Lead Java/PHP Backend Engineer

About The Role As a Lead Backend Engineer, you will design and build the server-side services and data pipelines behind business-critical applications for our Client, a European public sector organization. You will take technical ownership of the APIs you expose and the enterprise data moving beneath them — across Java or PHP services, relational databases with PL/SQL, and ETL pipelines — and act as the technical reference point for the team. Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain back-end services and business logic in Java or PHPTake technical ownership of the services you deliver, including their correctness, error handling, performance, and security in productionProvide technical leadership to the team through code review and knowledge sharing, take part in multilingual discussions with stakeholders, and translate requirements into workable technical solutionsDesign, build, secure, and document RESTful APIs and web services, including OpenAPI/Swagger documentation, and manage how they are exposed through the API gatewayDesign and optimize relational data structures, writing complex SQL and PL/SQL for the applications and reporting that depend on themBuild and maintain enterprise data pipelines using ETL toolingAnalyze complex back-end issues, identify root causes, and design effective solutionsTest and document what you deliver, working within the established Git workflows and development practices Requirements A university degree at master's level (or 5 years of higher education) with a minimum of 15 years of IT professional experienceProficiency in back-end languages (Java, PHP), with a strong understanding of the web development cycle and of programming techniques and toolsVery good experience in designing, building, and securing RESTful APIs and web services, including OpenAPI/Swagger documentationAt least 5 years of practical experience with API Gateway and PostmanAt least 10 years of practical experience working with relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL), including writing complex SQL queries and understanding database designExcellent knowledge of PL/SQLExcellent knowledge of ETL tools (e.g. SAP Data Services, Talend, Informatica, DataStage) for managing enterprise data pipelinesConsidered an asset: experience with frameworks such as Spring Boot, Hibernate and Node.js; experience with Python; experience with APM tools (Dynatrace, Splunk, Elastic APM) and knowledge of OpenTelemetry for metrics, logs and traces; and experience with Git workflows (GitFlow, trunk-based) together with an understanding of legacy systems using SVNVery good knowledge of English or French, both spoken and written, corresponding to Level B2 or higher (CEFR), with attention to detail in code correctness, error handling and documentation, the ability to analyze complex back-end issues and design effective solutions, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, good team spirit, integration into an international and multicultural environment, participation in multilingual meetings, and the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team with a results-oriented mindset SoftServe is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, disability, health condition, marital or family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.