Java/C++ Engineer w/ AI

Matlen Silver; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Matlen Silver is seeking a Senior Java/C++ Architect to lead AI-augmented development for the Transactional FX platform. You will architect, design, and modernize AI-enabled applications, combining Core Java, modern C++, and enterprise patterns.

The role demands hands-on leadership across global teams and strong focus on security, performance, and governance. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in server-side Java with Spring, C++, distributed systems, and AI-driven engineering practices, and will

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing server-side Java applications with architecture/leadership
• Expertise in Core Java on Linux/UNIX environments with Spring Boot and Spring MVC
• Proficiency in modern C++ including memory management and concurrency
• Strong OOD/architecture, RESTful APIs, and ORM experience
• Experience with AI-augmented development and enterprise governance

Responsibilities

• Define target architectures, reference patterns, and standards for AI-augmented apps on the FX platform
• Lead design, development, modernization, and integration of CashPro FX/Flow and C++ services
• Design solutions across VM, cloud, and SaaS environments
• Ensure availability, performance, security, scalability, and maintainability
• Mentor engineers and align architecture with business priorities
• Develop reusable AI frameworks with prompts, tool integration, and observability
• Lead spikes and proofs of concept to validate emerging tech
• Autonomously drive CI/CD improvements and production readiness

Skills

Core Java

C++

Distributed systems

Multithreading

RESTful APIs

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Math/Physics

Tools

Spring Boot

Spring MVC

JVM tuning

Git/Jenkins

Distributed systems design

Job description

Java/C++ Engineer w/ AI

18-24 Month W2 Contract

Chicago- Hybrid 3 days onsite

$65-$73/hour

Senior Java/C++ Architect – AI-Enabled Transactional FX Platform Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Java/C++ Architect to lead the architecture, design, development, and modernization of AI-augmented applications across the Transactional FX (TFX) platform. This role requires deep expertise in Core Java, modern C++, distributed systems, and enterprise application architecture, along with demonstrated experience applying AI and agentic workflows to software engineering. The ideal candidate will combine hands‑on technical leadership with strategic architectural vision, driving the development of scalable, secure, high‑performance financial applications. The role will focus on building reusable AI frameworks, modernizing CashPro FX/Flow applications and TFX services, improving engineering productivity, and ensuring alignment with business priorities, enterprise standards, and responsible AI practices.

Primary Skill: Core Java

Secondary Skill: C++

Experience Level: 8+ years

Key Responsibilities Architecture and Technical Leadership

• Define target architectures, reference patterns, and technical standards for AI-augmented applications across the Transactional FX platform.
• Lead the architecture, design, development, modernization, and integration of Java-based CashPro FX/Flow applications and C++ services within the TFX suite.
• Design solutions that operate across virtual-machine, cloud, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments.
• Ensure solutions meet functional and non-functional requirements for availability, performance, scalability, security, maintainability, and supportability.
• Balance solution quality, latency, resilience, cost, performance, and control requirements when selecting technologies and architectural approaches.
• Provide technical direction, resolve complex design challenges, and influence architecture and engineering standards across globally distributed teams.

AI and Agentic Framework Development

• Design reusable agentic AI frameworks that support prompt and context management, tool integration, human review, testing, traceability, security, and observability.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to engineering productivity, operational processes, and client-facing platform capabilities.
• Lead technical spikes and proofs of concept to validate emerging technologies, reduce delivery risk, and inform architectural decisions.
• Promote responsible adoption of AI-assisted engineering practices while adhering to established development controls.
• Ensure AI solutions incorporate appropriate safeguards for security, data protection, evaluation, traceability, and human oversight.

Application Development and Integration

• Lead the development and modernization of high‑quality enterprise applications using Core Java, Spring Boot, Spring MVC, and modern C++.
• Develop automated tests and well‑defined interfaces to ensure reliable integration with the broader application ecosystem.
• Design RESTful APIs, web services, and distributed application components.
• Translate business requirements into practical architecture, refined user stories, acceptance criteria, estimates, and delivery plans.
• Contribute to integration, regression, and performance testing; analyze results and lead the diagnosis and resolution of defects.
• Apply object‑oriented analysis and design principles, architectural patterns, and distributed‑systems concepts to complex financial applications.

