Lead Backend Engineer

Wawa Inc. (210515330); United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Tuition Reimbursement

401(k)

Medical/Dental/Prescription Coverage

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Credit Union

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Wawa Inc. is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to design and implement next-generation backend systems capable of handling real-time data at scale. You will lead cross-functional efforts, craft scalable architectures, and drive critical API and middleware initiatives across the IT organization.

The role requires deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud computing, and performance optimization, with strong leadership and communication skills to mentor teammates and align with business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT or related field.
• Strong API, Java/JavaScript knowledge and security concepts.
• Experience with cloud computing and distributed systems.
• Proficient in unit and integration testing.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional IT projects and define deliverables.
• Develop and maintain API infrastructure and middleware.
• Ensure IT standards, security practices and DevOps workflows.
• Provide technical guidance and mentor team members.
• Monitor performance and optimize system components.

Skills

Backend architecture

Java/Java EE

API development

Distributed systems

Cloud computing

Leadership

Security practices

Performance tuning

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT

Tools

SpringBoot

REST API

GraphQL

SQL

NoSQL

Kafka

Job description

Job Title

Lead Backend Engineer

Department

Information Technology

Location

Red Roof

Pay Band

Specialist

Job Summary

The Lead Backend Engineer will build the next generation technologies that handle increasing amounts of information at a massive scale in real-time. The Lead Backend Engineer will bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking, data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design and mobile. The Lead Backend Engineer shall work on specific projects critical to Wawa’s needs.

Principal Duties

Provide leadership on projects, technical assistance, and strategic vision and facilitate the definition of project deliverables. Complete project deliverables or provide consulting work efforts based on the agreed scope; estimates work effort, duration, resources and requirements. Ensure that requirements are being met. Research, identify and develop solutions to business challenges and opportunities. Develop project plans to design, install, and upgrade and manage systems and utility software. Define tracking mechanisms and ensure IT standards and methodology are met. Manage expectations and project scope. Appropriately report status and deliver quality results. Develop and maintain support documentation with up to date processes and procedures. Translate complex functional specifications to detail technical designs regarding Test Case, Testing Automation, User Interfaces (UI), Custom Software Applications, middleware technologies, API, API orchestration/choreography, deployment artifacts, artifact packaging, and application monitoring automation, logging and performance metrics. Provide input, guidance and recommendations on technical designs developed by other team members. Develop creative solutions for complex enhancements. Follow standard development processes and transport process including Agile, SDLC methodologies, DevOps, Source Code Management, etc. Ability to apply IT security standards and practices as well as adhere to these standards in the development and design of new and existing technologies within our corporate and store infrastructure Technical consultant for the team and internal business teams. Serve as an expert in technical field of knowledge. Develop unit test plans, test cases/scripts, UI components, application source code, and application packaging configuration scripts, deployment scripts, configuration of API infrastructure, artifact packaging configurations, all automation configurations and performance monitoring and debugging component configurations where applicable. Create and establish performance baselines via performance testing and application profiling. Monitor system performance and tune for peak performance of application/system components built or procured from vendors. Research technology related products and make objective recommendations based on business or operational requirements. Anticipate potential problem situations/risks and address with effective objective responses. Maintain a very high degree of decision impact due to system privileges and responsibilities. Integrate enterprise-wide tools for automating, monitoring, and managing the current and future technology environments in a proactive manner. Develop, document, implement and maintain system management strategies, policies and procedures, including security, support, training and installation procedures. Recommend, design, implement and support infrastructure integration into business solutions, while meeting the business goals and objectives. This includes supporting documentation and diagrams detailing the specific infrastructure. Engage with Engineering team and other ITPS departments to establish appropriate security models for enhancements and changes as well as training downstream support personnel on technology components around custom API Middle Tier services. Drive issue resolution associated with the implementation and testing of new system management software (i.e., Communication Services, APIs) Support and deploy Mid-tier APIs and App. Services based processes for system servers within the Enterprise. Work with IT and outside vendors to resolve technology issues. Develop and maintain processes and procedures as appropriate. Coordinate with other IT departments in the execution of system reboots, maintenance, upgrades/implementations, system and data restorations, mass data changes and system cleanup. Investigate and remedy the root cause of service delivery incidents. Coach and mentor other team members in their development of IT Applications. Serve as a resource and knowledge expert to Applications Development Manager in the project areas.

Essential Functions

Ability to work well individually as well as in a team environment Excellent oral and written communication skills, customer service skills Detail oriented and excellent organizational, time and stress management skills Excellent analytical and problem solving skills Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and independently Proven self-starter with leadership skills and demonstrated ability to make decisions Proven Project Management skills. Lead large cross-functional projects Ability to be on-call 24/7 when required Demonstrate consistency in continuous learning and develop other technical Associates Ability to learn new technologies quickly and independently When prioritizing work, considers the bigger picture, ensuring alignment with department objectives Able to effectively utilize multiple tactics based on situational variables

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a technical discipline preferred (e.g., engineering) or equivalent.

Proficient in programming languages and concepts around API services and Interfaces: Java SE and EE, JavaScript, API development concepts and abstracts (JSON, XML, WADL, RAML, Swagger, RESTful). General knowledge around endpoint protocols and security components (SFTP/FTP, File, OAuth2, SSL, SSH, LDAP etc.) Fluent in multiple technologies (Frameworks, Java, JavaScript, SpringBoot, REST API, Graph QL, SQL, NoSQL, Graph DB’s, etc.). Test Driven development or Behavior Driven development with a clear understanding of the tool stack.

Expertise in unit test, building Integration, smoke and regression testing suite, code coverage process, and pipeline setup.

Understanding of common design patterns, data structures and algorithms and experience in cloud computing with expertise on at least one cloud infrastructure.

Experience with statistics and data processing algorithms.

Experience with securing real-time data pipelines (e.g., Kafka, Storm, Flink, etc.) and batch processing (Spark, Hadoop, etc.).

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) Plan
• Medical/Dental/Prescription Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care)
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs
• Employee Credit Union
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Resource Groups
• eligibility requirements may apply

Contact

For Technical Issues regarding your application please email: [e-mail].

Company Culture

Here at Wawa, the sky's the limit.

Voted as “America’s Favorite Convenience Store,” Wawa operates a chain of convenience retail stores located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and Washington D.C.

Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge‑free ATMs.

We're making every day a little more fulfilling—one smile, hoagie, and experience at a time.

We know that it's our Associates who put the 'wow' in working at Wawa, so we're invested in giving them the encouragement they need to take flight.

By providing flexibility and support, at work and beyond, we create an environment where everyone can thrive.

We believe that with the right ingredients to grow and build a career—and a little wind beneath the wings—our Associates can reach new heights.

Guided by our commitment to community, Wawa Associates take pride in putting people first, making days brighter, and bringing joy to our friends and neighbors.

With opportunities such as volunteering, charitable giving, and events, we're able to extend care beyond the workplace, building stronger neighborhoods and long‑lasting relationships.