Software Engineer Lead - Java​/Boot​/Kafka

Position: Software Engineer Lead - Java/Spring Boot/Kafka
Position Overview

At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company's success. As Software Engineer Lead within PNC's Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh PA.

PNC is an in-office company that fosters a supportive culture where employees can thrive and achieve balance. We encourage candidates to connect with their recruiter and hiring manager to understand workplace expectations and ensure the role aligns with their goals.

PNC will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position.

Job Description

Deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, microservices architecture, and event-driven systems using Kafka, with the ability to influence technical direction and mentor junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

* Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade Java applications, primarily focused on backend services

* Build and support microservices-based architectures using Spring Boot

* Develop event-driven solutions leveraging Kafka for high-throughput, low-latency messaging

* Collaborate with product managers, architects, and other engineers to translate business requirements into technical solutions

* Contribute to system design, code reviews, and technical decision-making to ensure quality, scalability, and performance

* Write clean, well-tested, and maintainable code following PNC engineering standards and best practices

* Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in development and production environments

* Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers

* Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement efforts

Preferred Skills

* Strong Java full-stack experience with a primary focus on backend development

* Extensive experience with Spring Boot and RESTful API development

* Hands-on experience designing and implementing microservices architectures

* Experience with Apache Kafka or similar event-streaming platforms

* Solid understanding of object-oriented design, data structures, and software design patterns

* Experience working in Agile development environments

* Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Nice to Have

Skills:

* Experience working with Mongo

DB or other No

SQL databases

* Basic to moderate experience with HTML and CSS for front-end development

* Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or similar)

* Experience in regulated or large-scale enterprise environments (financial services a plus)

PNC Employees take pride in our reputation and to continue building upon that we expect our employees to be:

* Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.

* Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

Qualifications

Successful candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for a role. Listed below are skills, competencies, work experience, education, and required certifications/licensures needed to be successful in this position.

Preferred Skills

Apache Kafka, Application Development, Business Management, Customer Solutions, Design, Group Problem Solving, Java (Programming Language), Process Improvements, Release Management, Software Solutions, Spring Boot, Team Lead Experience, User Experience (UX) Design

Competencies

Application Delivery Process, Application Design, Architecture, Application Development Tools, Application Testing, Packaged Application Integration, System Development Life Cycle, Technical Troubleshooting

Work Experience

Roles at this level typically require a university / college degree, with 3+ years of relevant / direct industry experience. Certifications are often desired. In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including military service) may be considered.

Education

Bachelors

Certifications

No Required Certification(s)

Licenses

No Required License(s)

Benefits

PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account;

back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational…