Senior Level Java Backend Engineer Jobs
Senior level java backend engineer jobs put experienced engineers in charge of system architecture, service reliability, and the technical direction of the teams and projects that depend on them. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software and Staffing & Recruiting, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Eliassen, UST, and Hudson Data hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7+ Senior Level Java Backend Engineer jobs
Role: Java Backend Software Engineer (Hybrid)
Experience: 10+ years
Location: Chicago, IL - Local Candidates Only
Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 2 days onsite (Monday & Wednesday)
Duration: 12 months, with potential for extension
Estimated Start Date: September 7, 2026
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Java Backend Software Engineer / Lead Software Engineer with 10+ years of professional software development experience to join a Scrum-based engineering team. The ideal candidate must have strong, hands-on expertise in Java 21, Spring Boot, REST APIs, AWS, microservices, SQL/NoSQL databases, CI/CD, and application security. This is a backend-focused, hands-on coding and technical leadership role, not an architecture-only position. Strong communication skills are critical.
Required Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Strong hands-on backend development experience.
- Candidates with 8+ years of development experience may be considered if they meet the technical requirements.
- Candidates must be comfortable working in a Scrum/Agile environment.
Must-Have Skills - Non-Negotiable
- Java 21+ with strong Spring Boot experience.
- AWS: API Gateway, Fargate, Lambda, and hands-on experience working in an AWS environment.
- RESTful API development and enterprise-scale microservices.
- Databases: Strong experience with both relational/SQL and NoSQL databases.
- CI/CD: GitHub and Jenkins.
- Security: OAuth 2.0, JWT, and secure service-to-service authentication/authorization.
- API Development: Apigee API Gateway, OpenAPI/Swagger, API-first design.
- Strong experience with solution design and technical leadership.
- Ability to collaborate with engineering leaders, architects, product owners, UI teams, and partner teams.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong troubleshooting, debugging, and production support experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of enterprise-scale REST APIs and microservices using Java 21+, Spring Boot, Apigee, and AWS.
- Design API-first solutions, including service contracts, payload schemas, and OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.
- Break down business requirements into technical designs, user stories, and implementation tasks.
- Develop and guide secure service-to-service integrations using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and entitlement-based authorization.
- Serve as a technical lead for complex initiatives, driving design decisions, design reviews, and code reviews.
- Collaborate with product owners, UI teams, architects, engineering leaders, and partner teams to deliver high-quality solutions.
- Establish best practices for scalability, reliability, observability, security, maintainability, and performance.
- Drive automated testing, performance testing, load testing, and production-readiness activities.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, operational runbooks, and engineering standards.
- Own solutions end-to-end from design and development through deployment, monitoring, production support, and continuous improvement.
Strict Location Requirement
- Chicago, IL local candidates only.
- Candidates must currently be local to the Chicago area.
- No relocation candidates.
- Third-party or non-local submissions will not be considered.
- The final interview will be conducted onsite to validate the local requirement.
Disqualifiers / Red Flags
- UI-focused developers or candidates whose experience is primarily frontend.
- Primarily Full Stack Developers without strong, recent backend expertise.
- Architecture-only candidates who are no longer hands-on with development.
- Candidates lacking strong Java/Spring Boot experience.
- Candidates without hands-on AWS experience.
- Candidates without both SQL and NoSQL database experience.
- Candidates with frequent short-term engagements or an unstable employment history.
- Candidates who are not currently local to Chicago.
- Previously submitted/rejected candidates.
- Resumes that are excessively long or do not clearly demonstrate the required skills.
Interview Process
- 3 rounds total
- Round 1: Virtual
- Round 2: Virtual
- Round 3: Onsite/In-person
Nice-to-Have
- Generative AI / GenAI experience is a plus.
- Experience with modern AI-enabled software engineering practices is preferred.
Role: Java Backend Software Engineer (Hybrid)
Experience: 10+ years
Location: Chicago, IL - Local Candidates Only
Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 2 days onsite (Monday & Wednesday)
Duration: 12 months, with potential for extension
Estimated Start Date: September 7, 2026
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Java Backend Software Engineer / Lead Software Engineer with 10+ years of professional software development experience to join a Scrum-based engineering team. The ideal candidate must have strong, hands-on expertise in Java 21, Spring Boot, REST APIs, AWS, microservices, SQL/NoSQL databases, CI/CD, and application security. This is a backend-focused, hands-on coding and technical leadership role, not an architecture-only position. Strong communication skills are critical.
Required Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Strong hands-on backend development experience.
- Candidates with 8+ years of development experience may be considered if they meet the technical requirements.
- Candidates must be comfortable working in a Scrum/Agile environment.
Must-Have Skills - Non-Negotiable
- Java 21+ with strong Spring Boot experience.
- AWS: API Gateway, Fargate, Lambda, and hands-on experience working in an AWS environment.
- RESTful API development and enterprise-scale microservices.
- Databases: Strong experience with both relational/SQL and NoSQL databases.
- CI/CD: GitHub and Jenkins.
- Security: OAuth 2.0, JWT, and secure service-to-service authentication/authorization.
- API Development: Apigee API Gateway, OpenAPI/Swagger, API-first design.
- Strong experience with solution design and technical leadership.
- Ability to collaborate with engineering leaders, architects, product owners, UI teams, and partner teams.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong troubleshooting, debugging, and production support experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of enterprise-scale REST APIs and microservices using Java 21+, Spring Boot, Apigee, and AWS.
- Design API-first solutions, including service contracts, payload schemas, and OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.
- Break down business requirements into technical designs, user stories, and implementation tasks.
- Develop and guide secure service-to-service integrations using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and entitlement-based authorization.
- Serve as a technical lead for complex initiatives, driving design decisions, design reviews, and code reviews.
- Collaborate with product owners, UI teams, architects, engineering leaders, and partner teams to deliver high-quality solutions.
- Establish best practices for scalability, reliability, observability, security, maintainability, and performance.
- Drive automated testing, performance testing, load testing, and production-readiness activities.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, operational runbooks, and engineering standards.
- Own solutions end-to-end from design and development through deployment, monitoring, production support, and continuous improvement.
Strict Location Requirement
- Chicago, IL local candidates only.
- Candidates must currently be local to the Chicago area.
- No relocation candidates.
- Third-party or non-local submissions will not be considered.
- The final interview will be conducted onsite to validate the local requirement.
Disqualifiers / Red Flags
- UI-focused developers or candidates whose experience is primarily frontend.
- Primarily Full Stack Developers without strong, recent backend expertise.
- Architecture-only candidates who are no longer hands-on with development.
- Candidates lacking strong Java/Spring Boot experience.
- Candidates without hands-on AWS experience.
- Candidates without both SQL and NoSQL database experience.
- Candidates with frequent short-term engagements or an unstable employment history.
- Candidates who are not currently local to Chicago.
- Previously submitted/rejected candidates.
- Resumes that are excessively long or do not clearly demonstrate the required skills.
Interview Process
- 3 rounds total
- Round 1: Virtual
- Round 2: Virtual
- Round 3: Onsite/In-person
Nice-to-Have
- Generative AI / GenAI experience is a plus.
- Experience with modern AI-enabled software engineering practices is preferred.
See All 7 Senior Level Java Backend Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Level Java Backend Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Staffing & Recruiting
Senior Level Java Backend Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level java backend engineer job?
Senior level roles go to engineers who can demonstrate ownership, not just execution. Employers at this stage look for candidates who have designed distributed systems, led technical decisions, and mentored junior engineers through delivery. A strong portfolio of production-scale Java services, clear communication of architectural trade-offs, and evidence of cross-functional influence will give you a meaningful edge over candidates with similar years of experience.
Which companies hire senior level java backend engineers?
Companies hiring senior level java backend engineers right now include Eliassen, UST, and Hudson Data, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level covers established enterprise technology teams, fintech and financial services firms, and high-growth product companies that need engineers who can own backend infrastructure independently.
Are there remote senior level java backend engineer jobs?
Yes, remote and hybrid options are common at this experience level. About 43% of senior level java backend engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how many engineering organizations have structured their senior IC and lead roles for distributed teams. On-site openings do exist, particularly in regulated industries and companies building proprietary infrastructure.
What makes a java backend engineer role senior level?
Senior level java backend engineer roles are defined by scope and ownership. You are expected to design and own entire services or subsystems, make architectural decisions that affect other teams, and guide the technical development of less experienced engineers. Mid-level roles generally execute within a defined scope, while senior roles require setting that scope, managing ambiguity, and being accountable for outcomes across the system.
Which industries hire the most senior level java backend engineers?
Senior level java backend engineer roles concentrate in Technology & Software and Staffing & Recruiting, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand at the senior level because they operate large-scale, high-availability systems where experienced engineers are needed to own backend reliability, scalability, and the technical roadmap.