Senior API Developer

Job Title: Senior API/Microservices Developer Location: 100% Remote (U.S.) Job Type: Contract (Full-Time) Work Authorization: U.S. Citizens Only Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain EPA Public Trust (NACI/T1 / Public Trust Level 4) Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Senior API/Microservices Developer to join a fully remote Agile development team supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This role focuses on modernizing legacy enterprise applications by designing, developing, and implementing scalable Java Spring Boot microservices and RESTful APIs. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in modern Java development, API design, Spring Boot, relational databases, and cloud-ready microservice architectures. You will collaborate closely with architects, business analysts, data engineers, and government stakeholders to deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing enterprise solutions. Key Responsibilities • Modernize legacy Java applications using Java 21, Spring Boot, and microservices architecture. • Design, build, and maintain scalable RESTful APIs and backend services. • Refactor monolithic applications into modular, loosely coupled microservices. • Develop high-performance, secure, and maintainable enterprise applications. • Design and implement persistence layers using Spring Data JPA and Hibernate. • Integrate APIs with Oracle, PostgreSQL, and other relational databases. • Collaborate with cross-functional Agile teams including developers, architects, QA engineers, business analysts, and government stakeholders. • Implement authentication, authorization, and security best practices. • Develop unit, integration, and end-to-end tests using JUnit and Mockito. • Utilize Git, GitHub, and GitHub Copilot throughout the software development lifecycle. • Create and maintain API documentation using OpenAPI/Swagger and Confluence. • Troubleshoot production issues and optimize applications for scalability and performance. • Participate in code reviews and mentor junior developers. • Ensure compliance with EPA and government software development standards. Required Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or related field. • 8+ years of enterprise Java application development experience. • Strong expertise with Java 21 (or Java 17+). • Extensive experience with Spring Boot and Spring ecosystem. • Strong experience designing and developing RESTful APIs. • Hands-on experience with Microservices Architecture. • Experience with Spring Data JPA and Hibernate. • Strong understanding of relational database design. • Experience with Oracle, PostgreSQL, or similar relational databases. • Experience writing unit tests using JUnit and Mockito. • Proficiency with Git and GitHub. • Experience using GitHub Copilot or other AI-assisted development tools. • Experience with OpenAPI/Swagger. • Experience using API testing tools such as Bruno, Postman, or similar. • Experience with Maven build management. • Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and performance optimization skills. Preferred Qualifications • Experience modernizing legacy enterprise applications. • Experience working with cloud-native architectures. • Knowledge of event-driven architecture and distributed systems. • Experience supporting U.S. Federal Government or regulated industry applications. • Familiarity with Atlassian tools including Confluence. • Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments. Technical Skills Required • Java 21 / Java 17+ • Spring Boot • Spring Data JPA • Hibernate • REST APIs • Microservices • Oracle • PostgreSQL • Maven • Git • GitHub • GitHub Copilot • JUnit • Mockito • OpenAPI / Swagger • Bruno / Postman • Performance Optimization Nice to Have • Cloud technologies • Event-driven Architecture • Government Applications • Confluence • CI/CD Pipelines Soft Skills • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills. • Ability to explain technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Ability to work independently in a fully remote Agile environment. • Strong organizational and time-management skills. • Customer-focused mindset with excellent attention to detail. • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.