Java Tech Lead

TXP; Telford; Hybrid; GBP 101,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

TXP is seeking a Java Tech Lead to provide technical leadership on a modernisation programme. You will guide design, development and delivery of Java-based RESTful APIs and microservices, ensuring scalable and maintainable solutions.

The role is hybrid with four days on-site per month in Telford, Inside IR35, with a 6-month scope that can extend. We require deep Java and Spring Boot expertise, strong API and microservices architecture skills, and leadership experience to mentor teams, set

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering Java-based RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Experience leading backend teams and setting engineering standards.
• Strong design sense for API contracts, versioning and security.
• Experience modernising legacy apps and decomposing services.
• Hands-on with Docker/Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for design, development and delivery of Java-based APIs and microservices.
• Lead engineering standards, design reviews and solution implementation.
• Ensure scalability, resilience, maintainability and system integration.

Skills

Java backend development

Spring Boot

Microservices Architecture

API Architecture & Design

Application Modernisation

Technical Leadership

Engineering Standards

Testing & Quality

Git / CI/CD

Technical Design & Delivery

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

JPA / Hibernate

Maven / Gradle

Mockito

GitLab

Helm

OpenAPI / Swagger

SQL

Kibana

Job description

Java Tech Lead

Hybrid, 4 days on site per month in Telford

Inside IR35, 550/ 600

6 months scope to extend

Role Overview

Provide technical leadership for the design, development and delivery of Java-based RESTful APIs and microservices as part of an application modernisation programme. Lead engineering standards, technical design and solution implementation, ensuring scalability, resilience, maintainability and integration with existing systems.

Essential Skills

• Java - Extensive hands-on backend development experience, with the ability to provide technical guidance and undertake complex development.
• Spring Boot - Strong expertise in RESTful API and microservices development.
• Microservices Architecture & Design - Designing scalable, resilient and loosely coupled services, including service-to-service communication and integration patterns.
• API Architecture & Design - API contracts, versioning, security, integration patterns and performance optimisation.
• Application Modernisation - Experience modernising legacy applications, service decomposition and integration with existing systems.
• Docker & Kubernetes - Containerisation, deployment and management of microservices.
• Technical Leadership - Leading developers, providing technical direction, mentoring and resolving complex engineering challenges.
• Engineering Standards - Establishing development standards, conducting code reviews and ensuring code quality, security and maintainability.
• Testing & Quality - JUnit, automated testing practices and test-driven development.
• Git / CI/CD - Version control, build automation and deployment pipelines.
• Technical Design & Delivery - Translating architectural requirements into technical designs, managing technical dependencies and supporting delivery planning.

Desirable Skills

• AWS
• JPA / Hibernate
• Maven / Gradle
• Mockito
• GitLab
• Helm
• OpenAPI / Swagger
• SQL
• Kibana
• Observability and performance monitoring
• Event-driven architecture / messaging
• Shell scripting

AI-Assisted Development & Leadership

• Willingness to actively embrace and promote the effective use of approved AI tools and agents throughout the software development lifecycle, including technical analysis, solution design, code generation, testing, code reviews and continuous improvement.
• Ability to guide engineering teams in adopting AI-assisted development practices while maintaining security, quality and governance standards.