Java Tech Lead/Solution Architect

Job Title: Java Tech Lead/Solution Architect
Location: Hybrid Madison, WI or Boston, MA (LOCALS ONLY)
Duration: 6 Months

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled Java Tech Lead/Solution Architect to join the American Family Insurance team. This position offers a hybrid work environment in either Madison, WI or Boston, MA, and is open to local candidates only. The role will focus on leading the architecture, development, and scaling of enterprise-level applications within the Payments domain.

As a Tech Lead, you will work on developing and optimizing high-performing, fault-tolerant applications, while ensuring adherence to best practices across the SDLC. You will be responsible for leading initiatives around cloud-native designs in AWS, influencing coding standards, and driving innovation in telemetry and logging for critical Payments applications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop scalable, high-performing, and fault-tolerant applications for large enterprises, particularly within the Payments domain.
• Provide technical leadership in Java development, Spring Framework, and cloud-native architecture (primarily AWS).
• Lead research and initiatives for cloud-native designs, implementing solutions within public clouds.
• Own and operationalize critical metrics for Payments applications, building leading-edge telemetry and logging to monitor state and health of applications.
• Measure, evaluate, and tune application performance, ensuring optimal performance at scale.
• Define and enforce best practices for SDLC, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Provide technical guidance to junior and less experienced team members.
• Lead solution-delivery initiatives, developing complex systems and applications that meet customer needs.
• Communicate technical information effectively to stakeholders and team members.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 7 years of hands-on experience in crafting and developing scalable, high-performing, and fault-tolerant applications for large enterprises.
• 5 years of experience in the Payments domain, with deep knowledge in payment processing, wallet management, and integration with third-party payment processors.
• Expertise in Java and Spring Framework for developing enterprise-level applications.
• Extensive experience with AWS (or Google Cloud Platform/Azure) and cloud-native application designs and deployments.
• Proven experience with Git/GitLab for source code control, branching, bug tracking, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong experience in performance measurement and optimization of applications.
• Knowledge of software engineering practices and SDLC methodologies, including coding standards, code reviews, testing, and operations.
• Ability to lead research and implement cloud-native solutions, as well as contribute to the enterprise architecture.
• Proven track record of providing customer-driven solutions and driving technical initiatives within large-scale environments.
• Strong ability to analyze and estimate project size and work efforts for complex software solutions.

Specialized Knowledge & Skills Requirements:

• Extensive experience in developing and analyzing complex software/systems using Java, with a strong understanding of application architecture and design alternatives.
• Experience with integrating and migrating systems and technologies.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and leadership to less experienced staff members.
• Solid understanding of infrastructure technologies, operating systems, and the interconnectivity between infrastructure platforms and software tools.
• Extensive knowledge of the SDLC, with a solid understanding of systems development life cycle processes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Payments industry or similar high-compliance domains.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively articulate technical information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience with containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture is a plus.