Principal Application Engineer (Lending Systems)

Navy Federal Credit Union; Vienna (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, VA is seeking a Principal Engineer for lending systems to lead architecture and modernization efforts. You will guide SDLC, SAFe practices, and collaboration across software, product, and vendor teams to deliver scalable lending solutions.

This role requires deep experience with cloud, microservices, Java/Spring, REST, and DevOps in Azure, plus strong leadership to drive roadmaps, backlog grooming, PI and Sprint Planning, and cross-team execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• 10+ years of business domain experience in consumer lending origination, servicing, and delivery.
• Experience with CGI loan origination software (ACAPS, Bureau Link, Strata).
• Experience with FIS loan servicing product (ALS).
• Experience in systems engineering at the enterprise level including cloud and distributed architectures.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise into the lending modernization roadmaps and cross-cutting initiatives.
• Provide oversight in SDLC using SAFe practices.
• Lead solution design, system architecture, and technical requirements for lending solutions.
• Document requirements for data, workflows, interfaces, and environments.
• Establish and evolve architectural runway with technical enablers.
• Collaborate with product teams on roadmaps and agile ceremonies.
• Contribute to production support, deployments, and incident management.

Skills

SDLC

SAFe

Azure Cloud

REST API

Java

Spring Boot

Kubernetes

Architecture

Education

Bachelor's Degree in CS or related field

Tools

Git

Jenkins

Maven

Terraform

Ansible

Job description

Overview

Navy Federal Credit Union currently does not provide sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

