Principal Software Engineer - Java, Boot, Kafka

Position: Principal Software Engineer - 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 a Software Engineer Principal within PNC's Lending Technology organization, you will be based in  Pittsburgh PA or Dallas TX.

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*
* The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who enjoys solving complex engineering challenges, mentoring developers, influencing technology strategy, and collaborating with business and technology stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions.

** Key Responsibilities*
* ** Technical Leadership*
* + Lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise-grade software solutions using Java, Spring Boot, Kafka, and Microservices architecture.

+ Serve as the technical lead for a team of 5-10 engineers across onshore and offshore locations.

+ Establish engineering standards, code quality practices, and development methodologies across the team.

+ Drive technical decision-making and architectural discussions while balancing scalability, performance, security, and maintainability.

+ Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical mentoring to elevate team performance.

** Software Engineering*
* + Design and develop high-performance backend services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot.

+ Build and enhance event-driven solutions leveraging Kafka for real-time processing and system integration.

+ Develop and maintain microservices that support critical business capabilities and customer-facing applications.

+ Create scalable, resilient, and highly available software solutions aligned with enterprise architecture standards.

+ Troubleshoot complex production issues and drive root-cause analysis and resolution.

** Team Leadership & Delivery*
* + Lead Agile delivery efforts and coordinate work across distributed teams.

+ Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship to engineers at various experience levels.

+ Collaborate with Product Owners, Architects, Dev Ops, QA, and business stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.

+ Manage technical dependencies, risks, and delivery timelines.

** Stakeholder Engagement*
* + Partner with business and technology stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions.

+ Communicate technical concepts and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

+ Influence technology roadmaps and support strategic initiatives across the organization.

** Preferred Qualifications*
* + Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).

+ 10+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on backend development.

+ 5+ years of experience designing and developing enterprise applications using Java and Spring Boot.

+ Proven experience leading technical teams of 5-10 engineers, including both onshore and offshore resources.

+ Extensive experience building and deploying Microservices-based architectures.

+ Strong experience implementing event-driven solutions using Kafka.

+ Demonstrated ability to engage and influence stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization.

** Technical Skills*
* + Expert-level Java development experience.

+ Strong proficiency with Spring Boot and related Spring ecosystem technologies.

+ Deep understanding of Microservices architecture, API design, and distributed systems.

+ Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka and event-driven architectures.

+ Strong coding, debugging, performance tuning, and problem-solving skills.

+

Experience with CI/CD pipelines, source control, and modern software development practices.

+ Solid understanding of software design patterns, object-oriented programming, and system integration principles.

** Leadership Skills*
* + Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineering talent.

+ Strong collaboration and communication skills.

+ Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, enterprise environments.

+ Ability to balance hands-on development responsibilities with technical leadership duties.

** Nice-to-Have Qualifications*
* + Experience using  
** Generative AI tools**  (e.g., Git Hub Copilot, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or similar platforms) for software development, code generation, testing, documentation, and code maintenance.

+ Experience evaluating and implementing AI-assisted development practices to improve…