Lead Software Engineer - Java/Kafka/AWS

Location: Wilmington, DE, United States

Job Family: Software Engineering

About the Role

At JPMorgan Chase, we are at the forefront of transforming the financial services industry through innovative technology solutions. As a Lead Software Engineer - Java/Kafka/AWS in our Wilmington, DE team, you will play a pivotal role in developing mission-critical applications that power secure banking operations, real-time transaction processing, and data analytics for global clients. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead engineering efforts in a dynamic environment, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive efficiency and compliance in one of the world's largest financial institutions. You will work closely with product managers, data scientists, and compliance experts to build robust systems that handle high-volume financial data while adhering to stringent regulatory standards like those from the SEC and Federal Reserve. In this leadership role, you will architect and implement scalable Java-based microservices integrated with Kafka for event streaming and AWS for cloud-native deployments, ensuring seamless performance in high-stakes financial workflows. Responsibilities include mentoring a team of engineers, optimizing code for low-latency processing of trades and payments, and collaborating on innovative features that enhance customer experiences in retail and investment banking. Your expertise will directly contribute to reducing operational risks and enabling faster decision-making through data-driven insights, all while fostering a culture of continuous improvement within JPMorgan Chase's agile framework. We value engineers who thrive in collaborative settings and are passionate about the intersection of technology and finance. Joining our team means access to world-class resources, including advanced AWS infrastructure and proprietary tools tailored for financial security. This role not only challenges you technically but also offers growth opportunities in a supportive environment committed to diversity, inclusion, and professional development at JPMorgan Chase.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of high-performance Java applications integrated with Kafka for real-time data streaming in financial systems
• Architect scalable solutions on AWS to support mission-critical banking operations, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and implement secure, compliant software solutions for the financial services industry
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, conducting code reviews and fostering best practices in software engineering
• Optimize application performance and troubleshoot complex issues in production environments handling sensitive financial data
• Integrate third-party services and APIs to enhance transaction processing and risk management capabilities
• Contribute to agile ceremonies, including sprint planning and retrospectives, to deliver iterative improvements
• Ensure adherence to JPMorgan Chase's security standards and regulatory requirements such as GDPR and SOX
• Develop and maintain documentation for system architectures and deployment processes

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience with a focus on Java development
• Proven experience designing and implementing scalable systems using Kafka for event-driven architectures
• Hands-on expertise with AWS cloud services, including EC2, S3, Lambda, and RDS
• Strong understanding of financial services domain, including regulatory compliance and secure data handling
• Experience leading small teams or mentoring junior engineers in agile environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
• Experience with microservices architecture and containerization using Docker and Kubernetes
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions
• Familiarity with financial transaction processing systems or banking APIs
• Certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Oracle Java certifications

Required Skills

• Java programming (core and advanced features)
• Apache Kafka for messaging and stream processing
• AWS cloud platform (EC2, S3, Lambda, VPC)
• Microservices design and RESTful APIs
• SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, DynamoDB)
• Agile methodologies and Scrum
• Version control with Git
• Unit testing and TDD (JUnit, Mockito)
• Problem-solving and debugging in distributed systems
• Leadership and team collaboration
• Knowledge of financial regulations (e.g., PCI-DSS, AML)
• Containerization (Docker)
• CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Maven)
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Adaptability in fast-paced environments

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonuses
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement and access to internal training programs
• Employee stock purchase plan and financial wellness resources
• On-site fitness centers and wellness programs at select locations
• Flexible work arrangements, including hybrid options in Wilmington, DE

JP Morgan Chase is an equal opportunity employer.