Senior Software Engineer (Java/ Cloud)

RIVA Solutions is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (Java/Cloud) who is a hands-on senior engineer, not a purely feature-focused developer. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong system design instincts, and direct ownership of production systems.

The ideal candidate has experience building, deploying, and supporting complex applications in live environments and is comfortable being accountable for system behavior after release. This role is well-suited for an engineer who enjoys owning systems end-to-end, including deployment support, troubleshooting production issues, addressing technical debt, and improving operational reliability.

This is not a greenfield-only or heads-down coding role. The Senior Full Stack Developer will collaborate closely with product managers, architects, and DevOps teams to bridge legacy systems and modern cloud-based solutions while ensuring code quality, scalability, and system stability.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-quality Java-based applications with a strong focus on scalability, reliability, and performance
• Take hands-on ownership of production systems, including supporting deployments, troubleshooting production issues, and resolving incidents
• Lead full-stack development efforts across backend services and front-end integrations, with a backend-leaning focus
• Architect and implement services using Java 20+, Spring Boot/Core/Cloud and Hibernate/JPA to build maintainable, testable, high-performing services
• Design and optimize data access layers using Hibernate (JPA) and advanced SQL; support Oracle today while contributing to future migration efforts to PostgreSQL (schema/query tuning, compatibility considerations)
• Troubleshoot and remediate production performance issues across the stack (API, ORM, database), including Hibernate query tuning, indexing, and SQL optimization
• Design and implement secure, scalable RESTful APIs
• Participate directly in CI/CD pipeline troubleshooting, deployment support, and release validation using GitLab and SonarQube
• Manage build automation and dependency management using Maven
• Implement and enforce testing strategies using TDD and BDD, leveraging JUnit, Mockito, Cucumber, and Spock
• Build accessibility considerations into application design and implementation, ensuring compliance with Section 508 standards
• Support containerized and serverless workloads in AWS, including ECS, Fargate, and Kubernetes
• Collaborate with DevOps teams to understand, maintain, and troubleshoot Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or similar tools)
• Make informed architectural trade-offs related to performance, scalability, maintainability, and operational risk
• Conduct code reviews, mentor other developers, and uphold engineering best practices
• Ensure system uptime, performance, and stability across development, test, and production environments

Do you have experience in System tuning?, Do you have a Bachelor’s degree?, * Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) and 10+ years of experience, or Master’s degree (MA/MS) and 8+ years of experience in software development

• Extensive hands-on experience with Java 20+ and object-oriented design principles
• Strong expertise with Oracle databases and advanced SQL, with hands-on PostgreSQL experience (or demonstrated ability supporting Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migration initiatives)
• Deep knowledge of the Spring ecosystem (Spring Boot, Spring Core, Spring Cloud) and Hibernate/JPA for ORM-based enterprise applications
• Proven experience designing and maintaining enterprise persistence layers (ORM mappings, transactions, performance optimization) using Hibernate/JPA
• Proven experience designing and supporting distributed systems and service-based architecture
• Demonstrated ownership of production systems, including post-deployment support
• Experience troubleshooting CI/CD pipelines and deployment issues
• Proficiency with Git and modern branching and release strategies
• Experience working in Agile development environments
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a High-Level Public Trust clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Angular or similar front-end frameworks (integration-focused, not UI-specialist)
• Experience supporting database modernization efforts, including Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations (schema conversion, SQL refactoring, performance tuning)
• Strong experience with AWS cloud services, particularly containerized and serverless workloads
• Hands-on experience with Terraform or similar infrastructure-as-code tools
• Prior experience supporting USPTO or other federal systems
• Experience serving as a senior engineer on complex, long-lived, product-centric platforms
• Exposure to performance tuning, production monitoring, and system observability

Preferred Certifications

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• AWS Certified Developer

4.44.4 out of 5 stars United States Remote Up to $150,000 a year - Full-time, Pulled from the full job description

• Pet insurance
• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance, Up to $150,000 per year, based on experience

RIVA Benefits

• Paid Time Off / Sick Leave
• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Benefits / 401K with company matching
• HSA/FSA Spending Accounts
• Long- and Short-term Disability
• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Program Initiatives
• RIVA Flex
• Additional Workplace Benefits

We’re a mission-driven IT services company and systems integrator supporting digital transformation and modernization for Federal government agencies. Since 2009, we’ve partnered with our customers to solve complex challenges through smart, practical innovation to deliver real outcomes where they matter most. Our teams are made up of industry-leading experts who are passionate about doing great work and making a difference. We don’t just develop solutions-we support efforts that strengthen communities and serve the public good. RIVA’s culture is built on four core values: Results, Innovation, Values, and Accountability (R.I.V.A.). They guide how we work, how we collaborate, and how we measure success. Our employee-first approach is rooted in trust, ownership, and meaningful work. By investing in our people and fostering a flexible, supportive environment, you will have the opportunity to grow your skills, contribute ideas, and make an impact from day one-all while building a career that lasts.

Program Overview

RIVA Solutions supports the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by delivering modern, secure, and scalable enterprise software systems that support mission-critical business operations across the patent and trademark lifecycle.

RIVA partners closely with USPTO stakeholders to design, build, deploy, and operate complex systems using modern Java/Spring technologies, cloud-native architectures, and DevSecOps practices. Our work emphasizes long-term maintainability, system reliability, security, and operational excellence in highly visible federal environments.