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Application Engineer - II

AT Vanguard
Vanguard

Application Engineer - II

Charlotte, NC

We are seeking a passionate and results-driven Intermediate Application Engineer to join our dynamic team within the Advice and Wealth Management Technology subdivision. You will play a critical role in building, enhancing, and supporting a suite of Spring Boot microservices and Java-based libraries that are foundational to our advisor digital solutions.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated engineer who thrives in a collaborative environment, is eager to grow their technical expertise, and wants to contribute to high-impact initiatives within a leading financial services firm.

Core Responsibilities:

  • Design, build, and maintain scalable microservices using Spring Boot, ensuring code quality, reusability, and performance.
  • Support and enhance core shared Java libraries used across multiple applications within Advice and Wealth Management.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product owners, architects, and DevOps to deliver value to clients and advisors.
  • Participate in code reviews, unit/integration testing, and deployment processes in a CI/CD environment.
  • Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge sharing across the team.
  • Continuously learn and adopt new tools, technologies, and best practices aligned with enterprise standards.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve production issues as part of an on-call rotation.

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Qualifications:

  • Minimum of three years related work experience, with at least one year of development experience.
  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
  • 2-5 years of experience in backend software engineering, ideally in an Agile environment.
  • Proficiency in Java and experience with Spring Boot and RESTful APIs, and familiarity with microservice architecture.
  • Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization tools.
  • Solid understanding of software development best practices including testing, design patterns, and clean code principles.
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and/or infrastructure as code is a plus.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams.
  • A growth mindset and passion for learning new technologies.

Nice to Have:

  • While not required, experience in the following areas will help you stand out:
  • Prior experience designing or supporting orchestrator microservices, especially in event-driven or workflow-based systems.
  • Proficiency or working knowledge of Node.js and/or Python, particularly in building backend services, utilities, or automation scripts.
  • Hands-on experience with tracing, monitoring, and observability tools such as Honeycomb, and Splunk.
  • Experience with AWS services, especially ECS, Lambda, SQS, DynamoDB, or RDS.
  • Understanding of OAuth2, JWT, and API security best practices.

Special Factors

Sponsorship
Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission-we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

Client-provided location(s): Charlotte, NC, USA
Job ID: Vanguard-168705
Employment Type: Full Time

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • FSA
    • HSA
    • Health Reimbursement Account
    • Fitness Subsidies
    • On-Site Gym
    • HSA With Employer Contribution
    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • Mental Health Benefits
    • Virtual Fitness Classes
    • Pet Insurance
  • Parental Benefits

    • Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
    • Adoption Leave
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Company Outings
    • Commuter Benefits Program
    • Casual Dress
    • Happy Hours
    • Snacks
    • Some Meals Provided
    • On-Site Cafeteria
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Paid Holidays
    • Paid Vacation
    • Volunteer Time Off
    • Leave of Absence
  • Financial and Retirement

    • Relocation Assistance
    • Performance Bonus
    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • 401(K)
    • Financial Counseling
    • Profit Sharing
  • Professional Development

    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Shadowing Opportunities
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Internship Program
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Leadership Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
    • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)

Company Videos

Hear directly from employees about what it is like to work at Vanguard.