Overview
Lead Application Developer – Hybrid (Chicago, IL or Houston, TX)
Rate: $70 per hour
Employment Type: Contract
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Application Developer to drive backend development efforts and application architecture within a dynamic and collaborative environment. This position offers the opportunity to lead technical initiatives, manage cloud infrastructure, and help implement modern DevOps practices to ensure scalable, secure, and high-performing systems.
The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with Java, AWS Cloud Services, and backend technologies, and will bring a leadership mindset to foster innovation and development excellence across teams.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the design, development, and deployment of backend services and applications using Java and related technologies.
Supervise and mentor a team of developers, setting coding standards and encouraging continuous learning and collaboration.
Work cross-functionally with architecture, infrastructure, product, and QA teams to deliver robust and scalable backend solutions.
Oversee deployments, integrations, and AWS-based infrastructure management (e.g., EC2, Lambda, RDS, S3, API Gateway).
Drive adoption of DevOps best practices, including infrastructure as code, CI/CD automation, and performance monitoring.
Manage application security, lead vulnerability remediation efforts, and ensure compliance with secure coding standards.
Conduct and participate in code reviews, technical design sessions, and architectural planning discussions.
Stay current with new technologies, frameworks, and industry trends, and evaluate their applicability to team goals.
Maintain clear documentation on system design, development practices, and operational procedures.
Contribute to the organization’s strategic technology planning and architecture roadmaps.
Required Skills & Qualifications
8+ years of professional experience in backend application development.
2+ years in a technical leadership or supervisory role.
Strong hands-on expertise with AWS Cloud Services such as EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, API Gateway, and CloudFormation.
Proficiency in Java and related backend frameworks.
Experience with containerization and orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes.
Deep understanding of microservices architecture and RESTful API development.
Proven experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, or similar tools.
Familiarity with vulnerability management tools and practices (e.g., SonarQube, OWASP, WIZ).
Strong problem-solving and multitasking skills in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge of monitoring/logging tools such as CloudWatch or Dynatrace.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Work Schedule & Location
Work Model: Hybrid
Locations: Chicago, IL or Houston, TX
Onsite Requirement: 1 day per week or as needed for collaboration
Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST
Travel: Minimal, as needed for workshops or team meetings (reimbursed)
If you’re a strategic leader and hands-on developer who is passionate about building robust, secure, and modern backend systems, we invite you to apply.
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