Software Engineer Lead - Java/Spring Boot/Kafka

Software Engineer Lead

At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company's success. As Software Engineer Lead within PNC's Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh PA. PNC is an in-office company that fosters a supportive culture where employees can thrive and achieve balance. We encourage candidates to connect with their recruiter and hiring manager to understand workplace expectations and ensure the role aligns with their goals.

PNC will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position.

Job Description

Deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, microservices architecture, and event-driven systems using Kafka, with the ability to influence technical direction and mentor junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade Java applications, primarily focused on backend services
• Build and support microservices-based architectures using Spring Boot
• Develop event-driven solutions leveraging Kafka for high-throughput, low-latency messaging
• Collaborate with product managers, architects, and other engineers to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Contribute to system design, code reviews, and technical decision-making to ensure quality, scalability, and performance
• Write clean, well-tested, and maintainable code following PNC engineering standards and best practices
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in development and production environments
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement efforts

Preferred Skills

• Strong Java full-stack experience with a primary focus on backend development
• Extensive experience with Spring Boot and RESTful API development
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing microservices architectures
• Experience with Apache Kafka or similar event-streaming platforms
• Solid understanding of object-oriented design, data structures, and software design patterns
• Experience working in Agile development environments
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Nice to Have Skills:

• Experience working with MongoDB or other NoSQL databases
• Basic to moderate experience with HTML and CSS for front-end development
• Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or similar)
• Experience in regulated or large-scale enterprise environments (financial services a plus)

PNC Employees take pride in our reputation and to continue building upon that we expect our employees to be:

• Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.
• Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

Preferred Skills

Apache Kafka, Application Development, Business Management, Customer Solutions, Design, Group Problem Solving, Java (Programming Language), Process Improvements, Release Management, Software Solutions, Spring Boot, Team Lead Experience, User Experience (UX) Design

Competencies

Application Delivery Process, Application Design, Architecture, Application Development Tools, Application Testing, Packaged Application Integration, System Development Life Cycle, Technical Troubleshooting

Work Experience

Roles at this level typically require a university / college degree, with 3+ years of relevant / direct industry experience. Certifications are often desired. In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including military service) may be considered.

Education

Bachelors

Certifications

No Required Certification(s)

Licenses

No Required License(s)

Benefits

PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account; back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational assistance, including select programs fully paid; a robust wellness program with financial incentives. In addition, PNC generally provides the following paid time off, depending on your eligibility: maternity and/or parental leave; up to 11 paid holidays each year; 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law; between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service.

To learn more about these and other programs, including benefits for full time and part-time employees, visit pncthrive.com.

Disability Accommodations Statement

If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process, please contact us via email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please include "accommodation request" in the subject line title and be sure to include your name, the job ID, and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call View phone number on click.appcast.io and say "Workday" for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

At PNC we foster an inclusive and accessible workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations to employment applicants and qualified individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and, for any registered role, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history.

California Residents

Refer to the California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice to gain understanding of how PNC may use or disclose your personal information in our hiring practices.