Senior Backend Software Engineer

## About the Role We are looking for a **Senior Backend Software Engineer** to strengthen the **DSO Ozon team** at Kadaster. In this role, you will develop and manage Java and Spring Boot services within a DevOps team, contribute to software architecture, and help ensure high standards for quality, performance, security, and maintainability. The Ozon team develops and operates services that form an important part of the **Digitaal Stelsel Omgevingswet (DSO)**. Ozon validates, registers, and makes environmental documents available through APIs and supports applications used within the Dutch Environmental and Planning Act. You will work in an Agile/Scrum environment with a multidisciplinary team and take responsibility for applications from development through production. ## Key Responsibilities - Prepare and write user stories and actively contribute to refinement sessions. - Develop, maintain, and improve Java and Spring Boot backend services. - Contribute to software architecture and technical design decisions. - Optimize application configuration and performance. - Write clean, maintainable, high-quality code using established software engineering principles such as KISS, SOLID, and YAGNI. - Apply configuration-as-code and appropriate development and deployment tooling. - Design and implement effective automated test coverage. - Document software and technical solutions. - Conduct code reviews and share knowledge with colleagues. - Analyze and resolve complex bugs and technical issues. - Perform DevOps management and operational activities. - Contribute actively to development guidelines and engineering standards. - Participate in the Java community within Kadaster. - Collaborate with developers, test engineers, information analysts, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, integration specialists, and functional administrators. - Work as part of a DevOps team with responsibility for applications from idea through production. ## Required Qualifications - Fluent professional proficiency in **Dutch**, both written and spoken. - Minimum **HBO working and thinking level**, demonstrated through an HBO or WO degree, or an MBO diploma combined with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience. - At least **8 years of professional experience in Java development**. - At least **5 years of professional experience with Spring Boot, OpenAPI, Swagger, and PostgreSQL**. - Experience working with software development principles and practices including **KISS, SOLID, and YAGNI**. - Experience with Agile/Scrum and DevOps ways of working. - Ability to work proactively, take ownership, contribute to technical decisions, and collaborate effectively with other developers and stakeholders. ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience with the technologies and tools used within the Ozon team, including: - Java 25 - Spring Boot 4 - Angular and TypeScript - OpenAPI and Swagger - jOOQ - Hibernate and JPA - Kotlin - GitHub Copilot - RabbitMQ - PostgreSQL/PostGIS - XML/GML - Geolson - Robot Framework - Docker and Kubernetes - Azure Cloud - Traefik - Git, Tekton, ArgoCD, and Maven - Jira - Experience with API development and distributed services. - Experience with configuration-as-code. - Experience with automated testing and test automation. - Experience participating in or contributing to a Java engineering community. ## Skills & Competencies - **Backend software development:** strong Java and Spring Boot expertise. - **Software architecture:** ability to contribute to architectural and design discussions. - **Problem-solving:** capable of analyzing complex bugs and technical issues. - **Code quality:** commitment to maintainable, understandable, well-tested software. - **Performance optimization:** ability to identify and improve application performance. - **DevOps:** comfortable taking responsibility for applications throughout their lifecycle. - **Agile collaboration:** active participation in Scrum ceremonies, refinements, planning, demos, and retrospectives. - **Communication:** able to explain technical decisions clearly and collaborate with developers and other disciplines. - **Ownership:** takes responsibility for both individual and team outcomes. - **Knowledge sharing:** contributes through code reviews, development guidelines, and community activities. - **Adaptability:** able to work with evolving technologies, tooling, and technical requirements. ## Education & Experience **Education** - Minimum HBO working and thinking level, demonstrated by: - an HBO or WO degree; **or** - an MBO diploma combined with at least 8 years of relevant work experience. **Experience** - Minimum 8 years of Java development experience. - Minimum 5 years of experience with Spring Boot, OpenAPI, Swagger, and PostgreSQL. ## Work Arrangement & Schedule - **Location:** Apeldoorn, Gelderland, Netherlands. - **Work arrangement:** Hybrid, with a minimum of **2 days per week working from the Kadaster office**. - The specific office days are agreed with the manager and team. - **Employment type:** Detachment. - The team works with **Agile Scrum**, using two-week sprints. - The broader DSO program works according to the **SAFe framework**, including quarterly Program Increments. - The team conducts daily stand-ups and sprint planning, demos, retrospectives, and multiple refinement sessions. ## Compensation & Benefits The supplied job description does **not specify a salary or benefits package** for this position. ## Compliance / Additional Information - The CV must be submitted in **Dutch** and may not exceed **10 A4 pages**. - Motivations for the requirements and answers to the selection criteria must be included within the specified page limit. - The position supports the **DSO Ozon team at Kadaster**, which develops and manages services within the **Digitaal Stelsel Omgevingswet**. - The Ozon platform consists of approximately 10 services/APIs, Java backends, and an Angular frontend management portal running on a Kubernetes cluster in Azure Cloud.