Lead Java Developer

Job Title: Lead Java Developer
Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid
Duration: 12+ months


We are seeking a Senior Java Developer specializing in Event-Driven Architecture and Enterprise Messaging to design, develop, test, and deploy scalable cloud-native applications on Azure. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in asynchronous processing, event streaming, distributed systems, and enterprise messaging platforms, enabling highly resilient and scalable solutions.

Role:
You will be responsible for designing and implementing event-driven microservices, messaging solutions, and cloud-native applications using Java, Spring Boot, and Azure services. You will collaborate with cross-functional Agile teams to build highly scalable, secure, and resilient systems leveraging Kafka, Solace, IBM MQ, and Azure messaging technologies.
Required Qualifications
Core Development
* 8+ years of hands-on experience with Java (J2EE), Spring Boot, and Microservices
* Proven experience developing and supporting cloud-native applications on Microsoft Azure
* Strong expertise in distributed systems, event-driven architectures, and asynchronous processing
* Experience working in Agile and onsite/offshore delivery models

Event Streaming & Messaging (Must Have)
* Extensive hands-on experience with Apache Kafka, including:
o Kafka Producers, Consumers, Topics, Partitions, and Consumer Groups
o Kafka Streams and Event Processing
o Message Ordering, Delivery Guarantees, and Scaling Strategies
o Schema Registry and Event Versioning
* Strong experience with enterprise messaging platforms such as:
o Kafka
o Solace PubSub+
o IBM MQ
o Azure Service Bus
o Event Hubs

* Deep understanding of:
o Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
o Publish/Subscribe Patterns
o Event Sourcing
o CQRS
o Saga Pattern
o Message Reliability and Error Handling
o Dead Letter Queues (DLQ)
o Event Replay and Recovery Strategies

* Experience designing and implementing high-throughput, low-latency messaging systems
API & Integration
* Strong hands-on experience with REST APIs, SOAP Services, and Event-Based Integrations
* Strong understanding of API lifecycle management and service integrations
* Mandatory experience with API security, including:
o OAuth 2.0
o JWT Validation
o Secure Service-to-Service Communication

Azure Cloud
* Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including:
o Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
o Azure Container Apps
o Azure Service Bus
o Azure Event Hubs
o Azure Functions
o Azure Storage

* Strong understanding of Azure networking and cloud-native architecture patterns

DevOps & Automation
* Experience with CI/CD pipelines using:
o GitHub Actions
o Jenkins
o Terraform
* Strong experience integrating automated testing, security scanning, and deployment automation
* Experience provisioning Azure infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)

Databases
* Experience with Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, or other Azure-hosted databases
* Understanding of data consistency models and transactional patterns in distributed systems
Additional Programming Experience
* Backend development experience with:
o Python
o Node.js

Nice to Have
* Experience with Confluent Platform
* Experience implementing Event Mesh architecture using Solace
* Knowledge of Domain-Driven Design (DDD)
* Experience with GraphQL
* Experience with observability and monitoring tools (Dynatrace, Azure Monitor, Log Analytics)
* Linux and Shell Scripting
* Understanding of TDD and BDD practices
* Experience with Control-M, SFTP, and Mainframe integration patterns

Key Responsibilities
* Design and develop scalable event-driven microservices and messaging solutions.
* Build, enhance, and support enterprise-grade applications utilizing Kafka, Solace, IBM MQ, and Azure messaging services.
* Design event schemas, topics, queues, and integration patterns for highly distributed systems.
* Ensure reliability, scalability, observability, and security of messaging platforms and integrations.
* Develop and execute unit, integration, and performance testing for messaging-based solutions.
* Collaborate with architects and technical leads on event-driven solution design and implementation.
* Document architecture, event flows, message contracts, and operational procedures.
* Support production deployments and troubleshooting of messaging infrastructure and applications.
* Ensure non-functional requirements including security, performance, scalability, resiliency, and maintainability are incorporated into all solutions.
* Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies impacting project deliverables.