Software Engineer - Onsite - Newport Beach

Full-Stack Java Engineer (Contract Role) Location: Newport Beach, CA (Onsite - 5 days per week)
Contract Length: 6-12 months Overview A Newport Beach-based consulting and software firm is seeking an experienced Full-Stack Java Engineer to join their team on a contract basis. The organization has a strong history of delivering solutions across application development, data visualization, and IT services, supporting clients in financial services, utilities, and government sectors.
In this role, you will contribute to the development of sophisticated electronic trading platforms, particularly within credit and fixed-income markets. This position offers the opportunity to work in a high-impact, real-time trading environment while gaining exposure to modern technologies, cloud-native architecture, and DevOps methodologies.
This opportunity is best suited for professionals who enjoy fast-paced, collaborative environments and have a strong interest in financial systems and front-office applications. Note: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship. Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain both frontend and backend components of electronic trading applications
• Build responsive, data-driven user interfaces alongside robust RESTful APIs
• Contribute to reusable components and shared libraries to support scalability and consistency
• Apply best practices in performance optimization, security, and maintainability
• Support live production systems, including troubleshooting and resolving issues
• Work closely with cross-functional teams in an agile development environment
• Participate in peer code reviews and maintain technical documentation
• Monitor application health and implement performance improvements
• Research and recommend new tools and technologies where appropriate

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience with modern development stacks, including:
  • Frontend: Angular or React (TypeScript)
  • Backend: Java (Spring Boot), Node.js
• Solid understanding of microservices architecture, cloud-native design, and DevOps practices
• Experience building APIs and integrating them with databases
• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript
• Hands-on database experience with Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQL
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and tools such as GitLab
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively within distributed agile teams
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related discipline
• 7+ years of professional software development experience, with a primary focus on Java

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in financial services, particularly in fixed income or electronic trading systems
• Exposure to front-office trading environments or platforms
• Understanding of the fixed-income trade lifecycle and FIX protocol
• Additional backend experience with technologies such as Node.js, Python, or .NET
• Experience with containerization and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines in production environments
• Experience supporting live systems, especially within trading contexts

Technical Focus (Approximate Allocation)

• 30% Java backend development (Spring Boot, APIs)
• 30% Frontend development (Angular or React with TypeScript)
• 15% CI/CD and cloud infrastructure
• 15% Database design and SQL development
• 10% Node.js development

Work Allocation

• 70% Hands-on development
• 30% team collaboration and agile participation
• 0% managerial responsibilities