At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of complex Java applications and services.
- Company: Join a major digital programme delivering large-scale, citizen-facing services.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and opportunity for technical leadership.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor and coach other developers while driving innovation.
- Why this job: Combine hands-on development with genuine engineering leadership in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in Java, Spring Boot, AWS, Kafka, and MongoDB required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
- 6 Month Contract
- £780/day Umbrella
- Inside IR35
- Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham
- Hybrid – 60% office attendance
- Technical leadership role with hands-on development must be eligible for SC clearance
The Opportunity
We’re looking for Lead Java Developers to join a major digital programme delivering large-scale, citizen-facing services.
This is a hands-on technical leadership opportunity for experienced Java engineers who want to combine software development, technical direction and solution design.
You’ll work with a modern technology stack including Java, Spring Boot, AWS, Apache Kafka and Mongo DB, helping design and deliver secure, scalable and highly resilient digital services.
You’ll collaborate closely with software engineers, architects, product teams and senior technical stakeholders, taking ownership of complex technical challenges from design and development through to live service support.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the design and development of complex Java applications and services.
Develop high-quality, scalable and maintainable applications using Java and Spring Boot.
Design and develop microservices and RESTful APIs.
Build event-driven solutions using Apache Kafka.
Develop cloud-native applications using AWS.
Design and optimise solutions using Mongo DB.
Provide technical leadership and direction to engineering teams.
Establish and promote engineering standards, patterns and best practices.
Work with architects and senior technical stakeholders on solution design and technical strategy.
Identify and manage technical risks, dependencies and potential issues.
Develop reusable libraries, services and engineering components.
Ensure solutions meet requirements around security, resilience, accessibility, performance and scalability.
Troubleshoot complex production issues and support live services.
Provide 3rd-line technical support where required.
Mentor and coach other software engineers.
Contribute to continuous improvement across engineering practices, tools and processes.
Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend appropriate solutions.
Technical Skills
We’re looking for strong commercial experience across
- Java & Spring Boot
- Extensive hands-on Java and Spring Boot experience.
- Enterprise application and backend development.
- Microservices and REST API development.
- Strong understanding of SOLID, clean code and design patterns.
- AWS
- Strong commercial AWS experience.
- Designing, developing or deploying applications within AWS.
- Understanding of cloud-native architectures and distributed systems.
- Experience with AWS services for application development, integration, deployment and monitoring.
- Apache Kafka
- Hands-on commercial Kafka experience.
- Experience developing Kafka producers and consumers.
- Strong understanding of event-driven and asynchronous architectures.
- Knowledge of messaging, reliability, scalability and distributed systems.
- Mongo DB
- Strong commercial Mongo DB experience.
- Document-based data modelling.
- Integration of Mongo DB with Java/Spring Boot applications.
- Understanding of database performance, scalability and optimisation.
- Software Engineering & Dev Ops
You should also have experience with
- Automated testing and test automation.
- CI/CD pipelines.
- Git and modern source control.
- Agile development.
- Application monitoring, logging and troubleshooting.
- Secure software development.
- Production systems and complex technical problem-solving.
- Technical Leadership
As a Lead Java Developer, you'll be expected to
Provide clear technical direction to engineering teams.
Make and communicate sound technical decisions.
Mentor and coach other developers.
Review and improve engineering practices and standards.
Collaborate effectively with architecture and senior technical stakeholders.
Identify technical risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
Contribute to longer-term technical strategy and technology evolution.
Balance technical quality, user needs, security, performance and delivery requirements.
Desirable Experience
Experience in any of the following would be advantageous
Government or public-sector digital services.
Large-scale citizen-facing platforms.
Highly regulated or security-sensitive environments.
Docker and Kubernetes.
Infrastructure as Code.
Cloud-native architectures.
Observability, monitoring and production support.
Large multidisciplinary Agile engineering teams.
Apply Now
If you're a Lead Java Developer with strong hands-on experience across Java, Spring Boot, AWS, Kafka and Mongo DB, and you're looking for an opportunity where you can combine technical delivery with genuine engineering leadership, we'd love to hear from you
Lead Java Developer in Birmingham employer: GTC Recruitment
Join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation and collaboration, offering a dynamic work culture where your expertise in Learning Design can truly shine. With opportunities for professional growth and the chance to contribute to impactful organisational change, this role not only provides competitive rates but also the flexibility of remote work with occasional travel to Coventry. Embrace a meaningful career that prioritises learner-centred design and stakeholder engagement in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Java Developer in Birmingham
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at GTC Recruitment who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at GTC Recruitment!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at GTC Recruitment to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Java Developer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at GTC Recruitment!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Lead Java Developer at GTC Recruitment! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at GTC Recruitment
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that GTC Recruitment uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at GTC Recruitment that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest GTC Recruitment, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.
