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Java Technical Lead – Java

Eastern Europe

About Distillery

Distillery accelerates innovation through an unyielding approach to nearshore software development. The world’s most innovative technology teams choose Distillery to help accelerate strategic innovation, fill a pressing technology gap, and hit mission-critical deadlines. We support essential applications, mobile apps, websites, and eCommerce platforms by placing senior, strategic technical leaders and deploying fully managed technology teams that work intimately alongside our client’s in-house development teams. At Distillery, we’re not here to reinvent nearshore software development, we’re on a mission to perfect it. Distillery is committed to diversity and inclusion. We actively seek to cultivate a workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences present in our society. Our recruitment efforts are dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for all candidates, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other dimension of diversity.

About the Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Java Tech Lead to join our team. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who can operate at a principal engineer level while also managing and mentoring a cross-functional Agile Scrum team.

The selected candidate will play a key role in designing and delivering scalable platform features and integrations, ensuring high-quality engineering standards and driving technical excellence. This position requires a strong balance between hands-on development, architectural decision-making, and team leadership in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

  • Lead the design, development, and delivery of complex platform features and integrations using Java, Kubernetes, and cloud-native technologies
  • Act as the technical authority, making architectural decisions across services, APIs, and data layers
  • Drive best practices in API design, observability, performance optimization, and secure coding
  • Collaborate with architects and principal engineers to align with platform strategy and technical roadmap

Agile Team Leadership

  • Act as Scrum Team Lead, facilitating Agile ceremonies such as stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives
  • Manage and mentor a team of engineers and SDETs
  • Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and career development support
  • Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture focused on ownership and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Work closely with Product Managers, Product Owners, QA, DevOps, and other engineering teams
  • Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure platform reliability and customer satisfaction

Quality & Operational Excellence

  • Champion test automation, CI/CD, and observability practices
  • Define and enforce quality standards, including performance, security, and integration testing
  • Monitor and improve KPIs such as velocity, defect rates, and deployment frequency

Strategic Contribution

  • Contribute to technical hiring, onboarding, and team scaling efforts
  • Drive process improvements and tooling enhancements
  • Stay current with emerging technologies and evaluate their impact on the platform

Requirements

  • 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 2+ years in a technical leadership role
  • Strong experience designing and delivering scalable distributed systems using Java
  • Deep understanding of API management and integration patterns
  • Hands-on experience with Valkey (or Redis), MongoDB, and PostgreSQL
  • Strong expertise in Kubernetes, container orchestration, and microservices architectures
  • Proven experience leading Agile Scrum teams
  • Strong people management skills, including mentoring and career development
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Experience in hiring and scaling engineering teams
  • Experience with test automation practices and working closely with QA/SDETs
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset
  • Advanced English level (B2/C1)

Nice to Have

  • Experience with large-scale platforms or integration products
  • Background in API platforms or SaaS environments
  • Experience improving developer experience and internal tooling
  • Familiarity with performance testing and observability tools

Why You’ll Like Working Here

Join a global team committed to Distillery's core values: Unyielding Commitment, Relentless Pursuit, Courageous Ambition, and Authentic Connection.

  • 100% Remote Work: Enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere while collaborating with a diverse, multinational team.
  • Competitive Compensation: Generous and competitive package in USD, along with a comprehensive benefits plan.
  • Flexible Hours: Create a schedule that aligns with your life and priorities.
  • Home Office Setup: Receive all the hardware and software needed to succeed from home.
  • Innovative Workplace: Collaborate with top-tier talent in a multicultural and dynamic environment.
  • Focus on Growth: Pursue professional and personal development while contributing to impactful projects.