Senior Java Tech Lead & Backend Architect

Sysco Corp.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sysco Northeast Rdc is seeking an experienced Senior Java Backend Engineer in Houston to own end-to-end delivery for enterprise-grade backend services. You will lead distributed teams, drive architectural decisions, and ensure high availability and scalable data processing across core business operations.

The role requires deep Java expertise, Spring Boot, microservices, and cloud experience, with strong collaboration across Product, UX, QA, and Backend teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent required.
• 5–8 years of full-stack software development experience with leadership exposure.
• 8+ years of Java backend development for high-volume, mission-critical systems.
• Strong Java and Spring Framework, microservices, and DB design (SQL/NoSQL).
• RESTful API design, asynchronous messaging (Kafka), and cloud experience (AWS/GCP/Azure).
• Experience with Agile, CI/CD, and front-end (React) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical priorities and end-to-end delivery for Java-based backend solutions.
• Lead agile development, architecture design, and security practices.
• Provide hands-on leadership for scalable data processing and API performance.
• Oversee timelines, resources, and team performance for successful delivery.
• Mentor distributed teams and conduct code reviews for quality.
• Coordinate cross-team work with Product, UX, QA, and Backend groups.

Skills

Java development

Spring Framework

Microservices

RESTful API design

Kafka

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

CI/CD

GIT/Jenkins

React (front-end) experience

Python (plus)

Event-driven architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Git

Jenkins

JUnit

Mockito

Kafka

Job description

Job Summary

Fluent across the full technology stack with specialized expertise in Java development; owns delivery and support responsibility for a product or platform team, with a focus on building enterprise-grade, high-performing server-side solutions. Drives technical priorities and supports delivery efforts through advisory, coaching, and hands-on execution. Leads a distributed team of software engineers, providing mentorship and ensuring technical excellence. Develops and leads people with a focus on skills, quality delivery, and customer alignment. Regularly engages with internal and external stakeholders to ensure delivery of robust, scalable, and reliable applications tailored for mission-critical, high-volume environments.

Responsibilities

• Drives technical priorities and owns end-to-end delivery and support for Java-based backend solutions used in core business operations.

• Leads agile development activities for Java platforms, including the design and implementation of best-in-class architectures, patterns, and security practices.

• Provides hands-on technical leadership by guiding backend development with a focus on scalable data processing, high availability, and API performance.

• Accountable for overseeing project timelines, resource allocation, and team performance to ensure successful delivery.

• Mentors and technically guides engineers across geographically distributed teams across geographies, conducts code reviews and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

• Coordinates cross-team dependencies and collaborates across Product, UX, QA, and Backend teams to ensure scalable and reliable outcomes.

• Engages with enterprise architecture, DevOps, and operational teams to ensure seamless integration and CI/CD pipelines for backend services (using tools such as Git, Jenkins, and test automation).

• Facilitates estimation of work items, ensures alignment with business goals, and incorporates diverse perspectives in planning and delivery.

• Ensures compliance with agile, DevOps, and security best practices while driving technical innovation through evaluation of emerging Java and backend technologies.

• Partners with stakeholders to align technical deliverables with business needs, ensuring solutions contribute to operational efficiency and KPIs.

• Maintains production readiness via automated testing, monitoring, and support strategies; utilizes frameworks such as JUnit and Mockito.

• Demonstrates ability to gather domain knowledge in logistics operations and apply it to Java backend solution design.

• Creates and manages delivery timelines, ensures environments and teams are scoped effectively, and supports high-stakes production deployments.

• Maintains composure and analytical perspective during technical escalations and leads crisis resolution when necessary.

• Uses data and metrics to support business planning, staffing, and risk mitigation decisions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience.

• 5–8 years of experience in full-stack software development, including a minimum of 2 years in a dev-focused leadership role.

• 8+ years of Java development experience, building high-volume backend applications in logistics, or field service industries.

• Strong experience with Java and the Spring Framework (especially Spring Boot), microservices architecture, and database design (SQL and NoSQL).

• Proven experience in RESTful API design and development, asynchronous messaging (e.g., Kafka), and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).

• Proven experience with event-driven architecture.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Agile methodologies and CI/CD best practices.

• Experience with full-stack development, including front-end frameworks like React.

• Experience working with distributed teams and managing cross-time-zone delivery.

Competencies

• Demonstrated an “agile-development” mindset with strong customer focus and results orientation.

• Deep hands-on expertise in Java system architecture, performance optimization, and distributed system design.

• Strong technical and analytical skills to identify problems, architect solutions, and drive technical strategy.

• Full-stack knowledge to guide both front-end (e.g., React) and back-end development.

• Demonstrated competence in designing and implementing event-driven architectures.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills to manage stakeholder relationships and foster team growth.

• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and staying current with Java and backend tech trends.

• Experience with Python is a plus and a polyglot mindset is highly valued.

• Understanding of and passion for emerging technologies, including Generative AI.