We're looking for a senior Java developer who can independently build new microservices from scratch — including setting up build tooling and CI/CD — not just extend existing ones. You'll work across legacy code understanding, modern Java development, and relational database performance, using AI tools as a collaborator to accelerate (not replace) your engineering judgment.
 

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and stand-up new REST microservices end-to-end, including build/CI-CD setup
• Read, debug, and extend unfamiliar and legacy codebases
• Write and troubleshoot SQL, including validating and optimizing Hibernate-generated queries
• Write meaningful automated tests that catch real regressions, not just green checkmarks
• Use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) to accelerate research, documentation, and problem-solving

Required Experience & Skills

Core Stack

• ~10 years of professional software development experience
• Strong Java 8+ (8, 11, 17, 21) — comfortable with modern syntax (var, records, text blocks, switch expressions)
• Spring Framework / Spring Boot
• Hibernate / JPA
• REST Microservices — including creating new services from scratch
• Build tools: Gradle (preferred) or Maven
• CI/CD: Bitbucket (preferred)
• Cloud: AWS (preferred)

• Database & Performance

• Strong relational database concepts and SQL proficiency (read, write, and debug queries — including jOOQ)
• Indexing strategies
• Query optimization
• Schema design
• Production troubleshooting

Testing

• JUnit (4 or 5) — test structure, assertions, setup/teardown, mocking, test isolation
• A genuine testing mindset: skepticism that 'it compiles' means 'it works'
• Integration testing strategies, including end-to-end testing and test data management

Engineering & Problem-Solving Fundamentals

• Ability to read and understand unfamiliar or legacy code
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, including reading stack traces
• Dependency management knowledge
• Fast learner with strong research and pattern-recognition skills
• Ability to break large problems into manageable pieces
• Knows when to ask for help

AI-Assisted Development

• No specific AI tool expertise required — but candidates should have genuine experience using AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) as a development collaborator for research, explaining concepts, and drafting documentation, treating it as a partner rather than an oracle.

Nice to Have

• PostgreSQL experience