Lead Java Developer

Lead Java Developer

Contract role with a 12 month minimum contract, inside IR35, hybrid with site being in the Manchester city centre

As a Lead Java Developer, you will take on a pivotal leadership role, guiding a talented team of Java developers to deliver cutting-edge solutions for a major online retail platform. You will be responsible for driving the design, development, and maintenance of high-performance, scalable microservices that power the backend of the e-commerce platform. This is a hands-on role that requires a mix of strong technical proficiency in Java and effective leadership to mentor your team and collaborate with cross-functional departments such as Product, UX/UI, and QA to build robust and innovative systems.

The Java Development team plays a critical role in delivering backend and middleware microservices, providing essential support to the company's e-commerce platforms, supply chain operations, and internal core systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a team of Java developers, providing technical direction and hands-on support.
• Drive the design, development, and deployment of scalable, high-quality Java applications.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and stakeholders to gather business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Ensure the team adheres to coding standards, best practices, and security protocols.
• Conduct thorough code reviews to ensure clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Stay informed about industry advancements and new technologies to promote continuous innovation and improvement.
• Foster a team culture of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and continuous learning.
• Oversee project timelines, prioritize tasks, and ensure timely project delivery.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges efficiently.
• Take ownership of the performance, scalability, and overall health of the services your team is responsible for.

Requirements:

• Extensive experience in Java development, with expertise in Java 11 or above (Java 17 preferred) and the Spring Boot framework.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor development teams, offering both technical guidance and strategic insight.
• Strong knowledge of software development methodologies, particularly Agile or Scrum frameworks.
• Experience working with RESTful APIs, microservices architecture, and cloud technologies (AWS is a plus).
• Proficiency in database technologies such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities with a critical and analytical approach to technical challenges.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams.
• Familiarity with front-end technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is advantageous.
• Experience in the e-commerce or fashion retail industries is highly desirable.