Sr Software Engineer

Vaco; Dublin (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Columbus, OH, to lead design, architecture, and development of EZproxy NextGen. You will modernize a legacy C-based application into a scalable, cloud-ready platform serving thousands of libraries worldwide.

Ideal candidates combine strong hands-on engineering with technical leadership, modernize legacy systems, and mentor peers while ensuring security, reliability, and performance across enterprise-grade applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience, including significant experience with Java and enterprise application development.
• Strong ability to read, understand, debug, and develop software written in C, with demonstrated experience supporting or modernizing legacy applications.
• Deep understanding of networking concepts and protocols: TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS, Proxy technologies, Authentication and access management solutions.
• Experience with Object-Oriented Design (OOD), RESTful APIs, Spring Framework, JavaScript, React, and modern web application architectures.
• Experience working with Linux/UNIX and Windows environments.
• Experience with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Oracle.
• Knowledge of unit testing, integration testing, performance testing, and CI/CD practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on development, technical leadership, architecture, and operational support responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design, architecture, and development of EZproxy NextGen and related platform initiatives.
• Translate business requirements and architectural designs into scalable, maintainable code with Java and modern practices.
• Drive modernization of a legacy C-based application into a secure, scalable, cloud-ready platform.
• Evaluate and leverage AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity and modernization efforts.
• Analyze and solve complex technical challenges within existing systems and identify improvements.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy high-quality software components with emphasis on security, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to refine and interpret requirements.
• Follow SDLC processes and engineering best practices while seeking process improvements.
• Lead architectural reviews, technology assessments, and platform modernization planning.
• Evaluate and implement third-party technologies aligned with goals and scalability needs.
• Plan and participate in load, scalability, reliability, and performance testing.
• Support production environments by troubleshooting complex issues.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to development team members.

Skills

Java

RESTful APIs

Spring Framework

JavaScript

React

OO Design

CI/CD

Networking concepts

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Linux/UNIX

Windows

PostgreSQL

MySQL

Oracle

C language

Job description

Senior Software Engineer (Direct Hire/FTE)

Location: Columbus, OH (Hybrid Schedule)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire (FTE)

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Important Requirements

• Candidates must currently reside in the Columbus, OH area.
• This is a hybrid position requiring regular onsite presence.
• No C2C, third-party agencies, subcontractors, or visa sponsorship available.
• Direct hire opportunity only.

About the Opportunity

Our client is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead the technical design, architecture, and development of the next generation of the EZproxy platform. This role will play a critical part in modernizing a legacy C-based application into a scalable, secure, and modern access management solution serving more than 6,000 libraries worldwide.

The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on software engineering expertise with technical leadership, system modernization experience, and a passion for building high-quality enterprise applications. This individual will help drive architectural decisions, mentor engineers, and contribute to the long-term evolution of a highly visible and globally utilized platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design, architecture, and development of EZproxy NextGen and related platform initiatives.
• Utilize industry-standard programming techniques to translate business requirements and architectural designs into scalable, maintainable code, with a strong emphasis on Java and modern application development practices.
• Drive the modernization of a legacy C-based application, transforming it into a secure, scalable, cloud-ready access management platform.
• Evaluate and leverage AI-assisted development tools and emerging AI technologies to improve engineering productivity, accelerate modernization efforts, and identify opportunities for future AI-driven platform capabilities.
• Analyze and solve complex technical challenges within existing systems while identifying opportunities for architectural, performance, scalability, and operational improvements.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy high-quality software components and services while maintaining strong standards for security, reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to develop, refine, and interpret business and technical requirements.
• Follow established SDLC processes, quality standards, and engineering best practices while continuously identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Lead architectural reviews, technology assessments, and long-term platform modernization planning efforts.
• Evaluate and implement third-party technologies and solutions, ensuring alignment with business goals, technical requirements, scalability needs, and long-term maintainability.
• Plan and participate in load, scalability, reliability, and performance testing initiatives.
• Support production environments by troubleshooting and resolving complex application, infrastructure, and customer-impacting issues.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to development team members, promoting engineering excellence and best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience, including significant experience with Java and enterprise application development.
• Strong ability to read, understand, debug, and develop software written in C, with demonstrated experience supporting or modernizing legacy applications.
• Deep understanding of networking concepts and protocols, including:
  • TCP/IP
  • DNS
  • HTTP/HTTPS
  • SSL/TLS
  • Proxy technologies
  • Authentication and access management solutions
• Experience with:
  • Object-Oriented Design (OOD)
  • RESTful APIs
  • Spring Framework
  • JavaScript
  • React
  • Modern web application architectures
• Experience working with Linux/UNIX and Windows environments.
• Experience with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Oracle.
• Knowledge of unit testing, integration testing, performance testing, and CI/CD practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on development, technical leadership, architecture, and operational support responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms, containerization technologies, and modern software delivery practices.
• Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools and emerging AI technologies within software engineering workflows.
• Experience designing and supporting large-scale enterprise applications.
• Prior experience leading modernization, migration, or platform transformation initiatives.
• Proven mentoring and technical leadership experience.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.