Java Tech Lead / Architect with 10+ years experience is needed for an initial 6-month contract with further extensions up to 18 months paying £300 a day inside IR35 to drive the design and execution of high-scale, event-driven systems. This role is a hybrid of strategic architectural planning and hands-on engineering leadership. You will be responsible for defining technical roadmaps, mentoring a high-performing engineering team, and ensuring the delivery of robust microservices within a complex, long-term program.
Key Responsibilities
* Architectural Leadership: Design and oversee the implementation of scalable microservices and event-based architectures using Java, Spring Boot, and Kafka.
* Team Steering: Act as the technical point of contact for the team; facilitate decision-making, sprint planning, and resource allocation.
* Quality Governance: Conduct rigorous code reviews, approve pull requests, and establish best practices for CI/CD and automated testing.
* Hands-on Delivery: Lead by example by contributing to mission-critical code and solving complex technical bottlenecks that require \"Architect-level\" troubleshooting.
* Stakeholder Management: Translate business requirements into technical blueprints and communicate progress/risks to program leadership.
Technical Requirements
10+ years of professional software development experience
Expert-level proficiency in Java (current versions) and Spring Boot.
Deep expertise in Kafka for event-driven architecture and streaming.
Proven track record in Microservices design patterns, API Gateway management, and Cloud-native development.
Previous experience leading engineering teams through the full SDLC in an Agile environment.
Preferred Attributes
Experience with Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).
Strong understanding of Database design (SQL and NoSQL).
Excellent communication skills, capable of bridging the gap between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.
Working Conditions
Hybrid Model: Candidates must be able to commute to West Sussex 3 days per week.
Stability: While the initial contract is 6 months, this is a multi-year program offering significant long-term potential.
JBRP1_UKTJ