Java Automation Engineer

Java Automation EngineerSalary: $110k - $150k + bonusLocation: Chicago, IL or Dallas, TX (local candidates only)Hybrid: 3 days onsite, 2 days remote*We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role**This FTE permanent placement role is not open to C2C*Qualifications5+ years of professional software engineering experience with production systems, including distributed systems and backend microservice developmentAdvanced Java programming expertise including object-oriented design, concurrency and multithreading, performance tuning, and substantial experience with Spring BootExperience with distributed computing frameworks such as Kafka StreamingStrong experience in API development, SQL databases, and data storage such as S3Strong working knowledge of CI/CD, DevOps tools, Git, and test automation frameworksDeep understanding of OOP, microservices architecture, REST APIs, and Java 8+ featuresExperience with message serialization formats such as Protobuf or Avro and schema governance patternsHands-on experience with AWS services, including S3Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines with JenkinsPractical experience with AI-assisted development tools such as Claude CodeResponsibilitiesDesign and write clean, maintainable, well-tested Java code, and lead debugging and root-cause analysis of complex framework and integration issues.Lead the design, development and enhancement of automation testing framework features, and drive adoption by testing teams through guidance, documentation and enablement.Lead code reviews, uphold engineering standards and best practices, and drive continuous improvement of the codebase and delivery practices.Champion secure software delivery by integrating and acting on findings from SonarQube, Snyk, Sysdig, Veracode, and Black Duck, and partner with security teams to remediate vulnerabilities.Own and improve CI/CD automation using Jenkins and containerized deployment with Docker, Harness, and Rancher, focusing on reliability, speed and repeatability.Serve as an escalation point for testing teams, resolving complex automation framework issues and identifying recurring problems to eliminate at the source.Lead design discussions and proof of concept efforts, evaluate technical alternatives, and drive architectural decisions for the framework in collaboration with architects and engineering leadership.