Software Development Manager (focus on Java Microservices)

RSM Solutions Inc.; New Jersey; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

RSM Solutions Inc. is seeking a Software Development Manager focused on Java modernization and application transformation to lead two agile teams. You’ll oversee architecture, code reviews, and modernization from monoliths to microservices within OCI-like environments and a hybrid onsite model in Camden, NJ.

The role emphasizes people management, technical strategy, and collaboration with product and infrastructure leaders to deliver measurable modernization outcomes.

Qualifications

• Solid experience with tools, architecture and design ideas; able to discuss trade-offs.
• At least 6-8 years of application development management experience.
• At least 5 years of app architecture experience in Java.
• At least 10 years of application development experience (Java preferred).
• Experience modernizing monoliths to microservices.
• Strong system design principles including 12-factor, observability, performance.
• Experience with Azure or a similar cloud platform.
• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering; Master’s preferred.

Responsibilities

• Continue to build and staff the two teams; define hiring bar and process.
• Lead delivery performance; establish measurable OKRs at team and individual level.
• Own roadmap execution, production readiness; champion standards for architecture and reliability.
• Drive alignment across Architecture, Platform, QA, and Product; foster accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

App dev mgmt

Java architecture

Monolith to microservices

System design

Observability

Azure cloud

Hiring & team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Azure

Job description

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at the Software Development Manager focused on Java Modernization and Application Transformation role I posted here on LinkedIN, I appreciate it. The reason I titled this role (in the post) 'focused on Java Microservices' is because that is where that 'modernization & transformation)' will be focused on.

If you are familiar with my job descriptions, you already probably know what I am going to say. If you are new to my job descriptions, welcome. Allow me to introduce myself a bit. My name is Tom Welke. I am Partner & Vp here at RSM Solutions, Inc. I have been recruiting technical talent for almost 25 years and been in the tech sector since the 1990s. So...what does that mean? Well, it means I don't use Ai to write job descriptions or screen resumes. I write these JD's myself...no Ai, no bots...no 'reformatting with Ai'....just a real live human. I realized a while back that looking for work is about as fun as getting your teeth pulled. So, I try to make things clearer (as opposed to a zillion bullet points that basically say nothing), and even a little comical. So...buckle up...I hope you enjoy the ride.

First, a few ground rules (these may sound familiar to those who have read my JD's before, but I wanted to make sure I shared this):

• This role is being done in a hybrid manner in Camden, New Jersey. I am only considering candidates that are within driving distance to Camden for this one. You will be onsite 2-3 days and we all know how rough traffic around Philadelphia and Western Jersey can be.
• The client for this role cannot provide immigration sponsorship now or in the future. As a result, I’m only able to work with candidates who have permanent authorization to work in the U.S. and will never require sponsorship (typically U.S. citizens or Green Card holders). I cannot work with candidates that would require employer sponsorship at any point to continue working in the U.S., including under H1, F1, EAD, STEM, OPT, or other time-limited work authorizations.
• I am not working with external vendors or 3rd parties on this role.

As with just about every role I work on, social fit is going to be pretty important. As we all know, 'fit' is incredibly important...for the client as well as you, the candidate. So, here are things that create a good fit for this role:

• I know the hiring manager for this role quite well...we have worked together in the past as well. He isn't a micro manager. This leads to something, however, it means he hires people who don't need to be micromanaged.
• This is not a highly dramatic company...we aren't dealing with brain surgery. So, yes, they are serious about their work...but not to the point of making a mountain out of every mole hill.

Here is more info on the role:

In this role, you will be managing two teams of 3-6 developers each, so a team of 6-12 (a mix of contractors and permanent team members) focused on modernizing these guys legacy Java code base. This code base helps to manage the firms warehouses (it is their WMS). This legacy Java code is built in Java 17, Spring 5, Hibernate, deployed within Oracle Cloud (OCI) but effectively running on a “VM” using an Oracle database. The team is migrating this legacy code base to Java Microservices. In this “modernization journey,” from the monolith-to-microservices initiative, One part of the code base is in production, two more slated before the end of the year. The individual chosen for this role will have quite a bit of influence over the overall architecture.

As you look across the first 30, 60 and 90 days of this role, here is where the hiring manager would like you to be:

30 Days into the role: Drive toward an understanding of the WMS product itself, understand “key elements” of the old (call it v1) product and new (“v2”). This will include an understanding of the projects, building, deployment, and runtime architecture. You should also, by this time, understand the people and teams working in the two teams.

60 Days into the role: Clearly describe the technical architecture. This should include authentication and authorization, Spring, session handling; printing, and middleware. In addition, by this time you should be able to demonstrate proficiency with observability tools (Azure Monitor, Dynatrace, etc.), and meet with adjacent leaders (Director of Product, Infrastructure Directory, etc).

90 Days into the role: Drive outcome driven communication, expectation setting, OKR’s, planning, and execution inspection of your team's work. This will lead to recommending improvements to people/tools/process along with a plan and dependencies to achieve them.

This is not a coding role where you will be coding in Java. However, in your history, you will need to have some real key core Java Development roles. You will be leading code reviews, troubleshooting, architecture and design. To have them, the person for this role must have coded at some point.

This role blends technical architecture with traditional people management. The successful candidate must be able to challenge designs, guide implementation, assess code quality, and lead engineers through complex modernization work.

Here are some of those key responsibilities for this role:

• Continue to build and staff the two teams working with you. This will include defining the technical hiring bar, and owning the full hiring process. Each team has a “tech lead,” but they are a mixture of consultants and permanent team members. This person will also hire more team members to replace some of the contractors. You will likely be hiring an additional 1–3 additional team members.
• Lead and own delivery performance for both teams. This will include establishing measurable objectives and key results at the team and individual level. In addition, you will provide coaching, performance feedback, and career development for the internal team.
• Own roadmap execution, delivery outcomes, technical quality, and production readiness. This will include championing standards for architecture, observability, reliability, and operability. In addition, you will communicate technical decisions, tradeoffs, risks, and resource needs clearly to leadership.
• Drive alignment across Architecture, Platform, Quality Assurance, and Product. This will also include creating an environment of accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement.

Here is what we are looking for (all of these are gotta haves):

• Solid experience with understanding what tools, architecture and design ideas were used in your last role, and that ability to speak to alternative tools, architecture and design ideas and the trade offs of various options.
• At least 6-8 years of application development management experience.
• At least 5 years of app architecture experience (this experience should be in that world of java)
• At least 10 years of application development experience. This should include Java but doesn't have to be all Java. So, if you have done some dev work in other platforms, that would be ok.
• Demonstrable experience in modernization of monoliths to microservices. In other words, you will need key points in your experience that you can point to where you worked on a migration from monoliths to microservices, not just be able to talk to it.
• Strong understanding of system design principles including 12-factor app methodology, observability, and performance optimization.
• Experience with Azure or a similar cloud platform.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.