Lead Software Engineer, Java Microservices

Lead Software Engineer - Java Microservices Location: London (Hybrid - 2 days on-site, Monday and Tuesday) Overview We're excited to be supporting our client in hiring a talented Software Engineer (Java Microservices) to join a dynamic, high-performing engineering team within retail banking. This is a fantastic opportunity for a technically minded individual who's passionate about building fast, reliable, and scalable software within a complex distributed environment. You'll play a key role in designing, developing, testing, and implementing modern microservices-based applications running in the public cloud. This is a hands-on position within a feature team that works collaboratively across the full software development lifecycle. What You'll Be Doing Designing, producing, testing, and implementing high-quality software across the system lifecycle Working within a permanent feature team focused on delivering business-critical services in a fast-paced Agile environment (two-week sprints) Collaborating with architects, principal engineers, and key stakeholders to align technical solutions with business objectives Applying Agile and Test-Driven Development (TDD) principles to build resilient, fast-running, and maintainable code Building and maintaining API-driven Java microservices hosted on public cloud infrastructure Contributing to intentional architecture while supporting emergent design through innovation, prototyping, and experimentation Automating build, test, and deployment processes using modern CI/CD practices What We're Looking For Strong server-side Java engineering experience, ideally within large-scale, business-critical environments Proven ability to design and deliver well-tested, production-ready software with strong focus on functional and non-functional requirements Deep understanding of microservices architecture, cloud-native applications, and API development Experience with distributed systems - managing workloads at scale using modern practices for availability, performance, and observability Knowledge and experience with Test-Driven Development (TDD) and automated testing frameworks Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a track record of working effectively in Agile environments Familiarity with public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerized deployments Experience in retail banking or financial services is beneficial Environment & Culture The team currently manages over 300 microservices and operates within a truly collaborative Agile delivery model. Engineers are empowered to take ownership of their work, experiment with new ideas, and continuously improve both the product and the development process. Working Model This role follows a hybrid setup - two days per week (Monday and Tuesday) in the London office, with flexibility for remote working the remainder of the week. *Rates depend on experience and client requirements