Lead Java Engineer: AI-Driven Platform Architect

Sky System Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

AutoNation is seeking a hands-on Lead Software Engineer to design and deliver digital platforms used by customers, associates, and business operations nationwide. You will write and review production code, mentor engineers, and partner with product, architecture, quality assurance, delivery, and operations teams.

The role emphasizes Java, AWS, microservices, APIs, and modern data tech, with AI-enabled development practices to improve quality and speed while preserving human judgment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of Java software development experience.
• Experience providing technical leadership to a team of at least three software engineers.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience designing and delivering large-scale, highly available, mission-critical systems.
• Strong knowledge of Java-based microservices or multi-tier architectures, REST APIs, JSON, OAuth, SQL, relational databases, and data modeling.
• Strong solution-design, architectural decision-making, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience working within Agile or another structured software-delivery methodology.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, testing, implementation, and operation of scalable software products.
• Remain hands-on by contributing production code, reviewing designs and code, and troubleshooting complex technical issues.
• Translate product and business objectives into practical architecture, technical plans, estimates, and delivery priorities.
• Mentor engineers and promote strong practices in software design, automated testing, security, reliability, observability, and DevOps.
• Develop reusable solution patterns in partnership with architecture and other engineering teams.
• Balance delivery speed with maintainability, operational readiness, and long-term platform health.
• Communicate technical decisions, risks, dependencies, and tradeoffs clearly to stakeholders.
• Help teams adopt AI-assisted development practices responsibly across requirements, design, coding, testing, documentation, troubleshooting, and code review.

Skills

Java

Microservices

REST APIs

JSON

SQL

Data modeling

Architectural design

Communication

DevOps

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Software Engineering

Tools

AWS

Job description

AutoNation is seeking a hands-on Lead Software Engineer to design and deliver digital platforms used by customers, associates, and business operations nationwide. You will write and review production code, mentor engineers, and partner with product, architecture, quality assurance, delivery, and operations teams.

The role emphasizes Java, AWS, microservices, APIs, and modern data tech, with AI-enabled development practices to improve quality and speed while preserving human judgment.