Engineering Excellence and Production Support

• Improve CI/CD practices, including branching strategies, pull requests, issue triage, merge‑conflict resolution, release documentation, and deployment controls.
• Automate manual build, test, release, and operational activities to improve delivery speed and reduce execution risk.
• Produce clear documentation covering deployments, maintenance, production support, architecture decisions, and business functionality.
• Support production systems, troubleshoot complex incidents, and deliver effective solutions in time‑sensitive environments.
• Ensure applications meet high standards for reliability, performance, resilience, and operational readiness.

Collaboration and People Leadership

• Partner with business stakeholders, architects, and engineering teams to align architecture and delivery with business priorities.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance across globally distributed development teams.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and consistent engineering standards.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical teams and business users.

Required Qualifications

Core Technical Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing server‑side Java applications, including significant architecture or technical leadership responsibilities.
• Expertise in Core Java on Linux/UNIX environments, including:
  • Java/J2EE and Spring Boot
  • Spring MVC
  • JVM tuning and garbage collection
  • Multithreading and concurrency
  • Algorithms and data structures
• Proficiency in modern C++, including memory management, libraries, concurrency, and complex system design.
• Strong object‑oriented analysis and design skills, with practical experience applying design principles, architectural patterns, and distributed‑systems concepts.
• Experience designing RESTful APIs and web services.
• Strong SQL skills, relational‑data modeling, and object‑relational mapping (ORM) experience.

AI and Architecture Experience

• Demonstrated experience applying AI to software architecture and engineering, including AI‑assisted development and agentic workflows.
• Experience with prompt engineering, context design, evaluation, observability, and AI security.
• Ability to identify practical AI use cases while maintaining appropriate enterprise governance and development controls.

Messaging, Networking, and Distributed Systems

• Experience with enterprise messaging and event‑driven architectures using technologies such as IBM MQ, JMS, AMPS, Kafka, or TIBCO.
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking, socket programming, high‑availability design, and performance‑sensitive systems.
• Experience designing reliable, scalable, and resilient enterprise applications.

Development Practices and Delivery

• Experience with Agile delivery methodologies and CI/CD practices.
• Hands‑on experience with development and build tools such as Git, Maven or Gradle, Jenkins, and Ansible.
• Experience supporting production systems, diagnosing complex incidents, and delivering solutions in time‑sensitive environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with engineering teams, architects, business stakeholders, and end users.

Desired Qualifications

• Python Development: Experience developing production‑grade Python services, automation, analytics solutions, or Quartz‑based systems.
• Enterprise AI: Experience designing and delivering secure, governed agentic AI solutions within an enterprise or regulated environment.
• Financial Markets Technology: Experience developing front‑office electronic‑trading platforms or other capital markets applications.
• Trading Systems: Experience with distributed, low‑latency, high‑availability trading systems, including algorithmic execution, complex event processing, trade and order lifecycle management, pricing, or risk management.
• Financial Technology: Familiarity with financial markets workflows and transactional foreign exchange (FX) platforms.
• Additional Technologies: Experience with FIX, KDB+/Q, Quartz, Google Guava, React, JavaScript, or related technologies used within the application landscape.
• Cloud and Deployment: Experience delivering solutions across cloud, virtual‑machine, and SaaS environments.
• Technical Influence: Experience influencing architecture, engineering standards, and technical decisions across globally distributed development teams.

Leadership Competencies

Innovation and Responsible AI

• Identifies valuable opportunities for AI adoption while applying appropriate controls for security, data protection, testing, traceability, and human oversight.
• Encourages innovation while maintaining enterprise standards and responsible development practices.

Strategic Thinking

• Demonstrates strategic vision and strong business knowledge.
• Applies innovation and creativity to solve complex technical and business challenges.
• Aligns architectural decisions with long‑term platform objectives.

Business Results

• Builds strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrates analytical ability, accountability, and effective execution.
• Leads change initiatives and delivers measurable business outcomes.

People Leadership

• Develops technical talent and promotes a culture of meritocracy.
• Demonstrates effective team leadership and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Encourages knowledge sharing and responsible corporate citizenship.

Personal Effectiveness

• Communicates clearly and effectively across technical and business audiences.
• Demonstrates decisiveness, sound judgment, and accountability.
• Exhibits energy, drive, courage, and strong professional character.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior hands‑on architect with 15+ years of server‑side Java development experience, strong C++ expertise, and a proven track record of leading complex enterprise applications. They bring a combination of financial markets technology experience, distributed‑systems architecture, production engineering, and practical AI implementation. This individual can define enterprise architecture, guide engineering teams, modernize mission‑critical applications, and introduce responsible agentic AI capabilities while maintaining the performance, reliability, security, and control standards required of a transactional FX platform.