REMOTE- Node.js & Java Lead Developer

Cognizant; Durham (NC); Remote; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology solutions provider in Durham, NC is seeking a Principal Node.js & Java Developer with over 20 years of experience for legacy system migration. The candidate will lead modernization strategies, manage technical migrations to cloud-native architectures, and work on automating legacy code analysis. This role offers competitive benefits including medical insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

401(k) plan

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in software development.
• Strong background in Java (Spring, Hibernate, JPA) and Node.js (Express.js, Nest.js).
• Expertise in legacy system migrations including monolithic-to-microservices transformations.
• Strong knowledge of cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure).
• Hands-on experience in database modernization and ETL pipeline development.

Responsibilities

• Assess, analyze, and design modernization strategies for legacy Node.js/Java applications.
• Lead the migration of legacy applications to microservices-based cloud-native architectures.
• Refactor and rewrite legacy codebases to improve scalability and performance.
• Implement automated migration tools and ensure smooth integration.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define migration roadmaps.

Skills

Java

Node.js

Microservices

Cloud Computing

Database Modernization

API Modernization

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Tools

Jenkins

GitHub Actions

GitLab CI/CD

Terraform

Ansible

CloudFormation

Job description

Job Description Principal Node.js & Java Developer – Legacy Code Migration Specialist

Looking for Super Senior/Extremely experienced Node.js & Java Developer with 20+ years of experience specializing in legacy system modernization and migration.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in Java, Node.js, microservices, cloud computing, and database modernization, with a strong background in migrating monolithic applications to modern architectures.

This role requires technical leadership, hands-on expertise, and strategic planning to ensure seamless transitions from legacy systems to scalable, high-performance solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess, analyze, and design modernization strategies for legacy NodeJS/Java applications, monolithic architectures, and outdated database systems.
• Lead the migration of legacy applications to microservices-based, cloud-native architectures using Java (Spring Boot, Hibernate) and Node.js (Express/Nest.js).
• Refactor and rewrite legacy codebases to improve scalability, maintainability, and performance.
• Implement automated migration tools, API gateways, and middleware solutions to ensure smooth integration with modern applications.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, architects, and DevOps teams to define migration roadmaps, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
• Enhance legacy systems with event-driven architectures (Pulsar/Kafka) for real-time processing.
• Implement cloud-native solutions on AWS leveraging containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless technologies.
• Establish CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and DevSecOps practices to accelerate modernization efforts.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and best practice guidance to development teams during the transition.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 20+ years of experience in software development with a strong background in Java (Spring, Hibernate, JPA) and Node.js (Express.js, Nest.js).
• Expertise in legacy system migrations, including monolithic-to-microservices transformations.
• Strong knowledge of cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure) and serverless computing.
• Hands-on experience in database modernization, schema refactoring, and ETL pipeline development.
• Experience with API modernization, including RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and event-driven patterns.
• Deep understanding of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD), and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation).
• Strong experience in performance optimization, security hardening, and system reliability improvements.
• Proven ability to reverse-engineer complex legacy systems, understand business logic, and design modern replacements.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AI-driven code refactoring tools and automated legacy code analysis.
• Experience in Cold Storage & Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) & Automated Retrievals and Storage systems.
• Supply chain logistics, inventory management, and warehouse automation.
• Experience with low-code/no-code platforms for rapid modernization.
• Contributions to open-source modernization frameworks or cloud migration tools.

About Cognizant’s IoT Practice:

Intelligent, IoT-enabled products will soon result in the proliferation of data and disrupt virtually all industries. To be successful, both large and small companies must leverage IoT capabilities by designing modern products that fundamentally connect people with processes.

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance.
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off.
• 401(k) plan and contributions.
• Long-term/Short-term Disability.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan.