Technology Lead Backend - Developer (Java, Microservices, Kafka, Couchbase)

Job Description - Senior Software Engineer (Backend) / Lead Backend Developer

Position Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated, high-performing backend Software Engineer with deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, GraphQL, and Kafka to join our engineering team supporting a large-scale, enterprise e-commerce platform. The platform consists of a sophisticated distributed architecture that powers mission-critical business capabilities and serves a large user base. This role requires an engineer who thrives in technically challenging environments, can rapidly understand complex systems, and is passionate about delivering high-quality software solutions.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical contributor who enjoys solving complex business and technical problems, developing new features, enhancing existing functionality, and performing detailed system analysis under demanding timelines. This individual will work closely with a highly accomplished Lead Engineering Manager (SME) and a technically strong Engineering Director, gaining exposure to critical architectural decisions while contributing directly to the platform's evolution.

• Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and Microservices architecture.
• Build and enhance APIs and service integrations using REST and GraphQL.
• Develop highly available, fault-tolerant, and performant applications that support critical e-commerce business functions.
• Participate actively in the full software development lifecycle, from requirements analysis through deployment and production support.

• Design and implement new business capabilities aligned with product and business objectives.
• Enhance and optimize existing services and applications while maintaining system stability and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality features within aggressive timelines.

• Perform complex technical, functional, and data analysis to support business initiatives and production issues.
• Investigate application behavior across multiple interconnected systems and services.
• Analyze and troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, service failures, integration issues, and data inconsistencies.
• Quickly identify root causes and drive resolution of critical production incidents.

• Design, develop, and support Kafka-based event-driven solutions.
• Ensure reliable event publishing, consumption, monitoring, and error handling across distributed systems.
• Contribute to architectural improvements that improve scalability and resilience.

• Design and optimize database interactions for high-performance applications.
• Create efficient SQL queries and support database performance tuning.
• Leverage knowledge of stored procedures, functions, and data processing techniques where applicable.
• Collaborate with database teams to ensure data integrity and consistency.

• Support business-critical applications in production environments.
• Participate in troubleshooting and issue resolution activities with urgency and ownership.
• Implement monitoring, logging, and observability best practices to improve system reliability.
• Drive continuous improvements based on operational learnings.

• Partner closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, QA Engineers, Architects, and Engineering Leadership.
• Work directly with highly experienced technical leaders to understand system architecture, business processes, and strategic initiatives.
• Communicate technical concepts and findings effectively to both technical and business stakeholders.

• 3+ years of backend software development experience.
• Strong proficiency in Java and object-oriented programming principles.
• Extensive experience with Spring Boot and Microservices architecture.
• Strong knowledge of RESTful API design and development.
• Hands-on experience with GraphQL implementation and integration.
• Experience working with Kafka or other event-streaming platforms.
• Strong understanding of relational databases and SQL.
• Experience with distributed systems, scalability patterns, and high-volume transactional applications.
• Understanding of software design patterns and clean coding practices.
• Experience with Git-based source control and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with cloud-native application development principles.

• Experience working on large-scale e-commerce, retail, supply chain, or order management platforms.
• Experience with PostgreSQL or similar enterprise databases.
• Knowledge of SQL Stored Procedures, Functions, and database optimization techniques.
• Familiarity with AWS, Azure, or similar cloud platforms.
• Experience with monitoring and observability tools such as Datadog, Grafana, Splunk, or similar.
• Exposure to containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience supporting mission-critical production systems.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.
• Proven ability to learn complex business domains and technical platforms quickly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong ownership mindset and accountability for outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under tight deadlines.
• Curiosity and passion for continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Collaborative team player who can work effectively with senior technical leaders and cross-functional teams.