Principal Engineer - Java Application Development

Job Description Summary
Highly specialized expert developing software applications, in entirety or in part, that have a big impact on business for a large organization.

Job Description

This position follows our hybrid-friendly schedule, so you get the best of both worlds - flexibility and collaboration. In office days will be 2-3 per week averaging 10-12 days per month in our St Petersburg, FL Corporate Office.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a hands-on, technically exceptional Principal Engineer to join our high-performing trading software engineering team. This is a unique opportunity to help architect and build world-class trading applications that empower Raymond James financial advisors and drive innovation in the financial services industry. The ideal candidate is not only a seasoned engineer but also a technical leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is passionate about clean architecture, and is eager to roll up their sleeves to write code, solve complex problems, and mentor others. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our trading platforms by delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance software solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead by example as a hands-on engineer, writing production-grade code and driving best practices.
• Architect, design, and develop modern web applications using Angular/React, Java, and Spring Boot.
• Build and maintain high-throughput microservices and event-driven systems.
• Integrate with Oracle and NoSQL databases, ensuring optimal performance and scalability.
• Develop and manage RESTful APIs and messaging systems (JMS, Kafka).
• Drive adoption of cloud-native technologies, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and DevOps practices.
• Apply Generative AI tools to enhance application intelligence and developer productivity.
• Implement robust monitoring and observability using tools like Datadog, Dynatrace, or Splunk.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in an Agile environment to deliver high-quality software.
• Mentor engineers, conduct code reviews, and contribute to technical strategy and architectural decisions.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Expert-level, hands-on experience with Angular, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS.
• Deep expertise in Java, Spring Framework, and Microservices architecture.
• Strong experience with Oracle databases, SQL optimization, and NoSQL technologies (MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB).
• Proficiency in messaging systems like JMS and Kafka.
• Solid understanding of RESTful API design, event-driven architecture, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform).
• Familiarity with monitoring tools (Datadog, Dynatrace, Splunk).
• Experience with Generative AI tools (e.g., OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, GitHub Copilot).
• Background in financial services (trading, wealth management) is a strong plus.
• Strong grasp of Agile methodologies, CI/CD, and DevOps practices.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with DevOps tools (Terraform, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, etc.).
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence architectural direction.

Education
Bachelor's: Computer and Information Science (Required)

Work Experience
General Experience - 6 to 10 years

Certifications

Travel

Workstyle
Hybrid

At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view.

We expect our associates at all levels to:
Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm

At Raymond James - as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates. When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.