Software Engineer Lead - Back End​/Java, Boot, Kafka

Position: Software Engineer Lead - Back End / 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 Lead Software Engineer within PNC's Retail Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh, PA or Strongsville, OH.

As a Lead Backend Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and lead the delivery of scalable, high-performance backend services that power mission-critical applications. The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader with deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, and Apache Kafka, with a passion for building distributed systems, mentoring engineers, and driving engineering excellence. In this role, you will collaborate with architects, product managers, and cross-functional engineering teams to define technical solutions, establish best practices, and deliver highly reliable, secure, and scalable software platforms.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise-scale backend applications and microservices.

- Architect and build event-driven systems using Apache Kafka and modern distributed system patterns.

- Develop RESTful APIs and backend services using Java and Spring Boot.

- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to software engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and coaching.

- Drive application architecture decisions, ensuring scalability, reliability, maintainability, and performance.

- Partner with product management and business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.

- Define and promote software engineering best practices, coding standards, and development processes.

- Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues while continuously improving system observability and resiliency.

- Collaborate with Dev Ops teams to implement CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native deployment strategies.

- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to the overall technology stack.

- Participate in sprint planning, estimation, and technical roadmap development.

- Ensure security, compliance, and operational excellence across backend platforms.

Qualifications

- Strong expertise in Java (Java 11/17+).

- Extensive experience developing applications using Spring Boot and the Spring ecosystem.

- Hands-on experience designing and implementing Kafka-based event-driven architectures.

- Strong understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.

- Experience building and consuming REST APIs.

- Proficiency with relational databases such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL.

- Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.

- Strong understanding of software design patterns, object-oriented design principles, and clean coding practices.

- Experience with source control systems such as Git.

- Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

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*
* + Creates and leads the technical design and development of software solutions.

+ Proposes & designs software solutions to address complex business needs. Prepares technical and procedural documentation required.

+ Facilitates complex problem resolution.

+ Provides technical guidance and support to colleagues. Reviews coding, testing, and documentation of software.

+ Applies modern principles, methodologies and tools to advance business initiatives and capabilities.

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

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** 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.

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** 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, Back-End Development, Business Management, Customer Solutions, Design, Group Problem Solving, Java, Process Improvements, Release Management,…