Java Lead Developer

The AES Group; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The AES Group in Bellevue, WA is seeking a Senior Java Lead Developer to own the design, development and operation of cloud-native applications and REST services. You will lead technical decisions, collaborate across teams, and drive scalable solutions using Java, Spring Boot, and microservices.

The role emphasizes hands-on coding, strong leadership, and implementation expertise in modern tooling, CI/CD, and AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with Java and Spring Boot in enterprise environments.
• Experience designing and deploying microservices at scale.
• Hands-on with Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD (GitLab).
• Experience with Cassandra data modeling and querying.
• Familiar with API design using REST and API gateways (Apigee).
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools (GitHub Copilot or Claude Code).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable Java/Spring Boot microservices.
• Build production-grade REST APIs and cloud-native apps.
• Manage containerized apps with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Develop and maintain GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Configure Apigee proxies, gateways, and policies.
• Mentor junior developers and participate in architecture discussions.
• Provide production support and troubleshoot incidents.
• Write unit/integration tests and ensure code quality.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

Microservices

Kubernetes

Docker

GitLab CI/CD

Cassandra

Apigee/API Gateway

GitHub Copilot

Claude Code

REST APIs

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering

Tools

GitLab

Apigee

Kafka

RabbitMQ

Prometheus

Grafana

Job description

Role: Senior Java Lead Developer
Location: Bellevue, WA

Let's create our future together at The AES Group!

About The AES Group

The AES Group is a premier technology and engineering consulting company that has been bringing businesses and talent together for over 20 years to deliver innovative solutions that have the greatest positive impact on society. AES has helped over 40 business enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies, engage their customers, empower their employees, and transform their business operations with the power of cloud, data, AI, engineering, and other emerging technologies.

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Java Lead Developer with strong hands-on experience in Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, Kubernetes, Docker, GitLab CI/CD, Cassandra, and Apigee. The candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, deploying, and supporting scalable cloud-native applications and REST APIs.

The ideal candidate should have strong technical leadership skills, experience with production environments, and practical experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot and/or Claude Code.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable Java/Spring Boot microservices.
• Develop and maintain production-grade REST APIs and cloud-native applications.
• Build and manage containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Deploy, scale, and troubleshoot applications running on Kubernetes.
• Develop and maintain GitLab CI/CD pipelines for automated build, testing, and deployment.
• Design data models and develop queries using Cassandra.
• Configure and manage APIs using Apigee, including API proxies, gateways, and policies.
• Use GitHub Copilot and/or Claude Code for coding, code reviews, refactoring, debugging, testing, and code optimization.
• Participate in technical architecture, design discussions, code reviews, and sprint planning.
• Troubleshoot application and production issues and provide production support.
• Develop unit, integration, and automated tests to ensure application quality and reliability.
• Collaborate with DevOps, QA, Product, and other engineering teams to deliver solutions end-to-end.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor other developers.
• Follow software engineering best practices for scalability, performance, security, and maintainability.

Required Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with Java.
• Strong experience with Spring Boot and REST API development.
• Extensive experience developing Microservices.
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes.
• Experience with Docker and containerization.
• Strong experience with GitLab and GitLab CI/CD.
• Strong experience with Cassandra, including data modeling and querying.
• Hands-on experience with Apigee/API Gateway, including API proxies and policies.
• Practical experience using GitHub Copilot and/or Claude Code in software development.
• Experience with unit testing, integration testing, and automated testing.
• Strong troubleshooting and production support experience.
• Strong communication and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Experience with Kafka or RabbitMQ.
• Experience with Helm and Kubernetes Operators.
• Knowledge of Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK, or similar observability tools.
• Knowledge of OAuth2, JWT, and mTLS.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.
• Telecom industry experience is preferred.

Key Technologies

Java | Spring Boot | Microservices | REST APIs | Kubernetes | Docker | GitLab | GitLab CI/CD | Cassandra | Apigee | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code | AWS/Azure/GCP | Kafka | RabbitMQ

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong experience working on enterprise-scale software applications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives while remaining hands-on with development.