Lead Java Architect (AI, Cloud & DevOps, .NET / C#)

Principal Software Engineer (Java, AI, Cloud & DevOps)

Contract

Location: Chicago, IL Need Local

Direct Client

Skills:

1. Java
2. Spring Boot, Spring Cloud
3. RESTful APIs, Microservices
4. Cloud-native application design
5. AWS (EC2, ECS/EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, S3, RDS, IAM)
6. SQL / Oracle
7. .NET / C# (nice to have)
8. DevOps & CI/CD
9. Docker & Kubernetes
10. AI-assisted coding (Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.)
11. API design & integration
12. Architect

Job Description:

The Lead Software Developer is a hands-on technical leader responsible for delivering secure, scalable, and maintainable software while elevating engineering practices across the team. The role blends expert-level design and coding with leadership mentoring developers, driving code quality, strengthening CI/CD and testing standards, and partnering with Product, Architecture, and Delivery to turn business goals into reliable, working software. The Lead also applies AI responsibly across the SDLC (from requirements through testing, release, and support) to improve developer productivity, code quality, and system reliability. Acts as Scrum Master when needed to facilitate ceremonies, remove impediments, and ensure team adherence to Agile principles.

Key Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end implementation of features and services using modern frameworks and patterns; own solution quality from design through deployment.
Enforce code quality via design/architectural reviews, code reviews, and adherence to Definition of Done, security guidelines, and build standards; serve as a primary approver for PRs and pipelines.
Champion CI/CD, automated testing, observability, and performance/resiliency improvements to reduce risk and cycle time.
Apply AI responsibly in the SDLC (e.g., code generation, test case generation, static analysis, documentation, and incident analysis) with appropriate human-in-the-loop controls and security/compliance guardrails.
Provide Level-3 application support and drive root-cause analysis and remediation for complex issues.
Mentor and elevate developers through pairing, technical guidance, and structured feedback; model engineering excellence and continuous improvement.
Partner with Product Owners/BSAs to clarify requirements and estimate backlog items; collaborate with Solution Architecture to align with target designs.
Work with Delivery/Engineering Managers to provide transparent progress, surface risks, and uphold standards across the portfolio.
Uphold the organization s SDLC, security controls, and compliance requirements; advocate for best practices and contribute to shared guidelines.
Perform Scrum Master duties as necessary, including facilitating daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and helping the team maintain focus and flow.

Required Qualifications
Proven experience delivering enterprise software as a senior/lead engineer with demonstrated ownership of complex systems and mentoring responsibilities.
Expertise in Java and Spring (Boot/Cloud) for building scalable services and APIs.
Hands-on CI/CD experience and strong unit/integration testing practices.
Applied AI in the SDLC: practical use of AI-assisted coding, test generation, code review/static analysis, and documentation, with an understanding of when and how to use AI safely and effectively.
Cloud proficiency with major platforms; AWS preferred (e.g., EC2, ECS/EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, S3, RDS, IAM).
Solid understanding of secure coding and observability (logs, metrics, tracing).
Ability to translate business requirements into technical designs and iterative increments; strong written and verbal communication.

Preferred Qualifications
.NET/C# experience (helpful across services, integration, or cross-team initiatives).
Knowledge of Oracle database concepts and performance considerations (desired).
Experience leading code reviews at scale, establishing quality gates, and hardening build/test pipelines.
Exposure to architectural patterns (eventing, microservices), API design, and data integration; familiarity working with Solution Architects.
Background contributing to a formal competency framework and coaching others to those standards.
Core Competencies & Behaviors

Technical Excellence: Designs for scalability, reliability, and security; reduces tech debt thoughtfully.

Code Quality Leadership: Sets the bar for readability, testability, and maintainability; ensures PRs meet Definition of Done and org standards.

Delivery Mindset: Breaks work into increments, forecasts capacity, and keeps flow predictable; escalates risks early.

Mentorship & Influence: Coaches engineers, shares knowledge, and fosters a culture of learning and improvement.

Stakeholder Partnership: Communicates clearly with Product, Architecture, Security, and Delivery leaders; aligns technical decisions to business outcomes.