Lead Solutions Engineer; Java

Position: Lead Solutions Engineer (Java)
Position Overview:
Our client is looking to find a lead to help oversee an offshore team and assist with data architecture, development, QA, business analysis, program management and user acceptance services to build, deploy, and support a internal platform. This individaul can sit 100% remote and the contract is initially good until the end of the year
Top Skills:
Senior-Level Java Engineering & End-to-End Delivery
Technical Leadership & Ownership in High-Pace Environments
Description
The Onshore Lead Engineer is the Senior technical driver for a pod, responsible for delivering high-quality, scalable software solutions using the platform. This role partners closely with offshore teams, the program architect, product management, and Dev Ops to execute against aggressive deadlines.
The Lead Engineer will set technical direction, mentor developers, remove blockers, and ensure end-to-end delivery across development, testing, and deployment. This role requires strong ownership, curiosity, and the ability to navigate and untangle complex dependencies across teams and systems.
Technical Leadership & Delivery
Lead end-to-end design, development, testing, and delivery of new data-driven products using the internal platform (Studio, Multiparty, ESS, Online capabilities).
Break down business requirements into clear technical solutions, ensuring architectural alignment.
Provide hands-on development in Java and related technologies.
Ensure the majority of delivery supports real-time and online data enablement, with some batch components.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
Serve as the onshore technical anchor for a 10-person pod of onshore + offshore engineers.
Collaborate closely with the offshore lead engineer; occasional travel support may be required for PI Planning.
Coach and mentor developers; promote a culture of curiosity, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Partner with the architect, program manager, and business analyst shared across pods.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Work within PI Planning cycles; support the ability to launch Pod 2 by March 15 and deliver for PI 2 starting April 15.
Proactively identify risks, dependencies, and technical challenges; propose solutions early.
Ensure quality, performance, and maintainability standards are met without slowing pace.
Engineering Excellence
Oversee both development + QA responsibilities within the team; no separate QA role.
Drive best practices in code quality, API design, CI/CD, and Dev Ops tooling.
Partner with Dev Ops engineers (onshore/offshore) to ensure smooth, automated deployments.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Technical Skills
8+ years of experience in software engineering, with deep hands-on Java expertise.
Strong experience delivering on distributed platforms or enterprise-scale ecosystems.
Experience building real-time or near-real-time data products.
Strong understanding of CI/CD automation, pipelines, and Dev Ops concepts.
Experience working in Agile environments with PI Planning / SAFe (preferred).
Leadership & Soft Skills
Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams, including offshore resources.
Exceptionally strong ownership mindset - proactive, inquisitive, always asking the right questions.
Ability to navigate ambiguous requirements and uncover hidden dependencies.
Excellent communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Comfortable working under tight timelines and adapting quickly.
Experience Level
Expert Level
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Chicago, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $76.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits…