Principal Software Engineer - Java, Spring Boot, Kafka

Job Description The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who enjoys solving complex engineering challenges, mentoring developers, influencing technology strategy, and collaborating with business and technology stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership Lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise-grade software solutions using Java, Spring Boot, Kafka, and Microservices architecture. Serve as the technical lead for a team of 5-10 engineers across onshore and offshore locations. Establish engineering standards, code quality practices, and development methodologies across the team. Drive technical decision-making and architectural discussions while balancing scalability, performance, security, and maintainability. Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical mentoring to elevate team performance. Software Engineering Design and develop high-performance backend services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot. Build and enhance event-driven solutions leveraging Kafka for real-time processing and system integration. Develop and maintain microservices that support critical business capabilities and customer-facing applications. Create scalable, resilient, and highly available software solutions aligned with enterprise architecture standards. Troubleshoot complex production issues and drive root-cause analysis and resolution. Team Leadership & Delivery Lead Agile delivery efforts and coordinate work across distributed teams. Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship to engineers at various experience levels. Collaborate with Product Owners, Architects, DevOps, QA, and business stakeholders to ensure successful project execution. Manage technical dependencies, risks, and delivery timelines. Stakeholder Engagement Partner with business and technology stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions. Communicate technical concepts and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences. Influence technology roadmaps and support strategic initiatives across the organization. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience). 10+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on backend development. 5+ years of experience designing and developing enterprise applications using Java and Spring Boot. Proven experience leading technical teams of 5-10 engineers, including both onshore and offshore resources. Extensive experience building and deploying Microservices-based architectures. Strong experience implementing event-driven solutions using Kafka. Demonstrated ability to engage and influence stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization. Technical Skills Expert-level Java development experience. Strong proficiency with Spring Boot and related Spring ecosystem technologies. Deep understanding of Microservices architecture, API design, and distributed systems. Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka and event-driven architectures. Strong coding, debugging, performance tuning, and problem-solving skills. Experience with CI/CD pipelines, source control, and modern software development practices. Solid understanding of software design patterns, object-oriented programming, and system integration principles. Leadership Skills Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineering talent. Strong collaboration and communication skills. Proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, enterprise environments. Ability to balance hands-on development responsibilities with technical leadership duties. Nice-to-Have Qualifications Experience using Generative AI tools (e.g., "GitHub Copilot", "ChatGPT", "Microsoft Copilot", or similar platforms) for software development, code generation, testing, documentation, and code maintenance. Experience evaluating and implementing AI-assisted development practices to improve engineering productivity and code quality. Cloud platform experience (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Experience within highly regulated industries such as banking or financial services. Benefits PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage with a health savings account. Life, short- and long-term disability insurance. 401(k) with company match, pension plan, and stock purchase plans. Dependent care reimbursement and backup child/elder care. Paid time off including maternity/parental leave, holidays, and vacation days. Educational assistance and additional wellness programs. Disability Accommodations Statement If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process, please contact us via email at . Please include "accommodation request" in the subject line title and be sure to include your name, the job ID, and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call 877-968-7762 and say "Workday" for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and, for any registered role, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history. California Residents Refer to the California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice to gain understanding of how PNC may use or disclose your personal information in our hiring practices. #J-18808-Ljbffr