Java Tech Lead / Solution Architect (React , Telecom)

Accountabilities

Own solution architecture: Define and maintain the technical architecture for the customer portal and integration platform within the telecommunications Business Support Systems/Operations Support Systems (BSS/OSS) domain.
Lead technical discovery: Assess requirements, evaluate technical options, identify dependencies, and establish the implementation strategy and architectural foundations for the MVP.
Design scalable systems: Develop domain models, REST APIs, integration flows, microservices, and event-driven components using sound architectural principles, including Domain-Driven Design (DDD).
Contribute hands-on development: Write and maintain production-quality Java and Spring Boot code, focusing particularly on complex technical components and critical integration scenarios. Maintain an approximate 50/50 balance between architecture and technical leadership on one side and hands-on development on the other.
Lead and mentor developers: Guide a team of three full-stack Java developers through technical planning, implementation, problem-solving, and delivery, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
Establish engineering standards: Conduct code reviews, define coding conventions, implement quality gates, and promote maintainable, reliable, and secure software development practices.
Guide frontend architecture: Shape the React and TypeScript application architecture, establish UI development standards, review frontend code, and contribute to implementation when needed.
Design enterprise integrations: Build integration strategies for external services, third-party APIs, and legacy systems, applying reliable patterns such as idempotency, retries, asynchronous processing, and the Transactional Outbox pattern.
Drive security and workflow design: Guide authentication, authorization, and access-control implementations using OAuth2, OpenID Connect (OIDC), Spring Security, and role-based access control (RBAC), alongside appropriate workflow orchestration solutions.
Collaborate across engineering teams: Work closely with DevOps and QA specialists on AWS environments, CI/CD pipelines, contract testing, deployment practices, and integration quality.
Document and communicate decisions: Record architectural decisions using Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) and C4 diagrams, communicate directly with UK-based stakeholders and third-party technical teams, and demonstrate progress through regular live demos.
Support modern engineering practices: Incorporate AI-assisted development tools and contemporary software delivery methods to improve productivity and engineering effectiveness.
Requirements
Professional experience: At least 8 years of commercial Java development experience and 2 or more years in a Tech Lead, Solution Architect, or comparable technical leadership position.
Telecommunications expertise: Practical experience in the telecommunications sector, preferably involving internet service providers (ISPs), BSS/OSS platforms, broadband services, order management, product catalogues, or service qualification.
Java and backend development: Strong hands-on experience with Java and Spring Boot, including the design and implementation of production-grade backend services and complex integrations.
Frontend development: At least 3–4 years of practical experience with React/ReactJS and TypeScript, including the ability to guide frontend architecture, review code, and contribute to development when required.
Solution architecture: Demonstrated experience designing and delivering microservices-based, integration-heavy systems, with a strong understanding of DDD, event-driven architecture, distributed systems, and scalable application design.
API and integration design: Experience designing REST APIs and OpenAPI-based contracts, integrating multiple external systems, and implementing reliable communication patterns such as retries, idempotency, asynchronous processing, and transactional messaging.
Telecom standards: Familiarity with TM Forum Open APIs is required, ideally supported by practical experience in telecommunications integration projects.
Workflow orchestration: Hands-on experience with Camunda, Flowable, or a comparable workflow or business-process orchestration engine.
Security expertise: Practical knowledge of OAuth2, OIDC, Spring Security, and RBAC, including the implementation of secure authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Cloud and DevOps: Experience with AWS and containerized environments, including Docker and Kubernetes, with exposure to services such as Amazon EKS or ECS and modern CI/CD practices.
Technical leadership: Proven ability to mentor developers, coordinate technical planning, conduct effective code reviews, make architectural decisions, and guide a team toward successful delivery.
Communication skills: Upper-intermediate (B2+) to advanced (C1) English proficiency, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and collaborate directly with UK-based clients and international teams.
AI-assisted development: Familiarity with AI-powered coding tools such as Claude Code or Cursor and an interest in applying them effectively within professional software engineering workflows.
Nice to have:
Experience with PostgreSQL and database migration tools such as Flyway or Liquibase.
Familiarity with Apache Kafka or AWS SQS for messaging and event-driven communication.
Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform or AWS CDK.
Understanding of multi-tenant application architectures.
Practical experience with Auth0.
Familiarity with telecommunications and network systems such as RADIUS, NetBox, or IP Address Management (IPAM).
Knowledge of UK broadband ecosystems and providers such as Openreach, PXC, or CityFibre.
Experience leading technical discovery phases, architecture spikes, or early-stage platform design initiatives.
Benefits
Competitive compensation: A salary package that reflects your technical expertise, professional experience, and qualifications. The specific salary range is not disclosed in the original posting.
Remote work: Work remotely, with the flexibility and convenience of a distributed working environment.
Strategic project involvement: Join a strategically important pilot team responsible for delivering the first production phase of a new telecommunications platform.
Potential long-term opportunities: An initial contract of approximately four months or more, with potential longer-term project prospects.
Modern technology stack: Work with Java, Spring Boot, React, TypeScript, microservices, event-driven architecture, AWS, Docker, and Kubernetes.
AI-powered development exposure: Explore AI-assisted engineering practices and tools within an enterprise-scale software development environment.
Technical ownership: Influence architectural decisions, establish engineering standards, and contribute directly to the design and implementation of a new platform.
Collaborative culture: Work in an open environment where technical expertise, innovative ideas, and proactive problem-solving are valued.
Military deferment: Official military deferment or reservation is listed among the offered benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and local regulations.