We are seeking an experienced Lava Lead with a strong Java and distributed systems background to lead our cross-functional team based in Poland. This role combines deep technical expertise with people leadership responsibilities across backend and mobile engineering.
Our client, headquartered in California, is a global e-commerce leader connecting millions of buyers and sellers in over 190 markets. You will lead a team delivering cutting-edge AI/ML-powered experiences that transform the way people shop and sell online.
Your Role:
As an Java Lead, you will be responsible for the technical direction, people development, and delivery execution of a high-performing team. You will collaborate closely with product, AI/ML, and platform teams to design and deliver scalable features, ensuring operational excellence, clean architecture, and reliable services.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and mentor a cross-functional team of backend (Java/Kotlin) and mobile engineers (iOS/Android) Drive architecture and design decisions for large-scale, distributed systems Provide technical leadership in areas such as API contracts (FGQL, REST, WebSockets), service integration, and performance optimization Promote best practices in observability, including metrics, tracing, and alerting Organize and lead on-call rotations, ensuring effective incident response and root-cause analysis Partner with product and ML stakeholders to define scope, set priorities, and ensure delivery of impactful solutions Conduct regular code and design reviews, contributing hands-on when needed to guide complex implementations Foster a culture of ownership, technical excellence, and continuous improvementQualifications:
2+ years of experience as Tech Lead with direct team leadership responsibilities 7+ years of backend development experience with Java or Kotlin Deep expertise in designing scalable distributed systems and microservices architectures Strong understanding of API contract design and maintenance: FGQL, REST, WebSockets Solid experience with Spring Framework and related Java/Kotlin tooling Hands-on experience leading teams through operational responsibilities, including on-call rotations Proficiency in modern observability practices: logs, metrics, tracing, incident response Excellent English communication skills (C1 level or above) BSc or MSc in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with Apache Kafka or other real-time streaming systems Knowledge of reactive programming (e.g., Project Reactor) Experience with Docker and Kubernetes in a production environment Exposure to AI/ML-based applications or infrastructure Experience in e-commerce or consumer-facing platforms operating at scaleWe offer*:
Flexible working format - remote, office-based or flexible A competitive salary and good compensation package Personalized career growth Professional development tools (mentorship program, tech talks and trainings, centers of excellence, and more) Active tech communities with regular knowledge sharing Education reimbursement Memorable anniversary presents Corporate events and team buildings Other location-specific benefits*not applicable for freelancers