Lead Software Engineer - Data & Distributed Systems

Citigroup Inc.; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 242,000 - 412,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined contribution pension plan

Private medical care

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Paid parental leave

Sport card

Cafeteria / flex benefits

Annual discretionary incentive

Employee discounts

Job summary

Citigroup Inc. in Warsaw is seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer to drive the design and delivery of scalable backend services and data processing systems. You will stay hands-on while guiding engineering teams and collaborating with full-stack teammates to build AI-enabled solutions.

Responsibilities include developing APIs, microservices, and event-driven integrations using Kafka, modelling data, and ensuring performance, reliability and security across enterprise platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Master's degree preferred for advanced roles.
• Strong hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot and REST APIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design and development of scalable backend services, data integrations and distributed applications.
• Remain hands-on in coding, implementing complex backend components and data processing logic.
• Provide day-to-day technical guidance to engineers and contractors, including design reviews and problem solving.
• Design and develop event-driven solutions using Kafka, messaging platforms and asynchronous processing patterns.
• Drive data modelling, ingestion, transformation and integration across enterprise systems.
• Develop high-performance APIs and microservices using Java and Spring Boot.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers to deliver end-to-end capabilities with Angular/TypeScript.
• Support AI-enabled capabilities, including data preparation and retrieval workflows.
• Establish engineering standards for data quality, reliability, performance and maintainability.
• Champion automated testing, CI/CD, observability and secure development.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

REST APIs

Microservices

SQL

Data modeling

Data integration

Kafka

Event-driven

Asynchronous messaging

Kubernetes/OpenShift

CI/CD

Automated testing

Angular

TypeScript

Frontend integration

AI/LLM awareness

Production code

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Kubernetes/OpenShift

CI/CD tooling

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Lead Software Engineer with strong expertise in Java/Spring Boot, data engineering and distributed systems. The role will focus on developing scalable backend services, event‑driven integrations and data processing capabilities that support modern enterprise platforms.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, contribute directly to software development, guide engineering teams and contractors, and collaborate with full‑stack engineers to deliver reliable, data‑intensive applications and AI‑enabled solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the technical design and development of scalable backend services, data integrations and distributed applications.
• Remain hands‑on in coding, implementing complex backend components, data processing logic and integration services.
• Provide day‑to‑day technical guidance to engineers and contractors, including design reviews, code reviews and technical problem‑solving.
• Design and develop event‑driven solutions using Kafka, messaging platforms and asynchronous processing patterns.
• Drive effective data modelling, data ingestion, transformation and integration across enterprise systems.
• Develop high‑performance APIs and microservices using Java and Spring Boot.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers to deliver end‑to‑end application capabilities, with working knowledge of Angular and TypeScript.
• Support AI‑enabled capabilities, including data preparation, intelligent automation, retrieval workflows and integration with AI services.
• Establish engineering standards for data quality, reliability, performance, scalability and maintainability.
• Champion automated testing, CI/CD, observability, secure development and operational resilience.
• Identify and resolve complex technical challenges involving distributed systems, integration failures and data processing.
• Mentor engineers, promote knowledge sharing and ensure sustainable internal ownership of developed solutions.

Recommended Qualifications:

• Strong hands‑on experience with Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs and microservices.
• Strong experience with SQL, relational databases, data modelling and data integration.
• Experience with Kafka, event‑driven architecture and asynchronous messaging.
• Good understanding of distributed systems, scalability, resilience and performance optimisation.
• Working knowledge of Angular, TypeScript and frontend‑backend integration.
• Experience with data ingestion, transformation and processing pipelines.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes/OpenShift, CI/CD and automated testing.
• Exposure to AI/LLM technologies, retrieval systems or AI‑driven data processing is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical delivery while contributing directly to production code.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree/University degree or equivalent experience
• Master's degree preferred

We offer:

By joining Citi Solutions Center Poland, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (currently up to 2 days working at home per week), but also (potentially, subject to final offer) receive a competitive base salary and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits which can include:

• Employer paid Defined Contribution Pension Plan contribution of 6% of employee's pensionable earnings (PPE Program)
• Employer paid Private Medical Care Package for employees and Private Medical Care Packages for certain family members available at preferential rates
• Employer paid Life Insurance Program for employees and Life Insurance for certain family members available at preferential rates
• Employee Assistance Program financed by Employer
• Paid Parental Leave Program (maternity and paternity leave; statutory and 2 weeks additional paid paternity leave)
• Sport Card for employees subsidised via Social Benefits Fund and Sport Cards for certain family members available at preferential rates
• Additional benefits from Company's Social Benefit Fund, in particular: Holidays Allowance, support for sport and cultural activities, team building events.
• Additional day off for volunteering
• Cafeteria/ flex benefit - a company benefits system which enables employees to select and purchase benefits offered by a provider and available for employees on the platform.
• Opportunity to receive an annual discretionary incentive award
• Special offers and discounts for employees
• Copy and paste the URL below into a new tab on your web browser to view the Remuneration Regulations extract:

https://tbcdn.talentbrew.com/company/287/cms/v3/docs/policies/RemunerationRegulations-KeyProvisions-CitibankEurope_plc_05012025_A.pdf

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

Job Family Group:

Technology

Job Family:

Systems & Engineering

Time Type:

Full time

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:

241 750,00 zł - 411 650,00 zł

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.

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