Senior Java Engineer - Tech Lead

Prairie Consulting Services; Remote; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is looking for a high-level backend Java engineer to modernize a mission-critical public safety alerting platform. This role focuses on deep backend engineering within distributed systems. Responsibilities include designing optimized backend services, supporting cloud migration, and driving modernization. Ideal candidates will have experience with Spring, AWS, and event-driven architecture, as well as a passion for impactful engineering work. This is a remote opportunity based in the U.S. with a strong preference for contract-to-hire.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in backend development with Java.
• Familiarity with distributed high-volume systems.
• Understanding of cloud-native environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize high-throughput backend services.
• Drive legacy modernization and tech debt reduction.
• Build event-driven workflows for large-scale alerting.

Skills

Spring / Spring Boot

Event-driven architecture

AWS

Azure

Telephony systems

Performance tuning

Job description

We are hiring for a high-level backend Java engineer to help modernize and scale a mission-critical public safety alerting platform delivering billions of messages annually across SMS, voice, push, and email.

This is not a UI-heavy role. This is deep backend engineering in distributed, high-volume systems.

6-month initial contract - Strong preference for contract-to-hire

Remote (U.S.-based)

Rate based on experience - $70-80+/hr

Some environments require U.S. citizenship + ability to pass FBI/secure background checks

Java Engineer - Technical Environment

• Spring / Spring Boot / REST services
• Event-driven architecture (moving away from polling patterns)
• JSP, Vue.js (light front-end exposure, backend focus)
• AWS and Azure cloud environments

Java Engineer - What You’ll Be Doing

• Designing and optimizing high-throughput backend services
• Driving legacy modernization and tech debt reduction
• Improving performance and scalability of distributed systems
• Supporting cloud migration initiatives
• Building event-driven workflows for large-scale alerting
• Leveraging AI development tools to improve productivity and data throughput

  Java Engineer - Highly Valued Domain Experience

  • Telephony systems
  • Public safety / 911 / emergency communications
  • Investigation or case workflow systems
  • Senior-level backend engineer (systems thinker)
  • Strong in performance tuning and distributed architecture
  • Comfortable in cloud-native environments
  • Uses AI tools strategically for engineering acceleration
  • Not a serial short-term contractor — looking to build impact

  The hiring leader wants a top-tier engineer who can elevate the architecture. This is a high-visibility engineering opportunity inside a platform that supports municipalities, higher education institutions (80–90% penetration), and secure federal cloud environments.

  If you’re a backend engineer who loves modernizing legacy systems and building event-driven architecture at scale — let’s talk. Message me directly to discuss.