Principal Engineer - Java
Bank of America · Addison, TX
- On site
- Full-time
- $160,000 / year
- Addison, TX
Job highlights
- Lead engineering for large-scale solutions.
- Own MESH application portfolio architecture.
- Utilize diverse technologies: Java, Mulesoft, Kafka.
- Drive new technologies and POCs.
- Ensure enterprise standards and quality.
About the role
Principal Java Engineer - MESH
At Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection. We do this by driving Responsible Growth and delivering for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders every day.
Being a Great Place to Work is core to how we drive Responsible Growth. This includes our commitment to being an inclusive workplace, attracting and developing exceptional talent, supporting our teammates’ physical, emotional, and financial wellness, recognizing and rewarding performance, and how we make an impact in the communities we serve.
Bank of America is committed to an in-office culture with specific requirements for office-based attendance and which allows for an appropriate level of flexibility for our teammates and businesses based on role-specific considerations.
At Bank of America, you can build a successful career with opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact. Join us!
Job Description:
This job is responsible for defining and leading the engineering approach for solutions at the program or portfolio level, to deliver significant business outcomes. Key responsibilities include continuously improving the design, quality, and reuse of the solution and delivering technology enablers that improve development efficiencies for the solution. Job expectations include familiarity with at least one area of engineering, acting as a “go to” reference across the organization, and applying knowledge to improve technical competencies through recruitment and development activities.
The Principal Engineer for MESH (Merchant Core) is a critical IC role responsible for owning domain expertise and low-level architecture across the MESH application portfolio. This role serves as the technical authority for a diverse technology landscape including Mulesoft, Java, Oracle PL/SQL, Pega, Tango, Kafka, reactive programming, and AI tools. The Principal Engineer provides broad influence across the organization, champions new technologies and proof-of-concepts (POCs), and ensures the entire technical stack meets enterprise standards while maximizing engineering quality and output.
Responsibilities:
- Develops the engineering approach for the entire program/portfolio solution and works with Architecture, to develop/analyze/deliver the implementation of technical enablers
- Leads the planning, definition, and design of the complex features which span multiple teams and explore solution alternatives
- Creates ideas on designing complex technology and solution development approaches
- Leads the technical oversight for teams in solution development including design reviews and code within own domain
- Defines the technology tool stack for the solution within ranged of internally approved and supported technologies
- Explores state-of-the-art technologies to improve development efficiencies, quality of test/QA coverage, and release management
- Leads and is responsible for the end-to-end test strategy/creation/adherence, and the integration between teams for a program/portfolio solution
Required Qualifications:
Technical Expertise
- Deep expertise in Java and Spring Boot framework
- Strong experience with enterprise integration technologies (Mulesoft, Kafka)
- Proficiency in Oracle PL/SQL and database design
- Experience with reactive programming paradigms and event-driven architectures
- Knowledge of Pega, Tango, or similar enterprise platforms
- Understanding of design patterns, microservices architecture, and distributed systems
- Experience with CI/CD, DevOps practices, and cloud technologies
Experience & Skills
- 10+ years of software engineering experience with progressive technical leadership
- Proven track record of defining and implementing complex, enterprise-scale solutions
- Experience owning architecture and technical strategy across multiple technology stacks
- Demonstrated ability to drive POCs from concept to implementation
- Strong understanding of security standards, compliance requirements, and vendor management
- Experience working in Agile/SAFe environments and delivering across multiple PIs
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity
Leadership & Communication
- Extreme ownership mindset with ability to drive results across teams
- Strong influence and collaboration skills without direct reporting authority
- Ability to mentor and elevate the technical capabilities of engineering teams
- Experience presenting technical recommendations to senior leadership
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with AI/ML tools and integration (Co-Pilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
- Background in financial services or payments domain
- Experience with merchant services or payment processing systems
- Familiarity with modern observability and monitoring tools
- Contributions to open-source projects or technical communities
Key skills/competency:
- Java
- Spring Boot
- Mulesoft
- Kafka
- Oracle PL/SQL
- Reactive Programming
- Microservices
- CI/CD
- DevOps
- Agile/SAFe
Skills & topics
- Principal Engineer
- Java
- Spring Boot
- Mulesoft
- Kafka
- Oracle PL/SQL
- Reactive Programming
- Microservices
- CI/CD
- DevOps
- Cloud
- Architecture
- Technical Leadership
- Enterprise Solutions
- Agile
- SAFe
- Financial Services
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 10+ years of experience, technical leadership, and expertise in Java, Spring Boot, Mulesoft, and Kafka, aligning with Bank of America's requirements for Principal Engineers.
- Showcase enterprise-scale solutions: Emphasize your proven track record in defining and implementing complex, enterprise-scale solutions, especially in financial services or payments.
- Demonstrate leadership and influence: Provide examples of your ability to drive results, mentor teams, and collaborate effectively without direct reporting authority.
- Prepare for technical discussions: Be ready to discuss your experience with architecture, design patterns, microservices, CI/CD, DevOps, and cloud technologies.
- Understand the culture: Research Bank of America's commitment to Responsible Growth, inclusivity, and their in-office culture to align your responses with their values.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key technical skills required for the Principal Java Engineer role at Bank of America?
- The Principal Java Engineer role at Bank of America requires deep expertise in Java and the Spring Boot framework, strong experience with enterprise integration technologies like Mulesoft and Kafka, proficiency in Oracle PL/SQL and database design, and knowledge of reactive programming, microservices architecture, and distributed systems. Experience with CI/CD, DevOps, and cloud technologies is also essential.
- How important is experience in the financial services domain for this Principal Java Engineer position?
- While not strictly required, a background in financial services or payments domain, especially with merchant services or payment processing systems, is desired for the Principal Java Engineer role at Bank of America. This experience can provide valuable context for understanding the business needs and complexities of the MESH application portfolio.
- What is Bank of America's stance on remote work for this Principal Java Engineer role?
- Bank of America is committed to an in-office culture, with specific requirements for office-based attendance. While there may be an appropriate level of flexibility based on role-specific considerations, this Principal Java Engineer position is likely to require a significant presence in the office.
- What kind of leadership responsibilities does the Principal Java Engineer have at Bank of America?
- The Principal Java Engineer is expected to lead the engineering approach for program or portfolio solutions, own domain expertise and low-level architecture, provide technical oversight for development teams, define the technology tool stack, and explore new technologies. They also lead the end-to-end test strategy and integration efforts.
- How can I best prepare my resume for the Principal Java Engineer application at Bank of America?
- To prepare your resume for the Principal Java Engineer role at Bank of America, focus on highlighting your 10+ years of progressive technical leadership, proven experience in defining and implementing complex enterprise-scale solutions, and your deep technical expertise in Java, Spring Boot, Mulesoft, Kafka, and related technologies. Quantify your achievements wherever possible and showcase your ability to influence and mentor.
- What are the desired qualifications for the Principal Java Engineer position beyond the core technical skills?
- Beyond core technical skills, desired qualifications for the Principal Java Engineer at Bank of America include experience with AI/ML tools and integration (like Co-Pilot, ChatGPT, Claude), a background in financial services or payments, familiarity with modern observability and monitoring tools, and contributions to open-source projects or technical communities.
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