Java Technical Lead

Location: Newark, NJ (Hybrid – 3 days/week onsite)

Employment Type: W2 Only (No C2C or 1099)

Rate: Up to $85/hr on W2

Work Authorization: Must have permanent work authorization to work in the U.S.

Position Type: Contract-to-Hire with a major investment firm

Join the Retirement Strategies Institutional team as a Java Tech Lead
, where you will lead the development of innovative, high-quality enterprise applications. This is a hands‑on leadership role that involves full-stack Java development, collaboration with cross‑functional teams, and a strong emphasis on agile methodologies and scalable architecture. You’ll play a critical role in designing solutions that deliver meaningful business outcomes.

• Lead the development of Java-based applications using modern design patterns and best practices
• Deliver clean, well‑structured, and maintainable code aligned with enterprise standards
• Collaborate with product owners to define features and user stories
• Partner with architects and fellow tech leads to design robust and scalable solutions
• Write and maintain unit, integration, and functional test automation
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across development, QA, and production environments
• Mentor junior developers and foster a collaborative team environment
• Stay current on emerging technologies and advocate for continuous improvement

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Strong Java programming expertise with in-depth knowledge of Spring, Spring Boot, and related frameworks
• Experience in designing and building scalable microservices
• Expertise in object-oriented programming, multi-threading, concurrency, and design patterns
• Proficient in working with RESTful APIs, JSON, SOAP, XML, JDBC, and MySQL
• Familiarity with front-end frameworks like React or Node.js is a plus
• Agile development experience with a strong focus on Test-Driven Development (TDD)
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills

• Databases: Relational and No
  
  SQL (e.g., MySQL, Dynamo
  
  DB)
• Streaming & Messaging: SQS, Kinesis
• Security: JWT, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SSL, SAML 2.0, secure coding practices
• Cloud Services: AWS (compute, storage, IAM, analytics)

• Domain-Driven Development (DDD)
• Strong architectural design and critical thinking skills
• Prior experience in financial or insurance industries (required)
• Demonstrated leadership and ownership of enterprise applications (required)
• Familiarity with AI‑enhanced development tools (e.g., Git Hub Copilot, Claude Code)