Engineering Manager, Software Engineering (Java Backend)

In this role, you’ll combine hands-on Java backend engineering with people leadership, guiding a team responsible for modernizing and maintaining critical enterprise applications and services. You’ll shape technical architecture and delivery using Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, and microservices while remaining closely involved in coding, design reviews, and complex problem-solving. Alongside technical direction, you’ll coach engineers, support career development, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning. You’ll work across engineering, product, architecture, and program teams to align priorities and deliver reliable solutions that meet mission-critical public-sector needs. The position is fully remote within the United States and offers the opportunity to contribute to digital services that improve experiences and outcomes for Veterans and their families.

• Bachelor's degree and 9+ years of relevant software engineering experience, or equivalent professional experience in place of a degree.

• 8+ years of professional software development experience, including substantial hands-on Java backend development.

• 5+ years of experience developing production backend applications with Spring and Spring Boot.

• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, or integrating RESTful APIs and microservices.

• Experience leading engineers through technical delivery, mentorship, coaching, or formal people management.

• Experience providing performance feedback, supporting career development, and managing engineering priorities.

• Strong technical foundation in Java, Spring Boot, backend architecture, object-oriented programming, and API design.

• Recent hands-on engineering experience, with the ability to review code, contribute to technical designs, and troubleshoot complex backend systems.

• Experience with relational databases such as Oracle or PostgreSQL, SQL, and ORM frameworks such as Hibernate/JPA.

• Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including design, development, testing, deployment, and production support.

• Familiarity with Agile development practices and collaboration across engineering, product, and program teams.

• Ability to balance technical leadership, hands-on delivery, and team development responsibilities.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

• Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.

• Preferred: active, VA-adjudicated Public Trust clearance; previous experience as an Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, Engineering Lead, or Staff Software Engineer with team leadership responsibilities.

• Preferred: direct experience managing engineers, including performance reviews, coaching, and career development.

• Preferred: experience modernizing legacy enterprise applications or transitioning monolithic systems to microservices.

• Preferred: experience with Java 17+, modern Spring Boot frameworks, event-driven architecture, Kafka, Redis, distributed systems, or reactive programming with Spring WebFlux.

• Preferred: familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices.

• Preferred: experience supporting federal government programs, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs, and leading distributed or fully remote engineering teams.