Java & Microservices Development Lead – Vice President

Citi; Jersey City (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi in Jersey City, NJ, seeks an experienced Java backend developer to join Enterprise Operations & Technology. You will work on server-side Java with Spring Boot, microservices, and modern data platforms, delivering scalable APIs and data pipelines.

Strong experience with Docker/Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and testing frameworks is required. Collaboration with Product managers and crossfunctional teams is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of hands‑on experience in Java backend development (Java 8+).
• Experience with Spring Boot, Spring JPA, Spring Cloud, JDBC, Hibernate and REST/GraphQL APIs.
• Proven data transformation between XML, JSON, CSV; SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Experience with microservices, Kafka, CI/CD, and secure file transfer protocols.
• Agile testing with JUnit/Mockito; strong DevOps awareness and version control (Git).

Responsibilities

• Translate complex business requirements into robust software solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure scalable designs.
• Design and build complex solutions aligned to architecture standards.
• Coordinate and participate in SIT/UAT and deployment activities.
• Provide mentoring to junior engineers and address Risk & Control items.
• Deliver projects with strong communication of issues and risks.

Skills

Java backend development

Spring Boot

Kotlin/functional programming

RESTful APIs & GraphQL

Kafka messaging

Junit/Mockito

Docker/Kubernetes

CI/CD practices

SQL/NoSQL (MongoDB)

Git/Bitbucket

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/SE

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Kubernetes/OpenShift

Docker

AWS/Azure/GCP

Jenkins/UrbanCode/SonarQube

Job description

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

As a bank with a brain and a soul, Citi creates economic value that is systemically responsible and in our clients’ best interests. As a financial institution that touches every region of the world and every sector that shapes your daily life, our Enterprise Operations & Technology teams are charged with a mission that rivals any large tech company. Our technology solutions are the foundations of everything we do from keeping the bank safe, managing global resources, and providing the technical tools our workers need to be successful to designing our digital architecture and ensuring our platforms provide a first-class customer experience. We reimagine client and partner experiences to deliver excellence through secure, reliable, and efficient services.

Our commitment to diversity includes a workforce that represents the clients we serve from all walks of life, backgrounds, and origins. We foster an environment where the best people want to work. We value and demand respect for others, promote individuals based on merit, and ensure opportunities for personal development are widely available to all. Ideal candidates are innovators with well‑rounded backgrounds who bring their authentic selves to work and complement our culture of delivering results with pride. If you are a problem solver who seeks passion in your work, come join us. We’ll enable growth and progress together.

The ideal candidate possesses strong technical expertise in server‑side Java development (Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, Spring JPA, JDBC, Hibernate), functional programming, testing frameworks (JUnit, Mockito), RESTful/GraphQL APIs, messaging (Kafka, TIBCO EMS, IBM MQ), SFTP, microservices architecture (Kubernetes/Docker), CI/CD tools, and SQL/NoSQL databases. Front‑end experience (React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS) is a plus. Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills are essential for success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex business requirements and functional specifications into robust and intuitive user interfaces and software solutions. Partner with Product teams to understand business needs and functional specifications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure specifications are converted into flexible, scalable, and maintainable solution designs. Evaluate project deliverables to ensure they meet specifications and architectural standards.
• Work as part of development teams to design and build complex solutions, ensuring alignment with the architecture blueprint, standards, target state architecture, and strategies.
• Coordinate, execute, and participate in component integration (CIT), system integration testing (SIT), and user acceptance testing (UAT) to identify and resolve application errors and ensure quality software deployment.
• Possess a solid grasp of software design patterns and approaches. Understand application‑level software architecture and make technical trade‑off decisions.
• Solve complex architecture/design and business problems, developing extensible solutions. Work to simplify, optimize, and remove bottlenecks.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to junior engineers, offering feedback and direction on specific engineering tasks.
• Maintain application hygiene and address any Risk & Control items.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Business Analysts, and Operational users/Product managers to deliver projects.
• Work independently on project deliverables, articulate issues/challenges, and proactively communicate risks.
• Handle code releases in various environments.

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of hands‑on experience in Java backend development (Java 8+ preferred), including deep understanding of core Java concepts, object‑oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, and design patterns.
• Experience with Spring Boot, Spring JPA, Spring Cloud, JDBC, Hibernate, REST, and Maven is essential. Demonstrated proficiency in Java 8+ features (lambda expressions, streams, functional interfaces) and functional programming paradigms is required. Python programming experience is a plus.
• Proven experience transforming data between various formats such as XML, FXML, SWIFT, JSON, and CSV, utilizing relevant libraries and tools.
• Extensive experience with microservices architecture and related technologies, including Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift, and cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP). Strong understanding of microservice design patterns, principles, and best practices.
• Experience implementing Kafka consumers, producers, and streaming applications. Familiarity with other messaging technologies like TIBCO EMS and IBM MQ is highly desirable. Experience with secure file transfer protocols
• Solid understanding of both SQL and NoSQL databases. Hands‑on experience with MongoDB is preferred, and experience with other NoSQL databases is a plus. Familiarity with relational databases (e.g., Oracle, PostgreSQL) is required.
• Experience with Kafka Streams and Apache Flink is a significant advantage. Agile & Testing: Experience working in an Agile environment using TDD/BDD best practices. Proficiency with JUnit and Mockito for unit and integration testing is essential
• Good knowledge of DevOps principles and CI/CD practices. Experience with tools like Jenkins, TeamCity, IBM UrbanCode Deploy, and SonarQube is highly desirable.
• Experience implementing RESTful and GraphQL APIs, including API design, development, and security best practices. Experience with WebSocket implementations is preferred.
• Proficiency with Git/Bitbucket for version control is required. Soft Skills: Strong communication, analytical, problem‑solving, and leadership skills are essential. Demonstrated ability to take ownership, collaborate effectively, and communicate technical concepts clearly.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree/University degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent experience
• Master’s degree preferred

Job Family Group

Technology

Job Family

Applications Development

Time Type

Full time

Primary Location

Jersey City New Jersey United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range

$142,320.00 - $213,480.00

Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Anticipated Posting Close Date

Sep 25, 2026

Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision‑making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

Illinois residents – AI Notice and Right

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.