Lead Full Stack Engineer

MetLife; New Jersey; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

MetLife’s Global Technology team seeks a hands-on Senior Software Engineer to shape and deliver large-scale applications used across the organization. You’ll code, debug, test, and optimize while guiding technical direction across multiple development teams.

The role blends design leadership with API-focused development in Java, Node.js, React, and microservices, including OpenAPI documentation, Spring Cloud, and DevOps pipelines, in a hybrid New Jersey office setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology with 5 years of experience designing applications and systems at web scale.
• 5 years of experience in Java and/or Node.js.
• 2 years of React experience.
• Experience designing enterprise APIs and documenting them in OpenAPI Specification.
• Developing enterprise APIs in Microservices architecture using Java.
• Spring Cloud framework; DevOps pipelines for CI/CD in a cloud environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement large and complex technology projects at a global scale, applying product-centric technical expertise.
• Collaborate with business and IT partners in design and implementation of distributed applications; convert business problems into programming instructions.
• Design and code programs, create test transactions, run tests, and monitor efficiency of existing systems.
• Review, analyze, modify programming systems, including encoding, testing, debugging, and installation for large-scale systems.
• Provide technical support to project teams across project lifecycles around platforms, design, security, debugging, profiling, and performance tuning.
• Provide governance over development teams to ensure standards and best practices are followed.

Skills

Java

Node.js

React

OpenAPI

Microservices

Spring Cloud

DevOps pipelines

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Information Technology

Tools

Kubernetes

Istio

Splunk

AppDynamics

Azure

Job description

When you join MetLife’s Global Technology team, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking group dedicated to shaping the future of digital solutions for customers worldwide. You’ll develop, maintain and support technology applications and delivery, leveraging AI, automation, and contemporary ways of working to enhance experiences and drive business outcomes. Your work will simplify complex processes, improve tech resiliency, and ensure high-performing, seamless solutions that power life’s most important moments. In this dynamic environment, you’ll collaborate with talented peers across teams and functions, expanding your skills in impactful ways. Ready to push boundaries and set new industry standards? Join us and help drive the future of technology forward.

The Opportunity

Join a highly collaborative technology environment where you’ll help shape and deliver complex, large-scale applications used across a global organization. This role offers the opportunity to remain hands-on with design, development, debugging, and performance tuning while also providing technical leadership and governance across multiple development teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement large and complex technology projects at a global scale, applying product-centric technical expertise to navigate complex deployments with multiple systems and teams.
• Collaborate with business and IT partners in the design and implementation of complex distributed applications. Contribute to the technical design and development of applications using existing and emerging technology platforms. Convert business problems into programming instructions.
• Design and code programs, create test transactions, and run tests as necessary. Monitor operating efficiency of existing application systems.
• Review, analyze, and modify programming systems, including encoding, testing, debugging, and installing for a large-scale system.
• Provide technical support to project teams throughout project lifecycle around technology platforms, solution design, security, debugging, profiling, and performance tuning.
• Provide governance over development teams to ensure that standards and best practices are being followed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology and five (5) years of experience designing applications and systems at web scale.
• 5 years of experience in Java and/or node js
• 2 years of experience in React.
• Specific skills/other requirements - must also possess experience in the following: Designing enterprise APIs and documenting them in OpenAPI Specification. Developing enterprise APIs in Microservices architecture using Java.
• Spring Cloud framework. Designing and implementing DevOps Pipelines for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery of code in a cloud computing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in SQL or Oracle technologies.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Experience in leading and mentoring software development teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with containerized applications in Azure cloud infrastructure using technologies such as Kubernetes and Istio service mesh. Monitoring and analyzing performance of complex distributed applications using Splunk and AppDynamics Observability Platform.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is $120,000 - $161,600. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more! For more information regarding MetLife’s U.S. benefits, please click here.

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™ as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI-enabled, people-centered future. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion and long-term value.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.

This posting is for a current vacancy and is anticipated to remain open for at least 90 days from the listed posting date.