Lead Java Backend Developer

Position Description:

We are Canada's largest independent information technology services firm, and after 45+ years, we're still growing! Join Canada's largest IT Company as a Lead Java Backend Developer, in our Financial Services Sector in Toronto.

Location - Downtown Toronto (Hybrid -2 days office) subject to change at any time.

We are seeking a highly capable Java Backend Lead & Developer who can balance technical leadership with hands‑on development. In this role, you will lead design discussions, guide the team, identify issues early, and drive solutions with clarity and ownership. You will work closely with project managers, architects, business stakeholders, QA, and fellow developers to ensure high‑quality delivery with complete requirement traceability. The ideal candidate is technically strong, proactive, articulate, and able to mentor a team while delivering complex backend solutions. A go‑getter attitude, flexibility, and a strong sense of responsibility are essential.

Your future duties and responsibilities:

Leadership & Technical Ownership (60%)
• Lead API and backend design discussions, ensuring alignment with system architecture, business requirements, and best practices.
• Break down business requirements into technical tasks and guide the team through development and delivery.
• Provide technical mentorship, code reviews, design guidance, and help the team adopt modern engineering practices.
• Identify risks and issues early, propose mitigation strategies, and ensure smooth delivery across the lifecycle.
• Collaborate with PM, architects, QA, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and requirement traceability.
• Drive continuous improvement around coding standards, automation, performance optimization, and development processes.
• Own release management activities related to project code, ensuring smooth deployments and post‑release stability.
• Take responsibility for ensuring quality, security, and compliance standards are met.

Hands‑On Development (40%)
• Design, develop, and test backend services and APIs using Java/Spring Boot and modern frameworks.
• Write clean, scalable, and efficient code with strong focus on performance, maintainability, and reusability.
• Create high‑quality documentation, technical specifications, and test cases.
• Troubleshoot complex issues, support operational activities, and perform performance tuning when needed.
• Contribute directly to building and deploying large‑scale distributed systems using Agile methodologies.

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
• Strong technical expertise in: Java / J2EE Spring / Spring Boot RESTful APIs, SOAP, JSON OAuth Microservices architecture Maven, Git SQL databases Cloud platforms (preferably OpenShift / Kubernetes / Azure)
• Minimum 5 years of hands‑on Java development experience in enterprise environments, with prior experience leading teams or technical initiatives.
• Solid understanding of Agile methodology and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong communication, presentation, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.
• A proactive, flexible, and ownership‑driven mindset — willing to stretch when needed and drive outcomes with a go‑getter attitude.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)
• Experience with performance tuning and debugging distributed systems.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and monitoring tools.
• Exposure to architectural patterns and cloud‑native design principles.
• Experience with domain‑driven design (DDD) or event‑driven systems.

**CGI is providing a reasonable estimate of the pay range for this role. The determination of this range includes factors such as skill set level, geographic market, experience and training, and licenses and certifications. Compensation decisions depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $95,000–$145,000. This role is an existing vacancy.

#LI-BN

Skills:

• English
• Financial Services
• GIT
• GIT
• Java
• Microservices
• OpenShift
• RESTful (Rest-APIs)
• Software Architecture
• Spring Boot
• SQLite

What you can expect from us:

Together, as owners, let’s turn meaningful insights into action.

Life at CGI is rooted in ownership, teamwork, respect and belonging. Here, you’ll reach your full potential because…

You are invited to be an owner from day 1 as we work together to bring our Dream to life. That’s why we call ourselves CGI Partners rather than employees. We benefit from our collective success and actively shape our company’s strategy and direction.

Your work creates value. You’ll develop innovative solutions and build relationships with teammates and clients while accessing global capabilities to scale your ideas, embrace new opportunities, and benefit from expansive industry and technology expertise.

You’ll shape your career by joining a company built to grow and last. You’ll be supported by leaders who care about your health and well-being and provide you with opportunities to deepen your skills and broaden your horizons.

At CGI, we value the strength that diversity brings and are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone belongs. We collaborate with our clients to build more inclusive communities and empower all CGI partners to thrive. As an equal-opportunity employer, being able to perform your best during the recruitment process is important to us. If you require an accommodation, please inform your recruiter.

To learn more about accessibility at CGI, contact us via email. Please note that this email is strictly for accessibility requests and cannot be used for application status inquiries.

Come join our team—one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world.