deploy and operate microservices in Docker and Kubernetes environments.
• Monitor production, troubleshoot issues, perform root-cause analysis, and improve stability.
• Work with Oracle, SQL, and NoSQL databases for data management and transaction processing.
• Use approved AI coding assistants for generation, refactoring, test creation, debugging, and documentation.
• Validate AI-generated outputs through peer review, automated testing, secure coding, and performance checks.
• Follow responsible AI practices, handling sensitive data per enterprise security policies.
• Analyze production telemetry to identify recurring problems and enhance architecture, performance, and code quality.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, business, and operations stakeholders to deliver reliable software.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience designing, building, and maintaining scalable enterprise applications and RESTful APIs. Proficiency with Kafka, IBM MQ, distributed messaging, containerized deployments, and Kubernetes is essential for creating reliable, high-throughput transaction-processing systems. The role collaborates with product owners, business analysts, and operations teams to turn business requirements into secure, scalable solutions. Candidates must understand software architecture, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, application resiliency, and production troubleshooting. Experience in payment processing or financial services is preferred. Use of enterprise-approved AI-assisted development tools is required, along with the ability to validate AI-generated code for correctness, performance, security, and maintainability. Required Technical Skills

• Programming: Java, OOP, enterprise application development
• Frameworks: Spring Boot, Spring ecosystem, microservices architecture
• API Development: RESTful APIs, design, authentication, authorization, security, documentation
• Messaging: Apache Kafka, IBM MQ, event-driven and asynchronous messaging
• Databases: Oracle, SQL, relational and NoSQL databases, schema-change management
• Testing:JUnit, Mockito, TDD, BDD, Cucumber, integration testing
• Build & CI/CD:Maven, Jenkins, automated build/deployment pipelines, static code analysis
• Containers & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes
• AI-Assisted Development: Enterprise-authorized AI coding assistants for code generation, refactoring, automated test creation, troubleshooting, and documentation
• Software Engineering:System design, debugging, production support, root-cause analysis, resiliency, secure coding
• Methodologies:Agile, SDLC, continuous integration, continuous delivery, Formal training or certification in software engineering and at least five years of relevant experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot, and microservices.
• Proven ability to design, develop, test, and maintain enterprise applications.
• Experience building secure RESTful APIs with authentication and authorization.
• Practical experience with Kafka, IBM MQ, or comparable enterprise messaging platforms.
• Experience with relational databases (e.g., Oracle) and NoSQL stores.
• Solid understanding of SQL, database design, and schema-change management.
• Proficiency with JUnit, Mockito, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience using Maven, Jenkins, or similar build and deployment tools.
• Experience deploying and operating containerized applications with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Hands-on use of enterprise-authorized AI-assisted development tools and ability to critically assess generated code.
• Knowledge of responsible AI use, secure development practices, application resiliency, and software security.
• Experience troubleshooting complex problems in enterprise production environments.

• Strong grasp of Agile methodologies and the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in banking, financial services, payments, or transaction processing.
• Knowledge of payment workflows, clearing and settlement, fraud detection, or sanctions screening.
• Experience with event sourcing, state-machine workflows, or high-throughput processing.
• Familiarity with gRPC and Protocol Buffers.
• Python experience for automation, internal tooling, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of observability tools such as OpenTelemetry and Grafana.
• Familiarity with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Experience improving application performance, reliability, scalability, and observability.