Senior Java Tech Lead

Technical Lead - Java Spring Boot - Must have Mobile App Development/Modernisation Location: Hybrid, 1 day a week in London office A leading enterprise organisation that specialises in AI-First solutions is seeking a seasoned Technical Lead with deep expertise in Java Spring Boot, microservices architecture, and solution design to drive the backend engineering strategy for its platform engineering function. The ideal candidate brings a blend of strong technical leadership, architectural insight, and hands-on development capability, alongside experience collaborating across cross-functional teams. This role involves leading the development of scalable, secure, and maintainable backend systems, especially those supporting mobile ecosystems. Prior experience in the banking or financial services domain is highly advantageous. Must have experience with API gateways and mobile app development/modernisation Key Responsibilities: Design and develop high-performance, secure, and scalable backend systems using Java, Spring Boot, and modern architectural patterns. Lead the development of RESTful APIs and microservices, ensuring alignment with mobile platforms and business objectives. Integrate with API Gateway solutions (e.g., Kong, Apigee, AWS API Gateway) to enforce access control and manage API lifecycles. Implement secure authentication and authorization using IDAM platforms such as Ping Identity, Okta, or Auth0 with OAuth2, OIDC, and JWT. Collaborate with mobile application teams to optimize backend services for mobile-specific needs like caching and offline access. Take ownership of end-to-end technical delivery including performance tuning, code quality, security best practices, and CI/CD integration. Conduct code and design reviews, establish technical standards, and mentor engineering team members. Troubleshoot complex issues in both development and production environments. Contribute to solutioning, effort estimation, and agile project planning. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline. Significant experience in backend development with solid experience in technical leadership or solution architecture role. Exposure to mobile application development lifecycle, backend-for-frontend (BFF) patterns, and mobile performance optimization. Expert-level proficiency in Java, Spring Boot, and associated Spring modules (MVC, Data, Security). Strong track record in architecting and deploying microservices in enterprise environments. Experience with API Gateway technologies and secure API development. Hands-on experience with IDAM platforms like Ping Identity, Okta, or Auth0. Proven collaboration with mobile development teams to support seamless integration. Prior experience in banking or financial services with awareness of compliance and security standards. Proficiency with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle) and CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab CI. Strong communication skills with the ability to produce clear technical documentation. Preferred Qualifications: Familiarity with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra). Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, and container orchestration using Kubernetes. Knowledge of event-driven architecture, messaging systems like Kafka or RabbitMQ, and domain-driven design (DDD). Exposure to Agile methodologies, tools such as Jira and Confluence, and participation in SAFe or Scrum practices. Experience contributing to architecture governance, technical evaluations, and engineering playbooks.