> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/4095874-software-engineer-lead](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/4095874-software-engineer-lead). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Software Engineer Lead - **Company:** USAA - **Location:** Plano, TX, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $127,310.0 - $243,340.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, DevOps, Mainframes, Enterprise Messaging Systems, OpenShift, Reliability Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering Practices, Secure Coding, Software Engineering, Software Systems, Software Technical Review, Datadog, Data Logging, Java Application Server, Enterprise Software Applications, Spring-boot, Technical Debt, Event Driven Architecture, Containerization, Kubernetes, Apache Kafka, Kibana, Restful APIs, Code Restructuring, Docker - **Published:** October 8, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/41ec3332-a201-494a-af35-b462104f3ee7 ## About the Role * Bachelor\'s degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience. * 8 years of software development experience demonstrating technical depth in Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, or similar enterprise application technologies, including 2 years of demonstrated leadership driving enterprise technology projects or initiatives. * 6 years of experience delivering technology solutions across all phases of the software systems and application development lifecycle. * Advanced experience developing, deploying, and supporting containerized applications and services using Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift. * Demonstrated experience independently leading the resolution of complex production issues through root-cause analysis and end-to-end troubleshooting across integrated applications and systems. * Experience leading code and design reviews and guiding the refactoring and optimization of existing applications to improve performance, security, resilience, and operational stability. * Experience with event-driven architecture and messaging technologies such as Kafka. * Experience leading application observability improvements through logging, monitoring, custom dashboards, and alerting using Kibana, Datadog, or similar tools. * Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction, mentor engineers, and communicate complex technical challenges, risks, and solutions to technical and nontechnical stakeholders. What sets you apart: * Experience supporting applications that integrate with mainframe or other legacy technologies. * Experience applying Site Reliability Engineering and DevOps practices to high-volume, business-critical production applications. * Experience with AWS technologies and services. * Experience using automation or AI-assisted tools to improve engineering, incident response, or production support processes. * Experience supporting applications within financial services, insurance, or another highly regulated industry. ## Description * Lead the design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance of complex Java applications, REST APIs, and event-driven services supporting Auto policy administration. * Independently lead the resolution of complex production issues across multiple applications, integrations, and systems, including root-cause analysis and coordination with technical stakeholders. * Establish technical direction for improving application stability, performance, resilience, security, and supportability while reducing technical debt and incident blast radius. * Lead in-depth code and design reviews, communicate technical impacts to stakeholders, and organize engineering work across teams to support reliable delivery and daily operations. * Advance application observability by leading improvements to logging, monitoring, custom dashboards, metrics, and alerting using tools such as Kibana and Datadog. * Partner with architecture and engineering teams to guide the refactoring and optimization of existing solutions within Java, Spring Boot, Kafka, Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift environments. * Mentor and coach engineers on software design, secure development, production troubleshooting, Site Reliability Engineering practices, and system maintenance. * Identify opportunities to improve engineering and production support through automation, DevOps practices, and AI-assisted capabilities. * Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.