Senior Java Backend Engineer

About the Role

We’re looking for a Senior Java Backend Engineer to join a growing international team building scalable and resilient cloud-native applications.

This is a fully remote position; however, candidates must currently reside in Portugal. Applications from candidates living outside Portugal will not be considered.

You’ll contribute to the design, development, and optimization of backend services, working closely with engineering, product, and platform teams. You’ll help drive technical excellence while building high-performance systems that support mission-critical business operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend applications using Java and modern backend frameworks
• Build and optimize microservices and distributed systems architectures
• Develop and maintain APIs and event-driven integrations
• Implement and support GraphQL Federation architectures
• Work with Kafka-based messaging and streaming solutions in production environments
• Design and manage cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code practices
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize applications running on Kubernetes
• Contribute to system architecture decisions and technical roadmaps
• Apply Test-Driven Development (TDD) and shift-left testing practices throughout the development lifecycle
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in Agile environments
• Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and knowledge sharing initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Currently living in Portugal (mandatory)
• 5+ years of professional backend development experience
• Strong expertise in Java
• Solid understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles and design patterns
• Experience with Spring Boot or similar backend frameworks
• Hands-on experience with Terraform
• Experience deploying and managing applications in Kubernetes environments
• Experience working with Azure Cloud services
• Production experience with Kafka
• Experience implementing or supporting GraphQL Federation
• Strong understanding of software testing practices, including TDD
• Experience working in Agile environments (Scrum, Kanban, or similar)
• Fluent English (written and spoken)

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud-native architectures
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• Knowledge of observability and monitoring tools
• Experience with distributed systems and event-driven architectures
• Experience working in international and remote-first teams

What We’re Looking For

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ownership mentality and commitment to quality
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset
• Passion for clean code and engineering best practices
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Continuous learning attitude and willingness to drive technical improvements

Location: Remote (Portugal Only)

Important: Candidates must already be based in Portugal.

Compensation

• * Permanent Contract: €2,200 – €2,500 net/month
• * B2B Contract: Up to €280–€300/day