Lead Java Developer

Backend Java Lead 80–100% (f / m / d)- Zurich

We are working with a confidential client in the financial services space who is looking for an experienced Backend Lead to take ownership of a modern, business-critical platform. This is a hands-on leadership role combining technical excellence, people leadership, and strategic influence.

The Role

In this position, you will lead an agile backend team working across multiple locations, fostering a strong quality-driven engineering culture and ensuring the continuous delivery of robust, secure solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop an agile engineering team using Kanban and Scrum methodologies

Act as the primary interface between engineering and management, translating business needs into clear technical direction

Take ownership of the backend codebase, technology stack, and applications across the full lifecycle

Design, build, deploy, and maintain client-facing wealth management applications

Develop backend services using Java and Spring Boot

Drive DevOps practices including CI / CD pipelines, deployment automation, monitoring, and operational excellence

Ensure engineering standards, security, and compliance are met consistently

Your Profile

You bring a strong quality mindset and understand the real impact technology has on end users. You are comfortable leading people and influencing decisions at senior levels.

Required Skills and Experience

Proven experience leading and developing engineers in a distributed environment

Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with senior leadership

Fluency in Swiss German and English

Deep expertise in Java and the Java Virtual Machine

Hands-on experience building microservice-based backends with Java and Spring Boot

Practical experience with Docker and container orchestration, ideally Kubernetes

Nice to Have

Background in finance or wealth management with knowledge of financial instruments

Experience with Elasticsearch and messaging systems

Exposure to reactive programming