Lead Application Development Engineer (Hybrid)

American Family Insurance; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 131,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Hybrid work model

Job summary

American Family Insurance is seeking a Lead Applications Development Engineer in Madison, WI. You will provide technical vision, lead Java development and RESTful API work, and architect scalable solutions that deliver meaningful business impact.

The role emphasizes Claude AI usage, cloud-native platforms, and legacy modernization, with mentoring across teams. You will report to the Engineering Delivery Manager in a hybrid role, with relocation support and a guaranteed path to long-term success

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing Java-based applications and RESTful services.
• Experience with modern Java frameworks (e.g., Spring Boot).
• Ability to design scalable architectures and multi-team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Define resource needs, timelines, and technologies for projects.
• Architect robust, scalable software across platforms and services.
• Provide hands-on Java development and guidance for high-risk features.
• Lead testing, code reviews, and knowledge sharing to raise team quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to improve workflows and reliability.

Skills

Java

RESTful APIs

Spring Boot

Claude AI

Cloud platforms

Code reviews

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure/GCP

Spring

Job description

Join American Family Insurance as a Lead Applications Development Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our technology landscape. In this role, you'll provide technical vision and leadership while remaining hands‑on with Java development and RESTful API development architecting scalable solutions that deliver meaningful business impact. You'll have the opportunity to help drive the team's evolution by leveraging emerging technologies such as Claude AI and cloud-native platforms, modernising legacy applications, and leading critical system migrations to modern data centre and cloud environments. Beyond building innovative solutions, you'll guide and mentor teammates, introduce new ways of working, and champion best practices that enhance the team's effectiveness, efficiency, and long‑term success. Collaborating across teams, you'll help create high‑quality software that powers exceptional experiences for our customers and the business. You will report to the Engineering Delivery Manager. Role not eligible for sponsorship. #LI-Hybrid Position Compensation Range: $131,000.00 - $220,000.00 Pay Rate Type: Salary Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographic work location. Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Technical Strategy and Solution Design Serve as a trusted technical expert during project planning, helping define resource needs, required skills, timelines, tools, and technologies. Evaluate and contribute to proof‑of‑concept initiatives that validate innovative solutions and reduce project risk. Translate business goals, requirements, and use cases into scalable technical designs and actionable development plans.
• Architect High‑Quality Solutions Analyze complex system requirements and design robust, efficient, and maintainable solutions. Identify and manage system dependencies, ensuring seamless integration across platforms and applications. Partner with stakeholders and technical teams to validate architectural decisions and drive best practices.
• Provide advanced Java coding expertise and hands‑on support for high‑risk features, critical initiatives, and complex technical issues. Guide teams through architectural and development challenges by recommending effective solutions and implementation strategies.
• Champion Quality and Continuous Improvement Lead and participate in testing activities, including unit testing and system integration testing, to ensure high‑quality deliverables. Facilitate development reviews, walkthroughs, and knowledge‑sharing sessions that strengthen team capabilities. Mentor team members by sharing technical expertise, best practices, and problem‑solving approaches.
• Promote Collaboration and Operational Excellence Collaborate with cross‑functional partners to optimise system workflows, data utilisation, and business processes. Document design decisions, estimates, technical assumptions, code modules, and performance metrics to maintain organisational standards and support future scalability. Ensure technology solutions align with business objectives while improving efficiency, reliability, and user experience.

What Success Looks Like

You are a technical leader who bridges business needs and technology solutions, influences key design decisions, solves complex challenges, and empowers teams to deliver scalable, high‑performing systems that drive organisational success. You have the opportunity to help the team grow in utilisation of Claude for coding reviews and analysis as well as cloud technologies.

Specialised Knowledge & Skills Requirements

• Demonstrated experience analysing and understanding complex software and systems.
• Demonstrated experience communicating technical information to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering multiple solution design approaches to meet customer needs.
• Demonstrated experience developing complex software and systems using one or more programming languages.
• Demonstrated experience analysing requirements and estimating project size, scope, and work effort for software solutions.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical guidance, mentorship, and leadership to less experienced staff.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of RESTful software development standards, methodologies, and best practices.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of infrastructure technologies, operating systems, and the interconnectivity between infrastructure platforms and software tools.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Solid knowledge and understanding of application architecture principles and design alternatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field
• Extensive experience in application development with strong proficiency coding, analysis and design in Java and modern Java‑based frameworks such as Spring Boot and Spring
• Experience using Claude – code reviews, analysis and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical design, development, and implementation efforts across complex software solutions
• Experience building and supporting API‑First(RESTful and SOAP) services, and service‑oriented or microservices‑based application architectures
• Familiarity with cloud‑enabled technologies and platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools supporting continuous integration and continuous delivery
• Knowledge of containerisation and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Strong understanding of software engineering best practices, including object‑oriented design, design patterns, code reviews, and automated testing
• Experience working with DB2 and NoSQL databases
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in development, test, and production environments
• Experience mentoring engineers, providing technical guidance, and supporting team development
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across engineering, product, architecture, and business teams
• Experience working in Agile environments and contributing to iterative delivery practices
• Experience in the insurance, financial services, or other highly regulated industry is preferred
• Passion for delivering scalable, secure, and reliable technology solutions that improve customer and business outcomes.

Licenses

Not Applicable.

Travel Requirements

Up to 10%.

Physical Requirements

Work that primarily involves sitting/standing.

Working Conditions

Not Applicable.

Additional Information

To ensure a strong start, all employees participate in our New Employee Orientation during their first week. This experience is held in person at our Madison, WI Headquarters or one of our AmFam core locations to help you connect with our mission, meet key team members and build relationships that support your growth. At times, sessions may be delivered virtually based on scheduling and availability.

Offer to selected candidate will be made contingent on the results of applicable background checks and is contingent on signing a non‑disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions. Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless specified in the posting. In this hybrid role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month out of either the Madison, WI or Boston MA offices.

We provide benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. You will have access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and wellbeing benefits that enable you to take care of your health. We also offer a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full‑time employees). In addition, our student loan repayment program and paid‑family leave are available to support our employees and their families. Interns and contingent workers are not eligible for American Family Insurance Group benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non‑discrimination, non‑harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. American Family Insurance is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please email [e-mail] to request a reasonable accommodation.

Company Overview

#LI-AB1 American Family Insurance, based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance is the nation’s 12th‑largest property/casualty insurance company, ranking No. 202 on the Fortune 500 list. American Family has a current ‘a+’ credit rating through AM Best, and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for at least 75 years. The company offers American Family‑brand products through a network of exclusive agency owners as well as nationwide through key strategic partnerships. American Family Insurance also includes Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. The company has approximately 10,500 employees nationwide.

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