Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Java Full Stack Lead Developer to lead a strategic application modernization initiative involving the migration of multiple mission-critical applications from IBM WebSphere 8.5.5 to Apache Tomcat deployed on Kubernetes.
This is primarily a lift-and-shift modernization program, focused on platform migration, Java version upgrades, WebSphere configuration analysis, and containerization. The functional scope remains unchanged, with existing SOAP services, consumer integrations, security mechanisms (SAML), and business workflows preserved.
The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in IBM WebSphere administration and application architecture, strong Java development experience, and proven success in enterprise application migrations involving middleware, JMS, JDBC connection pools, and Kubernetes-based deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Application Modernization & Migration Leadership
Lead the migration of enterprise applications from IBM WebSphere 8.5.5 to Apache Tomcat.
Analyze existing WebSphere configurations, deployment descriptors, server topology, security setup, and integration patterns.
Perform detailed assessment of application dependencies and migration impacts.
Define and execute migration strategies for application servers, messaging, security, and infrastructure components.
Drive Java version upgrades from legacy Java environments to supported enterprise Java versions.
Technical Leadership
Lead a team of developers during design, development, migration, testing, and deployment phases.
Review technical designs, implementation approaches, and migration plans.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to development teams.
Collaborate with architects, infrastructure teams, middleware teams, and business stakeholders.
Ensure adoption of enterprise coding, security, and performance standards.
Full Stack Development
Design and develop enterprise applications using Java and Spring Framework.
Support enhancements and maintenance of web-based applications built using Angular, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Develop and maintain APIs and integration services.
Troubleshoot complex application performance and production issues.
Middleware & Integration
Migrate WebSphere-specific configurations to Tomcat environments.
Analyze and migrate JMS implementations and messaging configurations.
Migrate JDBC connection pools, datasource configurations, and security settings.
Support existing SOAP web service integrations and backend connectivity.
Ensure seamless migration of authentication and authorization mechanisms, including SAML-based integrations.
Kubernetes & Deployment
Support containerization efforts using Docker.
Deploy and manage applications on Kubernetes platforms.
Collaborate with DevOps teams to leverage existing CI/CD pipelines.
Ensure successful application deployment, monitoring, and operational readiness.
Quality & Delivery
Drive Agile delivery practices across development teams.
Conduct code reviews and enforce development best practices.
Ensure test automation, security compliance, and code quality standards.
Support production deployments and post-migration stabilization activities.
Skill Requirements
Mandatory Technical Skills
Core Java & Middleware
Strong experience in Java/J2EE application development.
Advanced knowledge of Spring Framework (Core, DI, Integration).
Experience with Spring Boot and enterprise Java applications.
Strong understanding of application lifecycle and middleware architecture.
IBM WebSphere Expertise
Deep hands-on experience with IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 8.x/9.x.
Expertise in WebSphere administration, deployment, clustering, security, and performance tuning.
Strong understanding of EAR/WAR deployments and server configurations.
Experience migrating applications from WebSphere to Tomcat or other application servers.
Application Integration
SOAP Web Services
WSDL, XML, XSD
JMS Messaging
JDBC
Connection Pool Configuration
Enterprise Integration Patterns
SAML Authentication & Authorization
Front-End Technologies
Angular
TypeScript
JavaScript
HTML5
CSS3
Database Technologies
Oracle
SQL
Relational Database Systems
JDBC Performance Tuning
DevOps & CI/CD
Maven
GitHub
Jenkins
Docker
SonarQube
Artifactory
CI/CD Pipelines
Containerization & Kubernetes
Docker Containers
Kubernetes Deployments
Container Orchestration
Application Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Other Requirements
Preferred Skills
Experience with large-scale application server migrations.
Exposure to Tomcat administration and performance tuning.
Experience supporting high-availability enterprise applications.
Knowledge of Control-M.
Exposure to Aerospike and Snowflake.
Experience in Financial Services, Capital Markets, or Asset Management domains.
Experience working with enterprise architecture and governance review processes.
Soft Skills
Strong analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
Excellent technical leadership and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to independently perform application discovery and migration assessments.
Strong communication skills with both technical and business stakeholders.
Excellent documentation and presentation abilities.
Strong problem-solving and solution design mindset.
High ownership, accountability, and attention to detail.
Ability to lead teams in fast-paced modernization programs.
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.