Java Engineer II – API Development

First Citizens; Phoenix (AZ); Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens is seeking a Software Engineer II – API Development & Cloud Migration to design, migrate, and support enterprise APIs across Payments, Money Movement, and Information Reporting platforms. The role targets cloud-native, scalable API-driven solutions on AWS, with involvement across architecture, development, testing, deployment, and production support.

The ideal candidate has hands-on API and microservices experience, strong Java/Spring Boot skills, and familiarity with OpenShift,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in software development or related field and 2 years of experience OR HS diploma with 6 years in software development.
• 2+ years of enterprise APIs with AWS technologies (API Gateway, Lambda, ECS, Step Functions, SQS, SNS, DynamoDB, RDS, S3, IAM, KMS).
• 2+ years in Java, Spring Boot, Node.js, RESTful API development, microservices, and cloud-native design.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, enhance, and support secure, scalable APIs and microservices across platforms.
• Modernize and migrate APIs and integrations to AWS cloud-native architectures.
• Build cloud-native solutions using AWS services like API Gateway, Lambda, ECS, and more.
• Develop RESTful APIs with Java/Spring Boot and AWS-native tech while maintaining security standards.
• Troubleshoot, enhance, and optimize existing API platforms for resiliency and performance.
• Develop event-driven solutions using Kafka, SNS, and SQS for real-time processing.
• Containerize apps using OpenShift, Docker, and AWS ECS; support CI/CD pipelines.
• Collaborate with architects, product owners, and stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable solutions.
• Implement secure coding practices, authentication, authorization, encryption, and secrets management.
• Monitor performance and reliability with observability tools and perform on-call support.

Skills

API development

Microservices

Cloud migration

AWS architectures

Java

Spring Boot

OpenShift

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

High School Diploma + 6 years experience

Tools

AWS

API Gateway

Lambda

ECS

Step Functions

SQS

SNS

DynamoDB

RDS

S3

IAM

KMS

Kafka

Terraform

Docker

OpenShift

Kubernetes

CI/CD tooling

Dynatrace

CloudWatch

X-Ray

Grafana

Splunk

Job description

Overview

This is a remote role that may only be hired in the following location(s): AZ, NC and TX.

We are seeking a Software Engineer II – API Development & Cloud Migration to contribute towards the design, development, modernization, migration, and support of enterprise APIs across Payments, Money Movement, and Information Reporting platforms. This role will play a critical part in transforming legacy services into cloud-native, scalable API-driven solutions while enabling seamless integration across internal and external systems.

The ideal candidate will possess experience in API development, microservices development, and cloud migration strategies, with strong hands-on experience in AWS technologies. The candidate will be responsible for designing and delivering secure, high-performing APIs, migrating existing services and integrations to AWS, and translating business requirements into resilient and scalable cloud-native solutions. This role requires active involvement throughout the API lifecycle, including architecture, development, testing, deployment, governance, monitoring, troubleshooting, and production support while collaborating closely with architects, engineers, product owners, and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, enhance, and support secure, scalable, and high-performing APIs and microservices for Payments, Money Movement, and Information Reporting platforms.
• Participate in the modernization and migration of APIs and integration services from on-premises environments to AWS cloud-native architectures.
• Develop cloud-native solutions leveraging AWS services including API Gateway, Lambda, ECS, Step Functions, SQS, SNS, DynamoDB, RDS, S3, IAM, KMS, and AWS Transfer Family.
• Build and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices using Java, Spring Boot, and AWS-native technologies while following enterprise architecture and security standards.
• Support and enhance existing API platforms by troubleshooting issues, implementing new functionality, improving resiliency, and optimizing performance.
• Develop and maintain event-driven solutions using Apache Kafka, Amazon SNS, and Amazon SQS to support real-time payment and money movement processing.
• Build, deploy, and support containerized applications using OpenShift, Docker, and AWS ECS platforms.
• Collaborate with architects, product owners, business partners, and engineering teams to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Implement secure coding practices and API security controls including authentication, authorization, encryption, and secrets management.
• Optimize API performance, scalability, and reliability through performance tuning, monitoring, and proactive problem resolution.
• Participate in API migration activities, including legacy application assessment, refactoring, testing, deployment, and production cutover support.
• Create and maintain Infrastructure as Code using Terraform to automate provisioning and deployment of cloud resources.
• Implement and support CI/CD pipelines to enable automated build, testing, deployment, and release processes.
• Utilize observability and monitoring tools such as Dynatrace, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS X-Ray, Grafana, and Splunk to monitor application health and troubleshoot production issues.
• Participate in on-call support, incident resolution, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure platform stability and operational excellence.
• Contribute to code reviews, technical design discussions, and engineering best practices to improve software quality and maintainability.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree and 2 years of experience in Software application development and maintenance OR High School Diploma or GED and 6 years of experience in Software application development and maintenance

2+ years of experience with enterprise-scale APIs utilizing AWS technologies such as API Gateway, Lambda, ECS, Step Functions, SQS, SNS, DynamoDB, RDS, S3, IAM, and KMS.

2+ years experience in Java, Spring Boot, Node.js, RESTful API development, microservices architecture, API security, and cloud-native application design.

Experience with Terraform, Docker, OpenShift, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and event-driven architectures is highly desirable. Hands-on experience leading API modernization and cloud migration initiatives, including decomposition of monolithic applications into microservices, is strongly preferred.

Experience with Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and observability tools such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics, AWS CloudWatch, Splunk, Grafana, or similar platforms.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of developing mission-critical payment APIs, API transformation, and cloud migration programs, and shape the next generation of scalable financial services platforms while advancing expertise in cloud-native technologies and enterprise integration patterns.

Additional Information

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.