Senior Backend Engineer — Java / Spring Boot

We are seeking a Senior Backend Engineer for a contract position. 
Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance backend applications using Java and Spring Boot.
• Design and implement scalable microservices and APIs while working within both modern microservices and existing monolithic architectures.
• Participate in system design and architecture discussions, making thoughtful decisions around scalability, reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Design and optimize SQL databases, queries, data models, and database interactions.
• Implement and optimize caching strategies using Redis.
• Build and deploy containerized applications in AWS environments.
• Troubleshoot complex production and performance issues across distributed systems.
• Collaborate with other engineers, architects, product partners, and technical leaders to translate requirements into scalable solutions.
• Contribute to modernization initiatives, including evolving legacy/monolithic applications toward more scalable architectures where appropriate.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code and participate in code reviews.
• Leverage modern AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering productivity while maintaining ownership of technical decisions and code quality.
• Clearly communicate technical tradeoffs and defend architectural decisions.

Requirements:

• 7 years of professional software engineering experience, with significant experience in backend development.
• Strong hands-on experience with Java.
• Strong experience with Spring Boot and the Spring ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of SQL databases, relational data modeling, and query optimization.
• Production experience with Redis or comparable caching technologies.
• Strong experience designing and developing microservices.
• Experience working with both microservice and monolithic architectures.
• Hands-on experience with AWS.
• Experience developing and deploying containerized applications.
• Strong understanding of REST APIs, distributed systems, and backend architecture.
• Demonstrated system design experience.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to explain technical decisions and demonstrate deep understanding of technologies listed on your resume.

Required Skills:

• Java
• Spring Boot
• SQL Databases
• Redis
• Microservices
• Monolithic Architectures
• AWS
• Containers
• REST APIs
• Distributed Systems
• System Design

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT / OpenAI tools, Cursor, or similar AI coding assistants.
• AI-assisted debugging, testing, documentation, or development.