Principal Software Engineer

GSSTech Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software company in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to design and develop RESTful and SOAP APIs. Candidates should possess over 10 years of experience in API development and strong skills in AWS Lambda and Java Spring Boot. The role includes collaborating with cross-functional teams and overseeing API governance. This is a significant opportunity for those wanting to lead API strategy and contribute to innovative projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering, API development, AWS Lambda, DevOps, automation, and SDLC.
• Strong experience in Open Banking, Kubernetes, Docker, GitLab, Nexus, API gateways.
• Expertise in API security (OAuth, JWT, API keys) and DevSecOps practices.
• Proven ability to design large-scale API solutions in financial environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy REST & SOAP APIs using Java Spring Boot and Maven.
• Implement unit testing and maintain secure, high-quality code.
• Continuously monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize API availability and performance.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with developers and stakeholders.
• Establish API development standards and enforce governance policies.

Skills

API lifecycle management

DevOps

Open Banking

AWS Lambda

Java Spring Boot

Maven

Kubernetes

Docker

API security (OAuth, JWT)

Performance monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Master’s degree (a plus)

Tools

GitLab

Nexus

API gateways (Apigee/Kong/AWS API Gateway)

AppDynamics

ELK

Swagger

Postman

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer responsible for end-to-end design, development, testing, deployment, and governance of RESTful and SOAP APIs using Java Spring Boot and Maven, along with AWS Lambda functions and API components. The role requires strong expertise in API lifecycle management, DevOps, Open Banking, cloud-native deployments, API governance, and performance monitoring, while collaborating with cross‑functional teams and mentoring engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy REST & SOAP APIs using Java Spring Boot and Maven, AWS Lambda functions, and reusable API components/libraries.
• Implement unit testing, maintain secure and high-quality code, manage artifacts in Git, Nexus, and deploy APIs on AWS EKS clusters.
• Document and maintain API specifications using Swagger, Postman, and ensure proper API cataloguing.
• Continuously monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize API availability and performance using AppDynamics, ELK, and observability tools.
• Research & adopt emerging technologies and trends in API development, DevOps, containers, and cloud services.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with developers, product owners, security teams, and stakeholders.
• Oversee full API lifecycle including design, deployment, versioning, deprecation, and retirement.
• Establish API development standards, best practices, and enforce API governance policies.
• Drive API platform strategy, contribute to architectural decision‑making, and solve complex system integration challenges.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers; share best practices and promote team growth.
• Lead and maintain API Governance framework, API management tool evaluation, KPI tracking, API security (OAuth, JWT, API keys), compliance alignment, and adherence to FAB governance, strategy, and CB UAE guidelines.
• Conduct design reviews, ensure contract standardization, and improve developer experience across teams.
• Support audit and compliance recommendations and participate in system improvement initiatives.
• Own assigned projects, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, perform thorough unit testing, and adapt to changing priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering (Master’s is a plus).
• 10+ years in software engineering, API development, AWS Lambda, DevOps, automation, and SDLC.
• Strong experience in Open Banking, Kubernetes, Docker, GitLab, Nexus, API gateways (Apigee/Kong/AWS API Gateway).
• Expertise in API security (OAuth, JWT, API keys) and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience improving monitoring, alerting, performance tuning, fixing vulnerabilities, and debugging large codebases.
• Strong skills in Python/other scripting languages (nice to have), design tools like Visio/Draw.io, and performance analysis tools.
• Proven ability to design large‑scale API solutions in financial environments.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, leadership, problem‑solving, and ability to work independently or in teams.
• Ability to implement FAB’s API governance requirements, evaluate new technologies, and support strategic delivery.