Senior Engineer – Lead Java Developer

Job Summary
Our client, a leading Travel & Hospitality provider, is seeking a Senior Engineer – Lead Java Developer to join their team to support technical development initiatives within the Flight Operations, Crew, and Cargo Technology organization. This is a contract opportunity for an experienced Java developer with strong hands-on experience designing, developing, testing, and implementing large-scale production solutions. The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Java, DevOps/CI/CD, cloud deployment, full-stack development, and database technologies, along with the ability to translate business requirements into high-quality production code.  The engineer will play a key role in translating business requirements into high-quality code while improving application reliability, scalability, security, and maintainability. The engineer will work closely with a team of 3 - 4 Operations Scientists/Data Scientists with varying levels of coding maturity and will work under the supervision of a Technical Lead. The role requires the ability to connect business requirements with technical solutions and learn the airline domain, including maintenance operations.

Contract Details

• Contract Type: Contract
• Duration: Approximately 15 Weeks (09/14/2026 – 12/31/2026)
• Location: Fort Worth, TX
• Work Schedule: 8 hours/day – Hybrid, onsite 3 days/week

Core Responsibilities

• Write, test, and document high-quality Java code, scripts, and technical work products according to organizational standards and practices
• Solve complex technical problems and build components and libraries with broad impact across teams and product domains
• Develop and maintain production applications while ensuring high-quality code, proper testing, and reliable delivery
• Conduct root cause analysis to identify systemic technical problems and lead action items to address them
• Translate business requirements into high-quality technical solutions and production-ready code
• Design thoughtfully integrated systems that support speed, scale, reliability, and organizational best practices
• Manage and reduce technical debt within existing applications and ongoing implementations
• Anticipate scaling, latency, durability, and reliability challenges and guide teams toward effective solutions
• Partner with security teams to incorporate security-conscious development practices early in the software lifecycle
• Evaluate technical risks and guide practical strategies for preventing and mitigating issues
• Identify opportunities to improve development and delivery practices across teams
• Identify opportunities to reduce duplication of effort and promote reusable solutions and components
• Coach and guide junior engineers on technical craftsmanship and development best practices
• Explore emerging technologies and lead development of prototypes with limited guidance when appropriate
• Collaborate with Operations Scientists and Data Scientists to support technical development initiatives and business requirements

Required Skills & Experience (Must-Haves)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Technology, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience/training
• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, and implementing large-scale solutions in production environments
• Strong hands-on experience with Java development
• Ability to read, interpret, modify, and enhance existing Java code
• Experience writing high-quality Java code with proper JUnit and integration testing/code coverage
• Experience with DevOps and CI/CD practices
• Hands-on experience with cloud deployment
• Experience developing and supporting production applications
• Ability to translate business requirements into high-quality technical solutions and code
• Strong technical problem-solving and root cause analysis skills
• Ability to identify and address technical risks, scalability concerns, latency, and durability challenges
• Strong communication and collaboration skills when working with technical and cross-functional teams

Preferred Skills & Experience (Nice-to-Haves)

• Full-stack development experience
• Strong database experience
• Previous airline industry experience
• Experience with GitHub Copilot
• Experience working with Data Scientists or Operations Scientists
• Experience with existing application enhancement, modernization, or technical debt reduction
• Experience coaching or mentoring junior engineers
• Familiarity with airline or maintenance operations domains

Key Competencies & Behaviors

• Strong hands-on Java development and technical problem-solving skills
• Ability to write clean, maintainable, and well-tested production code
• Strong understanding of software development, testing, and deployment practices
• Ability to analyze existing code and identify opportunities for improvement
• Strong root cause analysis and troubleshooting capabilities
• Ability to anticipate technical risks and scalability challenges
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to translate business requirements into practical technical solutions
• Leadership mindset with the ability to coach and guide junior engineers
• Ability to work effectively with engineers, Operations Scientists, Data Scientists, and other technical stakeholders
• Strong focus on quality, reliability, security, and continuous technical improvement

Work Environment

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas
• Work Model: Hybrid – onsite 3 days/week

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay Range: The approximate pay range for this position is between $31.00 and $45.00. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and location. We comply with local wage minimums.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Plans
• Employee-Owned Profit Sharing (ESOP)
• 401K offered

About KellyMitchell
At KellyMitchell, our culture is world class. We’re movers and shakers! We don’t mind a bit of friendly competition, and we reward hard work with unlimited potential for growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company known for innovative solutions and unsurpassed customer service. We're passionate about helping companies solve their biggest IT staffing & project solutions challenges. As an employee-owned, women-led organization serving Fortune 500 companies nationwide, we deliver expert service at a moment's notice. 
 
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