Java Developer

Spectraforce Technologies; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 131,000; Part time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is seeking a Java Developer Contractor in Denver, CO for a 6-month engagement with hybrid work (1 day on-site per week). You will design, build, test, and maintain Java-based web applications and backend services, leveraging Spring Boot, REST APIs, and AWS services, while contributing to CI/CD workflows using GitLab.

Strong independence and collaboration with stakeholders are required.

Qualifications

• Strong professional experience developing Java applications.
• Experience with Java 21 or recent versions of the Java SDK.
• Solid experience with Spring Boot and Spring-based application development.
• Experience designing, building, and consuming REST APIs.
• Strong working knowledge of JSON and API integration patterns.
• Familiarity with front-end technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Experience using Git-based source control, preferably GitLab.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, preferably GitLab CI/CD.
• Practical experience developing, deploying, or supporting applications in AWS.
• Ability to work independently, communicate clearly, and deliver high-quality work in a contractor capacity.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain Java-based applications using Java SDK 21.
• Build and enhance applications using Spring Boot and the broader Spring Framework.
• Develop and maintain REST APIs and JSON-based integrations.
• Support smaller web applications using Thymeleaf, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Work with AWS-based infrastructure and services, including ECS, API Gateway, and DynamoDB.
• Contribute to source control and development workflows using GitLab.
• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with team members on application architecture, implementation decisions, code reviews, and deployment practices.
• Support infrastructure-as-code efforts, especially where Terraform is used.
• Use IntelliJ IDEA as the primary development environment.
• Apply sound software engineering practices, including maintainable code design, testing, documentation, and operational awareness.
• Where appropriate, leverage AI-assisted coding tools to improve development productivity and code quality.

Skills

Java development

Spring Boot

REST APIs

AWS

GitLab CI/CD

CI/CD workflows

Terraform

IntelliJ IDEA

Thymeleaf

AI-assisted coding tools

Tools

Terraform

IntelliJ IDEA

GitLab

GitLab CI/CD

Thymeleaf

Job description

Java Developer Contractor

6 Months

Denver, CO (Hybrid - 1 day a week)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Java Developer Contractor to support the design, development, and maintenance of web applications, backend services, and cloud-based solutions. This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable working across the Java/Spring ecosystem, building REST APIs, integrating with AWS services, and contributing to modern CI/CD-driven development workflows. The right candidate will be hands-on, pragmatic, and comfortable working independently while collaborating with technical and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain Java-based applications using Java SDK 21.
• Build and enhance applications using Spring Boot and the broader Spring Framework.
• Develop and maintain REST APIs and JSON-based integrations.
• Support smaller web applications using Thymeleaf, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Work with AWS-based infrastructure and services, including ECS, API Gateway, and DynamoDB.
• Contribute to source control and development workflows using GitLab.
• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with team members on application architecture, implementation decisions, code reviews, and deployment practices.
• Support infrastructure-as-code efforts, especially where Terraform is used.
• Use IntelliJ IDEA as the primary development environment.
• Apply sound software engineering practices, including maintainable code design, testing, documentation, and operational awareness.
• Where appropriate, leverage AI-assisted coding tools to improve development productivity and code quality.

Required Qualifications

• Strong professional experience developing applications with Java.
• Experience with Java 21 or recent versions of the Java SDK.
• Solid experience with Spring Boot and Spring-based application development.
• Experience designing, building, and consuming REST APIs.
• Strong working knowledge of JSON and API integration patterns.
• Familiarity with front-end technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Experience using Git-based source control, preferably GitLab.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, preferably GitLab CI/CD.
• Practical experience developing, deploying, or supporting applications in AWS.
• Ability to work independently, communicate clearly, and deliver high-quality work in a contractor capacity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Thymeleaf for server-side templating.
• Hands-on experience with AWS services such as:
  • Amazon ECS
  • Amazon API Gateway
  • Amazon DynamoDB
• Familiarity with Terraform or other infrastructure-as-code tools.
• Experience using IntelliJ IDEA in a professional development environment.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or similar tools.
• Experience troubleshooting cloud deployments, application logs, build pipelines, and environment-related issues.
• Understanding of secure coding practices and cloud application security concepts.

Technical Environment

• Java SDK 21
• Spring Boot / Spring Framework
• Thymeleaf
• REST APIs
• JSON
• HTML / CSS / JavaScript
• AWS, including ECS, API Gateway, and DynamoDB
• GitLab repositories
• GitLab CI/CD pipelines
• Terraform
• IntelliJ IDEA
• AI-assisted coding tools, including exploration of Claude Code

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strong Java developer who can move comfortably between backend development, lightweight front-end work, cloud-based deployments, and CI/CD workflows. They should be able to understand existing systems quickly, contribute clean and maintainable code, and work effectively in a modern cloud-oriented development environment.

Experience with AWS, GitLab pipelines, Terraform, and AI-assisted coding tools is highly valued.