Senior Backend Engineer (Distributed Systems)

Senior Backend Engineer (Java, Kafka, AWS)Washington, DC OnsiteContract 11+ Months Open to C2C - Pay Rate on C2C $55 and $50 on W2. About the RoleWe are seeking a high-caliber Senior Backend Engineer to join a leading enterprise client in Washington, DC. This is a critical role where you will help architect and scale high-throughput, distributed systems powering modern, data-driven applications.You will work at the intersection of backend engineering, cloud architecture, and event-driven systems, leveraging technologies like Java, Kafka, and AWS to deliver resilient and scalable solutions. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier Architects and Product Owners while driving technical excellence across the organization.Key ResponsibilitiesSystem Design & DevelopmentArchitect, build, and optimize scalable, high-performance backend systems.Design and maintain complex distributed web applications.Event-Driven ArchitectureConfigure, manage, and optimize Kafka for enterprise-scale messaging and data streaming.Implement event-driven solutions to ensure real-time data flow and system resilience.Data Modeling & ManagementDesign and maintain robust data models across multiple data sources.Ensure high standards of data integrity, consistency, and performance.Technical LeadershipLead code reviews and enforce best practices for clean, maintainable code.Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team skill development.Cloud & InfrastructureDesign and deploy scalable applications using AWS services such as:Lambda, EC2, S3, CloudFormationKinesis, DynamoDB/Aurora, Redshift, API GatewayCollaboration & StrategyWork closely with Product Owners to translate business requirements into technical solutions.Partner with Architects to align development with enterprise architecture.DevOps & Agile DeliveryDrive CI/CD best practices using Jenkins, Git, and JIRA.Contribute to Agile Scrum ceremonies and continuous delivery improvements.Required Qualifications🎓 Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)8+ years of hands-on experience in Java development (Senior/Lead level)3+ years of experience with Kafka and event-driven architecturesStrong expertise in AWS ecosystem (Kinesis, DynamoDB/Aurora, Redshift, API Gateway)Experience with Spring, J2EE, REST APIs, and backend frameworksFamiliarity with Angular or full-stack environmentsStrong knowledge of SQL, data modeling, and database design (relational & NoSQL)Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practicesExcellent problem-solving and analytical skillsStrong communication skills with ability to work across technical and business teamsPreferred QualificationsExperience in high-scale enterprise environmentsExposure to microservices architectureKnowledge of server-side Node.jsExperience with performance tuning and system optimization