Software Architect - Java/Spring Boot/Kafka

PNC; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 91,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

PNC is seeking an experienced Software Architect to define end-to-end architecture for Lending Technology. You will guide solution design, ensure scalable, resilient systems, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technology with business goals.

The role requires deep Spring Frameworks, Kafka, and J2EE expertise, plus cloud, containers, and CI/CD knowledge. Based across multiple U.S. locations with in-office expectations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of IT experience with architecture focus.
• 3+ years as a Solution or Software Architect or similar.
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks and patterns.

Responsibilities

• Define, design, and own solution architectures for complex enterprise applications.
• Lead POCs to evaluate new technologies, tools, and frameworks.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, product owners, and delivery teams to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Review solution designs and code to ensure security, scalability, and performance.

Skills

Java/J2EE

Spring Framework

Kafka

Cloud platforms

Docker/Kubernetes

RESTful APIs

Microservices

CI/CD

Security best practices

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Jenkins

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 Software Architect within PNC's Lending Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh PA, Dallas TX, Strongsville OH, Birmingham AL, Phoenix AZ, Denver CO or Charlotte NC.

R227714

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 Software Architect within PNC's Lending Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh PA, Dallas TX, Strongsville OH, Birmingham AL, Phoenix AZ, Denver CO or Charlotte NC.

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

We are seeking an experienced Software Architect with deep expertise in Spring Frameworks, SOAP/REST APIs, J2EE, and Kafka to join our technology organization. The ideal candidate will be responsible for defining end-to-end architecture, guiding solution design, and ensuring delivery of scalable, resilient, and high-performing systems. This role requires close collaboration with business stakeholders, engineering teams, and enterprise architects to align technology solutions with business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Architecture & Design
  • Define, design, and own solution architectures for complex enterprise applications.
  • Leverage Spring (Spring Boot, Spring Batch), SOAP/REST APIs, J2EE, and Kafka to build highly scalable and distributed solutions.
  • Establish patterns, frameworks, and best practices for system design and integration.
• Technical Leadership
  • Guide engineering teams on design decisions, code quality, and architectural compliance.
  • Lead proof-of-concepts (POCs) to evaluate new technologies, tools, and frameworks.
  • Evaluating vendor products and executing/leading integration with in-house products/applications.
  • Provide thought leadership in microservices, event-driven architectures, and API-driven integration.
• Collaboration
  • Partner with business stakeholders, product owners, and delivery teams to translate requirements into technical solutions.
  • Work with enterprise architects to ensure alignment with enterprise strategy, standards, security frameworks and reference architectures.
• Governance & Delivery
  • Review solution designs and code to ensure alignment with security, scalability, and performance standards.
  • Support project planning, estimation, and roadmap development.
  • Ensure systems are compliant with regulatory and organizational requirements.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Strong expertise in Java/J2EE and Spring Framework (Spring Boot, Security, Data, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with Kafka for building real-time streaming and event-driven architectures.
• 10+ years of IT experience with at least 3+ years as a Solution or Software Architect.
• Solid understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, messaging systems, and integration patterns.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong background in scalability, performance engineering, and security best practices.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with NoSQL and relational databases (Cassandra, MongoDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL, etc.).
• Knowledge of data streaming, real-time processing frameworks, and observability tools.
• Leads in the overall design of cross-functional, multi-platform, and Web-based application systems; oversees all application system processes.
• Develops application architecture and blueprints aimed at reflecting enterprise business logic.
• Defines application components, platforms, interfaces, and development tools. Directs mapping activities on specific technology platforms.
• Provides technical guidance to application development teams. Consults on integration and conversion activities.
• Conducts reviews, and analyses organizational needs and goals to develop and implement applications.

• 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, Competitive Advantages, Customer Solutions, Design, Enterprise Architecture Framework, Enterprise IT Architecture, Java Enterprise Architecture, Machine Learning (ML), Risk Assessments, Spring Boot, Technical Knowledge

Competencies

Analytical Thinking, Application Development Tools, Industry Knowledge, IT Architecture, Platform Architecture, Products and Services, Service Oriented Architecture Technologies, Software Process Improvement (SPI)

Work Experience

Roles at this level typically require a university / college degree, with 5+ years of industry-relevant experience. Specific certifications are often required. In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including military service) may be considered.

Education

Bachelors

Certifications

No Required Certification(s)

Licenses

No Required License(s)

Pay Transparency

Base Salary: $91,000.00 – $185,900.00

Salaries may vary based on geographic location, market data and on individual skills, experience, and education. This role is incentive eligible with the payment based upon company, business and/or individual performance.

Application Window

Generally, this opening is expected to be posted for two business days from 07/20/2026, although it may be longer with business discretion.

Benefits

PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account; back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational assistance, including select programs fully paid; a robust wellness program with financial incentives.

In addition, PNC generally provides the following paid time off, depending on your eligibility: maternity and/or parental leave; up to 11 paid holidays each year; 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law; between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service.

To learn more about these and other programs, including benefits for full time and part-time employees, visit pncthrive.com.

Disability Accommodations Statement

If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process, please contact us via email at [e-mail]. Please include “accommodation request” in the subject line title and be sure to include your name, the job ID, and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call 877-968-7762 and say "Workday" for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

At PNC we foster an inclusive and accessible workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations to employment applicants and qualified individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law.

This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and, for any registered role, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history.

California Residents

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