What are the responsibilities and job description for the IT Software Engineer 4 position at Cullerton Group?
Cullerton Group has a new opportunity for an IT Software Engineer 4 – Senior Java/AWS Backend Engineer in Peoria, IL or Chicago, IL. The work will be done hybrid, with 2 days per week onsite. This is a 12-month position with the possibility of extension that can lead to permanent employment with our client. Compensation is up to $91/hr full benefits (vision, dental, health insurance, 401k, and holiday pay).
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to design, develop, test, and support scalable backend and cloud-based applications. This role will focus heavily on Java development, AWS cloud technologies, APIs, databases, microservices, and CI/CD, while working within an Agile/Scrum environment. The engineer will develop complex software modules, perform system integrations, troubleshoot technical issues, and collaborate closely with other engineers through design discussions and code reviews. The position supports new development as well as maintenance of existing web, cloud, server, and computing systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, test, debug, deploy, and maintain complex Java-based backend applications.
- Develop scalable cloud solutions using AWS services, including ECS, Lambda, Fargate, S3, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, CloudFormation, and IAM.
- Design and integrate RESTful APIs, microservices, event-driven systems, and relational/NoSQL databases.
- Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies, technical discussions, PR/code reviews, integrated testing, and customer acceptance testing.
- Troubleshoot complex application and system issues while providing technical guidance and support to other team members.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 8 years of experience, OR a Master’s degree with 6 years of experience.
- 8 years of software development experience and strong backend development experience.
- 8 years of Java application development experience, or 6 years with a relevant Master’s degree.
- At least 3 years of AWS/cloud development experience, including technologies such as CloudFormation, ECS, Lambda, Fargate, S3, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, and IAM.
- Experience designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining software applications at scale.
- Experience with relational and NoSQL databases and application architecture patterns such as microservices, MVC, and event-driven architecture.
- Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins or Azure DevOps and strong knowledge of Agile/Scrum development.
- Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, data structures, and algorithms.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Generative AI tools/technologies for software development.
- Experience with AWS messaging/stream-processing technologies such as SQS, SNS, and Kinesis.
- Strong REST API development experience and familiarity with Swagger and Postman.
- Experience with TDD/BDD and testing technologies such as Selenium and Cucumber.
- Experience with databases such as DynamoDB, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, Elasticsearch, MySQL, or Oracle.
- Strong communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and mentoring skills.
Why This Role?
This position offers the opportunity to work on complex, enterprise-scale backend and cloud applications while using modern technologies such as Java, AWS, microservices, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and GenAI-assisted software development. You’ll collaborate with experienced engineering teams, solve challenging technical problems, and contribute to software used across large-scale business and technology environments.