Lead Software Engineer - Java

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

Job Posting Description

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

We are looking for a highly skilled Lead Software Engineer with strong expertise in backend technologies and modern architectures to design, develop, and deliver scalable, high-performance enterprise applications. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Java 11+, SQL/NoSQL databases, Spring ecosystem, microservices, and real-time streaming applications with Apache Kafka, along with a solid understanding of TDD and BDD practices. This role also requires proven leadership capabilities to guide engineering teams and influence technical direction.

What you will do:

• Lead the design and development of microservices-based architectures using Spring and Spring Boot.

• Architect and build real-time streaming applications using Apache Kafka.

• Define technical strategy and oversee the full software development lifecycle, from requirements to deployment.

• Mentor and guide engineers, conducting design and code reviews to ensure high standards.

• Champion TDD and BDD practices, ensuring code quality and maintainability.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable software.

• Drive adoption of best practices in system design, testing, DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Optimize performance of applications and resolve complex technical issues.

• Ensure systems are built for high availability, scalability, and maintainability.

• Contribute to architectural decisions and align technical initiatives with business goals.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

• 5+ years of professional software development experience, including 2+ years in a lead/mentorship role.

• Strong expertise in Java (Java 11 or later).

• Solid hands-on experience with Spring, Spring Boot, and RESTful web services.

• Deep understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.

• Proven experience in building real-time streaming applications with Apache Kafka.

• Strong experience in SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, or similar) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, etc.).

• Proficiency in Hibernate, JPA, and ORM concepts.

• Strong understanding and application of TDD and BDD methodologies.

• Solid understanding of software design patterns and system architecture.

• Experience with version control (Git) and CI/CD practices.

• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and leadership skills

What will set you apart:

• Knowledge of gRPC for high-performance service-to-service communication.

• Knowledge of AWS technologies (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, etc.).

• Experience with containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes).

• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job.  The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.   You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description.   You may be required perform other duties that are not included on this job description.  The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financi