JAVA Kubernetes Developer

Job Title: Java Kubernetes Developer
Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Java Kubernetes Developer to join our team supporting a large-scale e-commerce environment. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience developing Java/Spring Boot microservices and extensive expertise working with on-premises Kubernetes environments.

The client is currently undertaking a major technology modernization initiative, including migration from Spring Framework 2.2 to Spring Boot 3.2 and Java 8 to Java 17. Strong Kubernetes expertise is required from day one, along with experience in modern DevOps, GitOps, CI/CD, and containerized application environments.

Position Details

Position: Java Kubernetes Developer

Location: North Chicago, IL

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite – no remote/hybrid option

Employment Type: Full-Time Employment (FTE)

Industry: E-commerce

Candidate Preference: Local candidates strongly preferred

Interview Process: 1–2 virtual rounds via Microsoft Teams followed by 1 onsite interview

Pre-Employment Requirements: Employment references and drug screening

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain scalable Java-based microservices using Spring Boot.

Develop and deploy applications in on-premises Kubernetes environments.

Support the migration from Spring 2.2 to Spring Boot 3.2.

Support the migration from Java 8 to Java 17.

Build, deploy, and manage containerized applications using Kubernetes and OpenShift.

Implement and maintain GitOps-based deployment processes.

Work with Argo CD and modern CI/CD pipelines to automate application delivery.

Develop and maintain microservices architecture, including service discovery and service-to-service communication.

Work with service mesh technologies and cloud-native application patterns.

Develop and maintain persistence layers using Hibernate and relational/NoSQL databases.

Collaborate with DevOps, platform engineering, QA, and application development teams.

Troubleshoot application, deployment, Kubernetes, and production issues.

Follow engineering best practices for scalability, security, reliability, and maintainability.

Required Skills & Experience
Core Technical Requirements

Strong, hands-on experience with on-premises Kubernetes — this is a mandatory requirement.

Expert-level experience with Java and Spring Boot.

Strong experience developing microservices using Spring Boot.

Experience with Java 8 and Java 17, including Java modernization/migration.

Experience with Spring Boot 2.x/3.x, preferably including migration experience.

Strong knowledge of GitOps principles and practices.

Hands-on experience with Argo CD.

Experience with Hibernate/JPA.

Experience with Service Discovery in microservices environments.

Strong experience with CI/CD tools and pipelines.

Hands-on experience with Red Hat OpenShift.

Experience with Service Mesh technologies.

Strong understanding of containerization and cloud-native application architecture.

Database Experience

Experience with Cassandra/DataStax preferred.

Strong experience with SQL Server.

Experience with other NoSQL databases will be considered in place of Cassandra/DataStax.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in large-scale enterprise environments.

Experience with application modernization and technology migrations.

Experience supporting production Kubernetes environments.

Experience with Git-based development and deployment workflows.

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

E-commerce or high-volume transactional application experience is a plus.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Java engineer who combines strong Spring Boot/microservices development expertise with deep Kubernetes experience. Candidates should be comfortable working directly with on-prem Kubernetes and OpenShift environments and should be able to contribute immediately to the client's Java and Spring modernization initiative.

Important: Kubernetes expertise is a day-one requirement for this position.