Staff Software Engineer, Java Backend
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Remote (US)
- Work setup
- Remote
- Seniority
- Staff
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Backend
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree and 9+ years of relevant software engineering experience; relevant professional experience may be substituted for education.
- 8+ years of hands-on Java development, including experience with modern Java versions (Java 17+ preferred).
- 5+ years of professional experience with Spring and Spring Boot, developing production backend applications.
- 5+ years designing, developing, and integrating RESTful APIs and microservices.
- Recent hands-on experience writing, testing, and deploying production code.
- Experience working with relational databases such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, or comparable technologies, including SQL and ORM frameworks such as Hibernate/JPA.
- Strong understanding of backend architecture, object-oriented programming, API design, and software engineering best practices.
- Experience with automated testing, code reviews, debugging, and maintaining production applications.
- Experience working across the software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.
- Demonstrated ability to independently own complex technical projects or engineering initiatives.
- Experience providing technical mentorship, guidance, or support to other engineers.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical decisions and tradeoffs.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future.
- Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
Nice to have
- An active, VA-adjudicated Public Trust.
- Experience modernizing legacy applications or transitioning monolithic systems into microservices.
- Experience with event-driven architecture, Kafka, Redis, or distributed systems.
- Experience with reactive programming and Spring WebFlux.
- Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated deployments, and modern DevOps practices.
- Experience supporting federal government programs, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Experience collaborating across Engineering, Product, Design, and Program Management teams.
- Previous experience serving as a technical lead, engineering lead, or senior technical mentor.
- Interest in growing into an engineering leadership or people management role while maintaining strong technical involvement.
Full description
Staff Software Engineer, Java BackendJob Number: 964This is a remote position.
Ad Hoc is a technology company that empowers organizations to deliver scalable, impactful digital services. Using modern, agile methods, our team creates products that meet people’s needs and transform their experience of government.
Work on things that matter
Our collaborations have shaped some of the defining moments in public-sector service delivery. We’ve helped build products that connect Veterans to tailored services, help millions access affordable health care, and support important programs like Head Start. As we work with agencies to deliver critical services, we’re also changing how the government approaches technology.
Built for a remote life
Our culture, communications, and tools are built for remote work, enabling us to bring together top talent nationwide. At Ad Hoc, remote life empowers our teams to design work environments that fit their lives and that foster flexibility and collaboration to achieve positive outcomes for our customers.
Committed to high expectations and a welcoming culture
Ad Hoc values acceptance, accountability, and humility. We aren’t heroes. We learn from our mistakes and improve the process for the next time. We build small, inclusive teams to collaborate closely with our partners to solve the right problems and deliver software that works.
The Veterans Affairs business unit helps transform the VA into a modern digital services organization where Veteran outcomes are at the center of every effort. We partner with the VA to design and deliver seamless user experiences for Veterans, their families and caregivers, and VA employees. By applying better practices in service design, product management, and technology, we enable the VA to increase the use, quality, and reliability of services and decrease the time Veterans spend waiting for outcomes.
Primary Responsibilities
As a Staff Software Engineer, you will be a hands-on technical contributor supporting the modernization of enterprise applications and services. You will design, develop, and deliver scalable backend solutions using Java, Spring Boot, and REST APIs while helping establish strong engineering practices across the team.
This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, mentoring others, and leading through technical expertise. While initially focused on individual contributions and technical leadership, there is an opportunity to grow into a formal engineering leadership or people management role as the team and program evolve.
Primary expectations of a Staff Software Engineer include:
- Design, develop, test, and deploy production-ready backend applications using Java 17+, Spring, and Spring Boot.