Staff Software Engineer - Java

Staff Software Engineer - JavaEngagement Type: Direct Hire Location: Remote (U.S.-based) Compensation: $130,000 - $170,000 base salary OverviewThis role is for a senior-level engineer who designs, builds, and evolves large-scale, cloud-native systems. You'll lead technical design, make architecture decisions, and help modernize complex Java-based platforms while ensuring reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability. This position blends hands-on engineering with technical leadership and influence across teams. What You'll DoDesign and implement scalable, resilient, and secure backend systems using Java and modern frameworksLead technical design for complex features and systems, balancing performance, reliability, cost, and securityModernize and extend legacy Java/J2EE applications without disrupting production environmentsBuild cloud-native solutions on AWS using event-driven and distributed architecturesDefine and promote best practices for system design, testing, CI/CD, and code qualityPartner with engineers, architects, and product stakeholders to solve complex technical problemsEvaluate trade-offs and make clear technical recommendations with system-wide impact in mindMentor engineers through design reviews, architecture guidance, and hands-on collaboration Required Technical ExpertiseJava & Platform Engineering10+ years of professional Java/J2EE development experienceDeep knowledge of core Java concepts including concurrency, JVM internals, memory management, and garbage collectionStrong experience with Spring / Spring Boot, including dependency injection, AOP, and transaction managementProven ability to design clean, testable, maintainable systems using SOLID principles and established design patterns Databases & Data StoresStrong understanding of when and why to use different data technologiesMySQL: schema design, indexing, query optimization, ACID transactions, and migrationsMongoDB: document modeling, scalability strategies, indexing, and replication trade-offsElasticsearch: schema and analyzer design, performance tuning, aggregations, and analytics use cases Cloud & ArchitectureHands-on AWS experience (EC2, S3, SQS/SNS, Lambda, and related services)Ability to design systems from the ground up with attention to cost, scalability, reliability, and securityExperience with event-driven architectures, rules engines, and distributed systemsStrong understanding of designing for scale, fault tolerance, and operational resilience Delivery & CollaborationExperience working in Agile environments and contributing to CI/CD pipelinesComfortable leading complex, cross-team initiatives while remaining hands-onStrong communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to mixed audiences Qualifications12+ years of overall software engineering experienceBachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experienceProven track record delivering large, complex systems in production environmentsAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.