Senior Software Engineer - Back End / Java, Spring Boot, Kafka

PNC; Strongsville (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

PNC is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its Retail Technology organization. Based in Pittsburgh, PA or Strongsville, OH, you will design, develop, and scale backend applications and microservices, leveraging Java, Spring Boot, and Kafka.

You will work with RESTful APIs, distributed systems, and CI/CD practices to deliver reliable software with strong observability and performance. You will collaborate with product teams to translate requirements into technical solutions, drive

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Java and Spring Boot development.
• Hands-on experience with Kafka-based event-driven architectures.
• Proficient in building RESTful APIs and microservices; familiarity with distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement enterprise-scale backend applications and microservices.
• Architect and build event-driven systems using Apache Kafka and modern patterns.
• Develop RESTful APIs and backend services with Java and Spring Boot.
• Collaborate with DevOps to implement CI/CD and cloud-native deployment.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

Kafka

Microservices

REST APIs

Distributed Systems

Git

Design Patterns

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

SQL Server

MySQL

CI/CD Tools

Job description

Position Overview

At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company's success. As a Senior Software Engineer within PNC's Retail Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh, PA or Strongsville, OH.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement enterprise-scale backend applications and microservices.


• Architect and build event-driven systems using Apache Kafka and modern distributed system patterns.


• Develop RESTful APIs and backend services using Java and Spring Boot.


• Drive application architecture decisions, ensuring scalability, reliability, maintainability, and performance.


• Partner with product management and business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.


• Define and promote software engineering best practices, coding standards, and development processes.


• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues while continuously improving system observability and resiliency.


• Collaborate with DevOps teams to implement CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native deployment strategies.


• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to the overall technology stack.


• Participate in sprint planning, estimation, and technical roadmap development.


• Ensure security, compliance, and operational excellence across backend platforms.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in Java (Java 11/17+).


• Extensive experience developing applications using Spring Boot and the Spring ecosystem.


• Hands-on experience designing and implementing Kafka-based event-driven architectures.


• Strong understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.


• Experience building and consuming REST APIs.


• Proficiency with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL.


• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.


• Strong understanding of software design patterns, object-oriented design principles, and clean coding practices.


• Experience with source control systems such as Git.


• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

PNC is an in-office company that fosters a supportive culture where employees can thrive and achieve balance. We encourage candidates to connect with their recruiter and hiring manager to understand workplace expectations and ensure the role aligns with their goals.

PNC will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position.

Job Description

• Provides detailed technical design and development of software solutions using existing and emerging technology platforms.


• Proposes & designs software solutions to address complex business needs.


• Writes code, tests and deploys software.


• Prepares technical and procedural documentation required for software.


• Maintains and debugs software.

PNC Employees take pride in our reputation and to continue building upon that we expect our employees to be:

Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.

Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

Qualifications

Successful candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for a role. Listed below are skills, competencies, work experience, education, and required certifications/licensures needed to be successful in this position.

Preferred Skills

• Apache Kafka


• Application Development


• Back-End Development


• Business Management


• Customer Solutions


• Design


• Group Problem Solving


• Java (Programming Language)


• Process Improvements


• Release Management


• Software Solutions


• Spring Boot


• User Experience (UX) Design

Competencies

• Application Delivery Process


• Application Design


• Architecture


• Application Development Tools


• Application Testing


• Packaged Application Integration


• System Developme