Tech Lead - Specialist Java Backend Developer

Job Description

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 6TH, 2026

This role can be located in the Caribbean Banking Market or in Canada where the successful candidate resides

What is the opportunity?

The Lead Java Backend Developer for RBC Caribbean’s Digital Banking IT Group designs, develops, and architects mission-critical backend services and APIs powering internet banking, mobile banking, and origination applications. As a technical leader, you’ll provide architectural direction, mentor development teams, and drive modernization initiatives. You’ll collaborate with solutions architects, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders to deliver scalable, secure solutions that solve complex business problems. This role is pivotal in advancing RBC Caribbean’s Digital Channel portfolio through a cloud-native, microservices-first approach.

What Will You Do?

• Lead technical design reviews and architectural decisions for backend systems and microservices
• Design and develop high-performance Java applications, REST APIs, and microservices using Spring Boot and Spring Framework
• Establish and enforce coding standards, design patterns, and architectural best practices across development teams
• Conduct feasibility studies and provide recommendations to senior management on complex, large-scale projects
• Design, code, and implement application programs; perform comprehensive testing and code reviews
• Develop and design scalable API services and ensure high code quality through automated units, integration, and functional testing
• Optimize applications for maximum performance, usability, and maintainability
• Review, analyze, and modify programming systems—including debugging, performance tuning, and deployment for large-scale systems
• Lead modernization efforts and cloud-native transformations for legacy systems (e.g., Netbank, Mobile Banking)
• Research emerging technologies and best practices; assess implications for business strategy
• Participate in vendor evaluation, technology assessments, and due diligence exercises
• Drive DevOps practices and infrastructure-as-code initiatives

What Do You Need to Succeed?

Must-Have

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Software Engineering, Computer Science, IT Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of professional software development experience with proven expertise in:
• Java development (Java 11+ preferred) with deep knowledge of OOP and design patterns
• Microservices architecture and distributed systems design
• Spring Framework and Spring Boot application development
• REST APIs and API-first design
• Cloud-native solutions (AWS, GCP, or Azure) with hands-on experience
• DevOps technologies and CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, etc.)
• Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Message queues/event-driven architectures (MQ, Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Relational and NoSQL databases (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.)
• Comprehensive knowledge of enterprise-level security concepts and methodologies, including: SSO, SSL/TLS, encryption, API security and authentication frameworks (Apigee, OAuth 2.0, JWT), and role-based access control and entitlements management
• 5+ years of demonstrated leadership/facilitation experience managing cross-functional development teams
• Proven ability to mentor engineers and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments
• Experience with banking, financial services, or regulated industries is highly valued
• Understanding of digital banking platforms and customer-facing applications

Nice-to-Have

• AWS, GCP, or Azure certifications
• Experience with event-driven or event sourcing architectures
• Knowledge of API management platforms and gateway solutions
• Open-source project contributions or community involvement
• Experience with performance monitoring and APM tools (New Relic, Datadog, Splunk)
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Banking domain certifications or regulatory compliance knowledge (PCI-DSS, SOX)

What’s in It for You?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, embracing progressive thinking and working together to deliver trusted advice that helps our clients and communities prosper.

• Comprehensive Total Rewards Program including performance bonuses and flex…