Backend Software Developer

WPP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

WPP is seeking a Backend Software Developer in a hybrid New York-based role. You will design, build, and support reliable systems from the ground up, working with Java and the JVM ecosystem.

The position emphasizes ownership, security, performance, and delivery across the stack. Responsibilities include designing core services, collaborating with product and engineering teams, and ensuring non-functional requirements while supporting CI/CD and post-release validation.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Java and the JVM ecosystem (Spring/Spring Boot).
• Experience with large enterprise apps, high availability, complex integrations.
• Understanding of distributed systems concepts (concurrency, caching, resiliency).
• SQL knowledge; data modeling and query optimization.
• Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Couchbase).
• Strong communication skills to explain trade-offs to varied audiences.
• Write clean, well-documented, tested code; handle edge cases and failures.
• Own features end-to-end from requirements to post-release validation.
• Participate in peer code reviews in a collaborative culture.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and review core services and integrations using Java.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to clarify requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Design integration approaches across RESTful APIs, messaging, and data sync.
• Evaluate tech choices, document decisions, and perform trade-off analyses.
• Ensure security, scalability, observability, resilience, and disaster recovery.
• Work with DevOps/SRE to support CI/CD pipelines and deployment readiness.
• Contribute to architecture and design reviews and guide implementation.
• Identify risks, dependencies and gaps; document mitigation plans and verify outcomes.

Skills

Java

Spring/Spring Boot

Distributed systems

SQL

NoSQL databases

Communication

Code quality/testing

Ownership

Code reviews

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Azure/AWS/GCP

Job description

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

A backend software developer who designs, builds, and supports reliable systems from the ground up. This role is best suited to someone who pays close attention to details, follows work through to completion, and takes ownership of quality across implementation, testing, release, and ongoing support. The developer will also extend existing systems while maintaining performance, security, maintainability, and test coverage across the stack.

What you'll be doing:

• Demonstrate strong Java proficiency to design, prototype, and review core services and integrations.
• Partner with product and engineering teams to clarify requirements, identify edge cases and acceptance criteria, and translate business needs into solution architectures, technical specifications, and implementation plans.
• Design integration approaches across systems, including RESTful APIs, messaging/event-driven patterns, and data synchronization.
• Evaluate and recommend technology choices, frameworks, and third-party components; perform trade-off analyses and document decisions.
• Ensure non-functional requirements are met, including security, scalability, observability (logging/metrics/tracing), resilience, and disaster recovery.
• Collaborate with DevOps/SRE to support CI/CD pipelines, deployment architecture, and operational readiness.
• Contribute actively to architecture and design reviews, provide thoughtful technical guidance, and remain engaged through delivery and post-release support.
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, ambiguous requirements, and delivery gaps early; document mitigation plans, track them to resolution, and confirm outcomes with stakeholders.

What you'll need:

• Strong proficiency in Java and the JVM ecosystem (e.g., Spring/Spring Boot), including performance tuning and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience developing and supporting large enterprise applications with high availability and complex integrations.
• Solid understanding of distributed systems concepts (e.g., concurrency, caching, eventual consistency, resiliency patterns).
• Experience with relational databases and SQL; ability to model data and optimize queries.
• Knowledge of document-based (NoSQL) databases (e.g., MongoDB, Couchbase) including data modeling and query patterns.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Write clean, well-documented, and thoroughly tested code; verify edge cases, failure modes, error handling, and operational behavior before considering work complete.
• Own features from initial requirements through implementation, testing, release, and post-release validation, resolving defects and unfinished details rather than handing off incomplete work.
• Participate in a constructive and inclusive culture of peer code reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP) and cloud-native architectures.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with messaging and event-driven design.
• Experience with identity and access management, application security, and threat modeling.
• Experience with observability tooling and practices (APM, centralized logging, distributed tracing).
• Experience with the Office 365 ecosystem.
• Experience with Okta and/or other single sign-on (SSO) identity providers.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: We are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

#LI-Hybrid

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, go to https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome for more details.

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$60,000 - $140,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.