Backend Engineer

Randstad is seeking a high-caliber Senior Backend Engineer to join a premier client in Washington, DC. In this role, you will be a key architect of the future, designing and maintaining complex, high-throughput web applications within a sophisticated distributed systems environment. You will bridge the gap between application logic and cloud infrastructure, leveraging your deep expertise in Java, Kafka, and AWS to build resilient, event-driven solutions. Working at the intersection of product vision and technical excellence, you will collaborate with Architects and Product Owners to translate complex enterprise requirements into scalable, high-performance backend systems that set the standard for code quality and data integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• System Design & Maintenance: Architect, build, and optimize complex distributed web applications with a focus on high-performance backend development.
• Event-Driven Architecture: Perform Kafka configuration and administration, ensuring seamless data streaming and messaging across the enterprise.
• Data Modeling: Create and maintain sophisticated data models to organize complex data sources while ensuring absolute data integrity.
• Technical Leadership: Conduct rigorous code reviews, mentor junior team members, and champion best practices for clean, maintainable Java code.
• Cloud Operations: Design and deploy scalable solutions using a wide array of AWS technologies, including Lambda, S3, EC2, and CloudFormation.
• Collaborative Strategy: Partner with Product Owners to break down requirements and work closely with Architects to ensure all development aligns with the overarching solution design.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive CI/CD maturity using Jenkins, Git, and JIRA within an Agile Scrum framework to ensure rapid, high-quality delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• Java Expertise: 8+ years of professional experience in Java programming, specifically at a senior or lead level.
• Kafka & Streaming: 3+ years of hands-on experience with Kafka; proficiency in data-streaming platforms and event-driven design is required.
• AWS Proficiency: Extensive experience with the AWS ecosystem, including Kinesis, DynamoDB/Aurora, Redshift, API Gateway, and server-side NodeJs.
• Full-Stack Familiarity: Strong hands-on development experience with Angular, J2EE, Spring, and REST APIs.
• Database Mastery: Solid experience in SQL, data modeling, and designing complex relational and non-relational databases.
• DevOps Mindset: Expertise in CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment tools in an agile environment.
• Communication: Excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.