IT SOFTWARE ENGINEER 5 (Lead Software Engineer Java/AWS)
Location: Chicago, IL or Remote (EST or CST preferred, local to Chicago preferred)
Duration: 12-Month Contract
Compensation: $88-$94/hr + benefits
We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to provide technical leadership while remaining hands-on in the development of scalable cloud-native applications. This role will partner closely with developers and architects to drive technical decisions, establish engineering best practices, and deliver modern, high-performing solutions.
Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor software engineers while remaining actively involved in design and development
- Drive technical decisions and architectural direction for cloud-native applications
- Design, build, and support Java/Spring Boot microservices in AWS environments
- Partner with architects, product teams, and stakeholders to deliver scalable and secure solutions
- Support DevOps, CI/CD, automation, observability, and cloud modernization initiatives
- Promote operational excellence, performance optimization, and continuous improvement
- Collaborate with adjacent engineering teams and consuming applications across the organization
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 10+ years of software engineering experience (8+ years with a Master’s may be considered)
- 5+ years of technical lead experience
- Strong hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, and REST APIs
- AWS experience, including cloud-native application development and architecture
- Experience with OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, Coveo, Solr, or other enterprise search platforms
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architecture, and API integrations
- Experience with Docker, CI/CD pipelines, Git, observability, and DevOps practices
- Strong communication, leadership, and mentoring skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience evaluating or implementing enterprise search platforms
- Experience helping teams make architectural and technology decisions
- Experience with infrastructure as code, SQL/NoSQL databases, and performance optimization
- Exposure to AI-assisted development tools
This role is approximately 50% technical leadership and 50% hands-on engineering and is an excellent opportunity for a senior engineer who enjoys mentoring developers, influencing architecture, and building modern cloud-native platforms.
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