Lead Java Software Engineer

The Role

Join the Citi Futures Technology team, a dynamic and fast-paced group at the heart of a growing global business. We are seeking a talented Senior Java Engineer to drive the architecture, design, and implementation of our Futures Data as a Service post-trade orders & executions application.

This is a hands-on role where you will tackle complex technical challenges in a low-latency, high-throughput environment. You will play a key role in building resilient and high-performing scalable solutions that directly impact our trade consumption, enrichment and reporting.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Architect & Develop: Architect, design, build, and maintain high-performance, scalable, and reliable Java-based microservices.
• Solve Complex Problems: Tackle challenging technical problems related to concurrency, low-latency messaging, and large‑scale data processing in a distributed environment.
• Collaborate & Integrate: Work within a global Agile team to analyze complex business requirements, collaborating with traders, product managers and other key business stakeholders to deliver elegant and effective technical solutions.
• Champion Best Practices: Uphold and contribute to our high standards for code quality, automated testing (unit, integration and regression), code reviews, and CI/CD practices.
• Modernize Our Technology Stack: Drive the evolution of our platform by leveraging modern technologies like Kafka, Docker, and OpenShift, and contribute to the strategic transformation of our architecture.
• Mentor & Lead: Serve as a technical advisor and coach to mid‑level and senior developers and analysts, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure System Resiliency: Take ownership of the full development lifecycle, from architecture, design and implementation to deployment and operational support, ensuring the stability and integrity of our production environment.
• Risk & Compliance: Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients, and assets. Drive compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, apply sound ethical judgment, and escalate control issues with transparency.

Our Tech Stack

• Server OS: Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Backend: Java (17+), Spring Boot, REST APIs, Microservices
• Messaging: Apache Kafka, Solace and Tibco
• Databases: Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB
• DevOps & CI/CD: Git, Jenkins, TeamCity, Tekton, uDeploy, Harness, Maven/Gradle
• Container & Cloud: Docker, Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift

What We’re Looking For (Qualifications)

• Experience: 8+ years of professional experience in a hands‑on software architecture, design and development role.
• Core Java Expertise: Deep, demonstrable knowledge of server‑side Java, including multi‑threading, performance tuning, and building robust, scalable applications.
• System Architecture & Design: Proven experience in architecting, designing and implementing complex, distributed systems and cloud microservices.
• Database Proficiency: Strong expertise with relational databases, including data modeling, query optimization, and performance tuning.
• Messaging Systems: Hands‑on experience with high‑throughput messaging platforms, specifically Kafka and Solace.
• CI/CD & DevOps: Solid experience with modern CI/CD pipelines and tools (Git, Jenkins, Maven/Gradle).
• Agile Mindset: A strong thought‑leader, communicator and collaborator with a proven track record of success in an Agile delivery environment.

Preferred (Nice to Have):

• Financial Domain Knowledge: Subject matter expertise in financial markets, particularly in exchange traded derivatives and futures trading.
• Containerization: Experience developing and deploying applications on container platforms like Docker, Kubernetes, or OpenShift.
• NoSQL Experience: Familiarity with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB.
• Other Skills: Experience with FIX Protocol, Experience with leveraging AI tools.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree is a plus.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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