Java Full Stack Engineer (Contract)

Job Description

Axian is seeking a Senior Full Stack Java Engineer in the Portland Oregon area for a 3+ month contract to design, build, and modernize enterprise-grade applications and cloud platforms for our clients. 

This role combines deep hands-on software engineering expertise with architectural thinking. You will participate in development efforts across backend services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and modern single-page application (SPA) frontends. 

A key focus of this role is building scalable, maintainable, production-grade software systems using modern Java technologies and cloud-native engineering practices. 

You will work closely with architects, project managers, analysts, and client stakeholders to deliver secure, high-quality solutions that support critical business operations and digital transformation initiatives. 

The ideal candidate is comfortable navigating ambiguity, balancing competing priorities, and adapting quickly in fast-moving client environments. 

What You’ll Do:

  • Design and develop modern enterprise applications using Java, Spring Boot, and cloud-native architectures.  
  • Build scalable REST APIs, backend services, and distributed application components.  
  • Develop and maintain modern SPA frontends using Vue.js, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.  
  • Design and implement multi-tiered business applications and microservices architectures.  
  • Integrate enterprise systems, third-party APIs, databases, and cloud services.  
  • Develop secure, reliable, and maintainable software using modern engineering best practices.  
  • Create automated unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to support high-quality software delivery.  
  • Participate in Agile/SCRUM development teams and contribute to sprint planning, estimation, and technical design discussions.  
  • Implement CI/CD pipelines and support DevOps automation practices.  
  • Optimize application performance, scalability, reliability, and operational observability.  
  • Contribute to cloud architecture decisions and application modernization strategies.  
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering standards and best practices across client engagements.  
  • Collaborate directly with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.  
  • Effectively manage multiple workstreams and shifting priorities across client engagements. 

 Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent combination of education and 7+ years of professional experience in software engineering or information technology  
  • 4+ years of hands-on Java development experience  
  • Strong experience with Spring Boot and enterprise Java application development  
  • Strong experience building enterprise-level multi-tiered business applications  
  • Strong experience building REST APIs and backend service architectures  
  • Strong understanding of object-oriented design principles and software architecture patterns  
  • Strong experience developing modern SPA applications using Vue.js  
  • Strong JavaScript and/or TypeScript development experience  
  • Strong proficiency with HTML5 and modern CSS  
  • Strong experience designing and developing applications backed by relational databases such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, or similar enterprise platforms  
  • Advanced SQL development skills, including query optimization, indexing strategies, stored procedures, and performance tuning  
  • Strong experience with modern Java ORM and persistence technologies, including Hibernate, JPA, Spring Data JPA, or similar frameworks  
  • Experience designing logical and physical data models for enterprise business applications  
  • Understanding of transactional systems, concurrency, and data integrity patterns in distributed applications  
  • Experience working with cloud platforms such as Azure or AWS  
  • Experience implementing automated testing and test-driven development practices  
  • Strong understanding of HTTP, REST, authentication, and web application architecture  
  • Experience with Git-based source control and modern development workflows  
  • Experience participating in Agile/SCRUM software development environments  
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills  
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders  
  • Ability to estimate engineering effort and contribute to technical planning activities  
  • Ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments and manage competing priorities

Preferred Experience & Additional Skills:

  • Experience with modern Java frameworks and tooling  
  • Experience designing or supporting microservices architectures  
  • Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes  
  • Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or similar platforms  
  • Experience with cloud-native development patterns and distributed systems  
  • Experience with React or Angular  
  • Experience with Node.js, Python, or C#/.NET development  
  • Experience with message queues or event-driven architectures  
  • Experience working with distributed data architectures, caching technologies, or NoSQL platforms such as Redis, MongoDB, or Elasticsearch  
  • Experience integrating enterprise platforms such as SAP, NetSuite, Oracle, Workday, or Salesforce
  • Experience working in consulting or client-facing engineering roles  
  • Familiarity with observability and monitoring tools  
  • Experience profiling and troubleshooting application performance issues  
  • UI/UX design experience or strong front-end architecture skills 

What Makes You Successful in This Role: 

  • You enjoy building scalable, production-grade software systems  
  • You take ownership of technical solutions and engineering quality  
  • You enjoy solving complex integration and modernization challenges  
  • You communicate effectively with both technical teams and business stakeholders  
  • You are comfortable working across both frontend and backend technologies  
  • You thrive in environments with evolving requirements and competing priorities  
  • You bring curiosity, adaptability, and a collaborative engineering mindset  
  • You can balance technical excellence with practical business outcomes 

Location: Portland, OR

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