Java Technical Lead

Sysco; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sysco is seeking an experienced Java backend engineering leader to own delivery for a core platform. You will guide architecture, build enterprise-grade, high-volume services, and mentor distributed teams across geographies to ensure reliability and performance.

You will collaborate with Product, UX, QA, and DevOps to align technical deliverables with business goals, implement CI/CD, optimize data processing, and ensure production readiness with automated testing and monitoring.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• 8+ years Java development, including 2+ years in a dev-focused leadership role.
• Strong experience with Java and the Spring Framework (Spring Boot), microservices, and database design (SQL/NoSQL).
• Proven RESTful API design and development, asynchronous messaging (Kafka), and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Experience with event-driven architecture, Agile methodologies, and CI/CD practices; full-stack exposure (React) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drives technical priorities and owns end-to-end delivery and support for Java-based backend solutions used in core business operations.
• Leads agile development activities for Java platforms, including architecture design, patterns, and security practices.
• Provides hands-on technical leadership guiding backend development for scalable data processing, high availability, and API performance.
• Oversees project timelines, resource allocation, and team performance to ensure successful delivery.
• Mentors engineers across distributed teams, conducts code reviews, and fosters continuous learning and improvement.
• Coordinates cross-team dependencies with Product, UX, QA, and Backend to ensure scalable and reliable outcomes.
• Engages with enterprise architecture, DevOps, and ops teams to enable CI/CD pipelines for backend services (Git, Jenkins, test automation).
• Facilitates estimation of work items, aligns with business goals, and incorporates diverse perspectives in planning.
• Ensures compliance with agile, DevOps, and security best practices while exploring emerging Java/backend tech.
• Partners with stakeholders to align technical deliverables with business needs and KPIs.
• Maintains production readiness via automated testing, monitoring, and support strategies (JUnit, Mockito).

Skills

Java

Spring Framework

Microservices

RESTful APIs

SQL/NoSQL

Kafka

Cloud (AWS/GCP/Azure)

CI/CD

Agile

Distributed Teams

Python

React

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Git

Jenkins

JUnit

Mockito

Job description

Job Summary

Fluent across the full technology stack with specialized expertise in Java development; owns delivery and support responsibility for a product or platform team, with a focus on building enterprise-grade, high-performing server-side solutions. Drives technical priorities and supports delivery efforts through advisory, coaching, and hands-on execution. Leads a distributed team of software engineers, providing mentorship and ensuring technical excellence. Develops and leads people with a focus on skills, quality delivery, and customer alignment. Regularly engages with internal and external stakeholders to ensure delivery of robust, scalable, and reliable applications tailored for mission-critical, high-volume environments.

Responsibilities

• Drives technical priorities and owns end-to-end delivery and support for Java-based backend solutions used in core business operations.
• Leads agile development activities for Java platforms, including the design and implementation of best-in-class architectures, patterns, and security practices.
• Provides hands-on technical leadership by guiding backend development with a focus on scalable data processing, high availability, and API performance.
• Accountable for overseeing project timelines, resource allocation, and team performance to ensure successful delivery.
• Mentors and technically guides engineers across geographically distributed teams across geographies, conducts code reviews and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
• Coordinates cross-team dependencies and collaborates across Product, UX, QA, and Backend teams to ensure scalable and reliable outcomes.
• Engages with enterprise architecture, DevOps, and operational teams to ensure seamless integration and CI/CD pipelines for backend services (using tools such as Git, Jenkins, and test automation).
• Facilitates estimation of work items, ensures alignment with business goals, and incorporates diverse perspectives in planning and delivery.
• Ensures compliance with agile, DevOps, and security best practices while driving technical innovation through evaluation of emerging Java and backend technologies.
• Partners with stakeholders to align technical deliverables with business needs, ensuring solutions contribute to operational efficiency and KPIs.
• Maintains production readiness via automated testing, monitoring, and support strategies; utilizes frameworks such as JUnit and Mockito.
• Demonstrates ability to gather domain knowledge in logistics operations and apply it to Java backend solution design.
• Creates and manages delivery timelines, ensures environments and teams are scoped effectively, and supports high-stakes production deployments.
• Maintains composure and analytical perspective during technical escalations and leads crisis resolution when necessary.
• Uses data and metrics to support business planning, staffing, and risk mitigation decisions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience.
• 5-8 years of experience in full-stack software development, including a minimum of 2 years in a dev-focused leadership role.
• 8+ years of Java development experience, building high-volume backend applications in logistics, or field service industries.
• Strong experience with Java and the Spring Framework (especially Spring Boot), microservices architecture, and database design (SQL and NoSQL).
• Proven experience in RESTful API design and development, asynchronous messaging (e.g., Kafka), and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Proven experience with event-driven architecture.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Agile methodologies and CI/CD best practices.
• Experience with full-stack development, including front-end frameworks like React.
• Experience working with distributed teams and managing cross-time-zone delivery.

Competencies

• Demonstrated an "agile-development" mindset with strong customer focus and results orientation.
• Deep hands-on expertise in Java system architecture, performance optimization, and distributed system design.
• Strong technical and analytical skills to identify problems, architect solutions, and drive technical strategy.
• Full-stack knowledge to guide both front-end (e.g., React) and back-end development.
• Demonstrated competence in designing and implementing event-driven architectures.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills to manage stakeholder relationships and foster team growth.
• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and staying current with Java and backend tech trends.
• Experience with Python is a plus and a polyglot mindset is highly valued.
• Understanding of and passion for emerging technologies, including Generative AI.