Senior Software Engineer - Core Java & Apache Spark

Citigroup Inc.; Chennai; On-site; INR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Citigroup Inc. is seeking a Senior Software Engineer in Chennai, India, to develop and scale core data processing infrastructure. This role requires deep expertise in Java and Apache Spark, focusing on designing high-throughput data processing systems, performance optimization, and implementing scalable architectures. Candidates should have solid experience with Spring and container orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and offer a full-time working schedule.

Qualifications

• Expert-level proficiency in Java, with experience tuning JVM.
• Hands-on experience developing and deploying Spark applications.
• Extensive experience with the Spring Framework.
• Strong command of SQL and database design principles.
• Experience with containerization using Docker and Kubernetes.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct high-throughput data processing pipelines.
• Optimize Spark jobs for performance and resource efficiency.
• Implement scalable transactional architectures.
• Enforce best practices in software engineering.
• Lead design and code reviews, mentoring junior engineers.

Skills

Core Java & JVM

Apache Spark

Spring Ecosystem

Data Structures & Algorithms

Containerization & Cloud-Native

Database Engineering

Architectural Design

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Spring Boot

Jenkins

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Job description

Senior Software Engineer - Core Java & Apache Spark

We are hiring an elite Senior Software Engineer to build and scale our core data processing and application infrastructure. This role demands deep, hands‑on expertise in the Java ecosystem and distributed computing with Apache Spark. You will be responsible for the architecture, design, and implementation of mission‑critical systems that process massive datasets, requiring a mastery of concurrency, JVM internals, and modern cloud‑native patterns.

Core Tech Stack:

• Languages & Runtimes: Java (8+), SQL, JVM
• Frameworks & Libraries: Spring (Boot, Data, Security, Batch, Integration), Apache Spark (RDD, Spark SQL, DataFrames/DataSets)
• Big Data Ecosystem: Hadoop, Hive, Impala, Spark Tuning & Optimization
• Databases: Relational (e.g., PostgreSQL, Oracle), NoSQL (MongoDB, Graph DB)
• Messaging & Middleware: JMS, Solace
• Containerization & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift
• Build & CI/CD: Maven, Gradle, Jenkins, Git
• Code Quality & Security: SonarQube, TDD (JUnit/Mockito), Secure Coding Practices

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect & Build: Design and construct high-throughput, low-latency data processing pipelines using Apache Spark and the Spring ecosystem.
• Performance Engineering: Dive deep into JVM internals, garbage collection tuning, and Spark job optimization to maximize performance and resource efficiency.
• Distributed Systems Design: Implement scalable, resilient, and transactional architectures leveraging container orchestration (Kubernetes/OpenShift) and distributed data stores.
• Code & Design Excellence: Champion and enforce best practices in software engineering, including SOLID principles, advanced design patterns, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), and Test-Driven Development (TDD).
• Database Mastery: Engineer and optimize data models for both relational and NoSQL databases, ensuring data integrity, performance, and scalability.
• CI/CD Automation: Own and enhance CI/CD pipelines for automated build, test, and deployment of Java applications and Spark jobs in a containerized environment.
• Technical Leadership: Lead design and code reviews, mentor junior engineers, and drive the adoption of new technologies and architectural patterns across the team.

Required Technical Qualifications:

• Core Java & JVM: Expert-level proficiency in Java, including the Collections Framework, Lambdas, and the Java Concurrency API. Demonstrable experience tuning the JVM and troubleshooting memory/GC issues.
• Apache Spark: Proven, hands‑on experience developing, deploying, and tuning complex Spark applications for large-scale data transformation and analysis.
• Spring Ecosystem: Extensive, practical experience with the Spring Framework, particularly Spring Boot, Spring Data, and Spring Batch in a production environment.
• Data Structures & Algorithms: Deep understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms, with a focus on their application in distributed computing and performance-critical systems.
• Containerization & Cloud‑Native: Hands‑on experience with Docker for building images and Kubernetes/OpenShift for deploying and managing distributed applications.
• Database Engineering: Strong command of SQL and relational database design, including transaction management and indexing. Experience with at least one production NoSQL database (MongoDB, Graph DB, etc.).
• Architectural Design: Practical application of OOP, SOLID, and DDD principles to build maintainable and scalable systems. You write tests first (TDD) and believe in robust, automated testing.

Job Family Group:

Technology

Job Family:

Applications Development

Time Type:

Full time

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.