Java Lead {Richmond, VA-Hybrid}

Job Description:

API Developer (Contract – 9 Months to Start) 
Location: Richmond, VA (Hybrid/Onsite as applicable)
Duration: 9-Month Contract (Potential Extension)

Overview We are seeking an experienced API Developer to design, build, and scale high-performance APIs supporting enterprise-grade applications. This role requires deep technical expertise in API development, distributed systems, and cloud-native architectures.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop robust, scalable, and secure APIs
• Implement RESTful and event-driven services using modern frameworks
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product, QA, and DevOps
• Ensure API performance, reliability, and scalability through best practices
• Develop and maintain API documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger, Postman)
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement
• Optimize APIs for performance, caching, and load balancing
• Implement security best practices including authentication and authorization

Required Skills Programming & Development

• Proficiency in one or more: Python, Java, Go
• Strong experience in RESTful API design (HTTP methods, status codes)
• Experience with API protocols: REST, GraphQL, WebSockets

Authentication & Security

• OAuth 2.0, JWT, API Keys, SAML
• API security best practices, threat modeling, and rate limiting

Data & Integration

• Strong database knowledge: SQL and NoSQL (PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, Redis)
• Experience with enterprise integration patterns (ESB, Kafka/message queues)

Architecture & Systems

• Microservices and event-driven architecture
• Service mesh and distributed systems design
• Advanced protocols: gRPC, GraphQL federation, Server-Sent Events

DevOps & Tools

• Version control: Git/GitHub
• Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes
• CI/CD pipelines
• Testing: unit, integration, end-to-end

Performance & Scalability

• Load balancing, caching strategies, CDN integration