Java with AWS & Terraform / Backend Engineer – Java OR Python with AWS & Terraform

Duration: 12 Months Contract-to-Hire
Experience Level: 12+

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled Backend Engineer with hands-on experience in Java and/or Python, AWS cloud services, API development, and Terraform. The ideal candidate will design, develop, test, deploy, and support production-grade backend applications and microservices while ensuring scalability, security, performance, and reliability.

Candidates should have strong software engineering fundamentals, experience with cloud-based applications, infrastructure automation, databases, and CI/CD pipelines, and the ability to troubleshoot production issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain backend applications using Java and/or Python.
• Build and maintain REST APIs, microservices, and AWS-based backend solutions.
• Implement infrastructure automation using Terraform or similar IaC tools.
• Develop automated tests and contribute to CI/CD pipeline improvements.
• Work with relational and NoSQL databases, including data modeling and query optimization.
• Troubleshoot production issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement permanent fixes.
• Participate in code reviews, system design, and performance optimization.
• Apply secure coding practices, logging, monitoring, and resilience patterns.
• Collaborate with product, QA, SRE, operations, and security teams.
• Use approved AI-assisted engineering tools responsibly to improve development productivity.

Required Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Java and/or Python.
• Hands-on experience developing and supporting production applications.
• Practical experience with AWS cloud services.
• Experience designing, developing, and consuming APIs.
• Knowledge of microservices and/or event-driven architectures.
• Hands-on experience with Terraform or Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Experience with relational and/or NoSQL databases.
• Understanding of secure coding, automated testing, CI/CD, and production troubleshooting.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Kafka, Amazon SQS/SNS, Kinesis, MQ, or other messaging platforms.
• Familiarity with Docker, containers, and CI/CD tools.
• Knowledge of unit testing, integration testing, and test-driven development.
• Experience with REST, gRPC, distributed tracing, metrics, and observability.
• Enterprise or financial services engineering experience.

Interview Process

• Two interview rounds, including a coding assessment.
• First round via Zoom.
• Onsite second-round interviews are strongly encouraged for local candidates.
• Candidates should be prepared to solve coding problems and explain their technical decisions and implementation trade-offs.

Work Arrangement: Onsite in Jersey City, NJ.