The Principal Engineer for lending systems will serve as a practice lead, system architect, subject matter expert, and an advisor for the lending portfolio across the organization. This individual must become knowledgeable in our current on-prem systems and provide recommendations around product architecture, design, development, and modernization. The Principal Engineer will be consulted on lending strategy, design, engineering, data flows, and integration efforts providing technical expertise on innovative solutions that leverage the latest technologies. The Principal Engineer will create and implement solutions for lending systems and draw out functional and non-functional requirements from business and technology subject matter experts. This individual will manage the architecture and delivery of products and platforms requiring close collaboration with the Technology Product Owner/Managers, Development Leads, Business Product Owners in consumer lending, vendors, and dependent platform and product teams. The Principal Engineer will collaborate with product teams and stake holders on roadmaps and participate in agile ceremonies, reviewing, and analyzing complex strategies for product functionality ensuring feature delivery prioritization.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise into the lending modernization roadmaps and dependent cross-cutting initiatives.
• Provide oversight in the application of the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) utilizing Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) practices.
• Provide input in distributed and cloud technologies including Azure Cloud, MuleSoft Anypoint, REST API, Java, Spring Boot, Kubernetes, etc. to support delivery of lending modernization initiatives.
• Lead solution design, system architecture, technical requirements, and design specifications applying modern product development and systems engineering best practices to the implementation of lending solutions.
• Analyze, define, and document requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, hardware and operating systems environment, interfaces with other systems, internal and external controls, and outputs.
• Establish and evolve the architectural runway including technical enablers and architectural experiments / proof of concepts aligned with business priorities.
• Serve as an advisor providing advice and counsel on assignments concerned with specialized or unique engineering requirements.
• Drive the development/execution including effective use of anchor platform technologies to support efficient and effective technology adoption to deliver optimal business outcomes.
• Perform fit-gap analysis on current-state technology options and provide recommendations supporting the transformation to modern lending platforms that align with business needs and objectives.
• Provide detailed information for technology selection, implementation techniques, and tools.
• Lead the implementation of a flexible change management methodology/framework including DevSecOps Continuous Integration & Delivery practices in Azure DevOps.
• Consult on testing strategy including unit testing, performance testing, test automation, system integration testing, etc.
• Partner with Enterprise Architecture, Security Architecture, Platform Engineering, and Product Engineering teams on the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of distributed and cloud systems.
• Establish and manage relationships with technology vendors on lending system architecture and design with emphasis on achieving operational effectiveness and ensuring service level agreements are established and met.
• Collaborate with business and technology team members to support the development of the product backlog including participating in backlog grooming/refinement, PI Planning, and Sprint Planning.
• Contribute to production support activities including deployments, break-fix resolution, and incident management.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues, work across teams to deliver solutions, and provide technical support and consultation.
• Perform incident / problem root cause analysis to identify and resolve issues causing recurring technical problems.
• Serve as an advisor on projects concerned with specialized or unique engineering requirements.
• Provide input into financial planning including budgetary recommendations.
• Provide guidance to leadership and team members on technology best practices.
• Provide technical direction and leadership routinely to other engineers; serve as a coach and mentor
• Monitor and analyze metrics to ensure optimal business and technical outcomes.
• Review solutions to ensure alignment with business objectives, organization standards and guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Identify potential problems in design, quality, or operations and initiate corrective action.
• Identify and resolve conflicts between proposed solutions and existing systems to ensure compatibility.
• Identify opportunities to mitigate risk and improve functionality, performance, and security.
• Provide forward-thinking technical expertise in current and emerging technologies, trends, and practices.
• Provide consistent, concise, relevant, reliable, and timely information to internal and external stakeholders through a variety of communication channels.
• Ensure the accuracy of information communicated to support leadership decision-making.
• Collaborate on the development and refinement of standards and best practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, related degree, or equivalent combination of training, education, and experience.
• 10+ years of business domain experience in consumer and business lending origination, servicing, and delivery.
• Experience with CGI suite of loan origination software (ACAPS, Bureau Link, Strata).
• Experience with FIS loan servicing product application (ALS).
• Experience in systems engineering at the enterprise level including the analysis and design of cloud and distributed system architectures, preferably within the financial services or fintech sectors supporting modernization initiatives.
• Significant knowledge of system engineering principles, practices, theories, and methods to identify and solve complex problems and perform sophisticated analyses.
• Exposure to microservice architecture and service-oriented architecture (SOA) within an enterprise business environment.
• Experience in software development practices including designing, developing, testing, debugging, and implementing mainframe, distributed, and cloud applications and systems.
• Experience with object‑oriented programming languages.
• Experience with private, public and hybrid cloud infrastructure with specific emphasis on the Azure Cloud technology stack.
• Knowledge of continuous integration and deployment and tools chain (e.g., GIT, Jenkins, Maven, RunDeck, Terraform, Ansible, etc.)
• Advanced troubleshooting skills and ability to identify root cause of issues and provide solutions.
• Self‑motivated and proactive, able to quickly learn and apply new concepts, tools, and applications.
• Advanced problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, team building, and presentation skills.
• Advanced skill applying innovative approaches to solve complex technical design issues.
• Ability to lead independent teams, exercise initiative, and use good judgement.
• Advanced experience with Scaled Agile Framework and/or Agile software development practices.
• Advanced knowledge of the product management lifecycle.
• Expert verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related degree.
• 10+ years of experience designing, implementing, and supporting cloud and cloud native, Loan Origination Systems.
• Advanced knowledge of financial/banking industry standards, regulations, and practices.
• Advanced knowledge of Navy Federal systems, products, services, programs, policies, and procedures.
• Experience and knowledge of relational databases, data modeling, and ETL tools.
• Experience with security standards such as TLS, SSL, and data encryption.

Hours

• Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM (Occasional after‑hours support may be required for deployments and on‑call coverage as needed)

Location

• 820 Follin Lane, Vienna, VA 22180

About Us

Navy Federal provides much more than a job. We provide a meaningful career experience, including a culture that is energized, engaged and committed; and fierce appreciation for our teams, who are rewarded with highly competitive pay and generous benefits and perks.

Our approach to careers is simple yet powerful: Make our mission your passion.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

If you need accommodation or assistance for a qualifying condition to complete the online application (or during any stage of the hiring process), you can contact Navy Federal’s Medical Accommodations team at [e-mail] or by calling 1-888-503-6013. This team cannot provide any information on job postings or application status.

Bank Secrecy Act

Remains cognizant of and adheres to Navy Federal policies and procedures, and regulations pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act.

Disclaimers

Navy Federal reserves the right to fill this role at a higher/lower grade level based on business need. An assessment may be required to compete for this position. Job postings are subject to close early or extend out longer than the anticipated closing date at the hiring team’s discretion based on qualified applicant volume. Navy Federal Credit Union assesses market data to establish salary ranges that enable us to remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range, based on your experience, location and market position. For additional details regarding compensation and benefits, review the Benefits page of the Navy Federal Career Site.

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