Senior Backend Engineer - Java
Real3 weeks ago
Location
USA (Remote)
Workplace
Remote
Type
Full Time
Salary
USD 152,000 – 194,000
Level
Senior
Role
Senior Backend Engineer
Posted
Jul 2, 2026
Full TimeRemoteSenior
The role
Summary
Real (Nasdaq: REAX) seeks a Senior Backend Engineer to lead Java-based microservices development in an AI-first environment. This Senior-level role reports to the VP of Engineering and involves designing scalable systems, adopting AI-assisted development practices, and mentoring junior engineers while working with Spring Boot 3.x, Kafka, PostgreSQL, and cloud infrastructure. You'll drive technical excellence across the backend platform supporting Real's tech-powered real estate brokerage operations globally.
What you'll do
Architecture & System Design Leadership: Lead the design and implementation of scalable event-driven microservices using Spring Boot 3.x, applying Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and hexagonal (ports & adapters) architecture patterns. Take ownership of critical backend systems while establishing architectural standards for the team.
AI-Assisted Development & Code Quality: Leverage AI coding assistants (Claude Code, Cursor) and agentic workflows to accelerate development velocity while maintaining production-ready code standards. Validate, refactor, and own all AI-generated code before deployment; mentor the team on effective AI tool integration and critical evaluation of generated solutions.
Team Leadership & Mentorship: Mentor and guide junior engineers in software engineering methodology, system design principles, and best practices. Lead technical discussions during weekly Friday Dev Chats, conduct thorough code reviews, and drive adoption of AI-assisted development practices across the backend team.
Feature Development & Execution: Collaborate with product teams and feature owners to translate requirements into production-ready implementations. Execute features end-to-end from design through deployment, working in an agile, fast-paced environment with continuous delivery supporting multiple daily deployments.
Database Optimization & Performance: Optimize relational database performance through expertise in indices, connection pools, ACID transactions, and schema design implications. Make informed technology decisions between PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, and Redis based on use-case requirements and system performance needs.
Code Excellence & Refactoring: Champion code quality initiatives by identifying refactoring opportunities and leading the team toward improved architecture and maintainability. Maintain strong test coverage (unit and integration tests) and establish standards for long-term project health and technical excellence.
What we look for
Technical
Java 17+ (Java 21 migration in progress)Advanced proficiency with modern Java versions including generics, functional programming, and recent JDK features. Understanding of Java module system and compatibility considerations during version migrations.
Spring Boot 3.x & Spring FrameworkDeep expertise building microservices with Spring Boot 3.x, Spring Data JPA, Spring Cloud, and reactive programming paradigms. Familiarity with Spring Boot conventions and production deployment patterns.
JPA/Hibernate 6Expert-level knowledge of object-relational mapping, lazy/eager loading strategies, N+1 query optimization, and Hibernate caching mechanisms to ensure performant data access layers.
Relational Database Design & OptimizationIn-depth understanding of SQL, database indices (B-tree, hash), connection pooling, ACID transactions (isolation levels), query optimization, and how schema design impacts system performance and scalability.
Event-Driven Microservices ArchitectureExperience designing and implementing event-driven systems with patterns like CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation), event sourcing, and eventual consistency models. Knowledge of asynchronous communication patterns.
Distributed Systems & PatternsUnderstanding of hexagonal (ports & adapters) architecture, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), service-to-service communication, circuit breakers, retries, and handling eventual consistency in distributed environments.
Testing & Code CoverageProficiency writing comprehensive unit and integration tests, establishing testing strategies, and maintaining high code coverage using frameworks like JUnit 5, Mockito, and test containers.
NoSQL Database KnowledgePractical experience with NoSQL technologies (DynamoDB, Redis) understanding trade-offs versus relational databases, CAP theorem implications, and when to apply polyglot persistence strategies.
AI-Assisted Development ToolsHands-on experience with Claude Code, Cursor, or similar AI coding assistants in real development workflows. Familiarity with agentic workflows, Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations, and critical evaluation of AI-generated code for production readiness.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Related FieldBS/BA in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent discipline providing foundational knowledge in data structures, algorithms, and computer systems (or equivalent professional experience demonstrating these competencies).
Continuous Learning in Modern Backend TechnologiesEvidence of staying current with evolving backend technologies, architectural patterns, and AI-assisted development tools through professional certifications, open-source contributions, or documented technical growth.
Real Estate Domain Knowledge (Asset)Background or familiarity with the residential real estate industry, fintech operations, or related regulated environments where understanding domain complexity and compliance requirements adds value.
Experience
8+ Years Backend EngineeringMinimum 8 years of professional backend development experience, with demonstrated progression through junior and mid-level roles. Strong foundation in software engineering principles, system design, and production operations.
Spring/Spring Boot & Hibernate LeadershipProven track record building production systems with Spring Boot and Hibernate frameworks, ideally leading architectural decisions and mentoring other engineers on these technologies.
Microservices Architecture ImplementationReal-world experience designing, building, and maintaining distributed microservices systems at scale, handling service orchestration, inter-service communication, and operational challenges.
Team Leadership & MentorshipDemonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers, lead technical initiatives, conduct effective code reviews, and contribute to team technical culture and knowledge sharing.
Agile Development EnvironmentComfortable working in fast-paced, iterative environments with cross-functional collaboration, rapid release cycles, and the ability to make decisions with limited information.
Project Coordination SkillsDemonstrated ability to coordinate between technical and product teams, estimate work, manage dependencies, and see projects through from conception to production deployment.
Skills
Required skills
Java Backend DevelopmentExpert-level Java development with Spring Boot 3.x, building scalable microservices, writing testable code, and understanding JVM performance characteristics.
Database Architecture & OptimizationProficiency with PostgreSQL, relational database design patterns, query optimization, indexing strategies, and understanding performance implications of schema decisions.
System Design & ScalabilityAbility to design systems that scale, applying concepts like eventual consistency, caching strategies, load distribution, and handling high-throughput scenarios in distributed environments.
Event-Driven ArchitectureUnderstanding of asynchronous event processing, message brokers (Kafka), event sourcing patterns, and designing systems for eventual consistency and loose coupling between services.
AI-Assisted Development WorkflowProficiency using AI coding assistants as part of daily development, critically evaluating AI-generated code, leveraging agentic workflows, and validating outputs before production deployment.
Testing & Quality AssuranceExpertise in unit testing, integration testing, test-driven development (TDD), maintaining code coverage, and establishing quality standards across the engineering team.
Code Review & Technical LeadershipAbility to conduct effective code reviews, identify design issues, mentor junior engineers, and drive technical discussions that improve system architecture and team capabilities.
Cloud Infrastructure & DevOpsWorking knowledge of AWS services, containerization with Docker, Kubernetes orchestration, infrastructure as code concepts, and deployment automation using tools like ArgoCD.
Nice to have
CQRS & Event Sourcing PatternsExperience implementing Command Query Responsibility Segregation and event sourcing patterns in production systems for complex domain modeling.
Domain-Driven Design (DDD)Practical application of DDD principles including bounded contexts, ubiquitous language, aggregate design, and translating complex business requirements into software models.
Kafka & Message Queue ArchitectureProduction experience with Kafka, topic design, consumer groups, partition strategies, and building resilient event-driven systems with message queues.
Observability & MonitoringHands-on experience with observability tools like Datadog, distributed tracing, metrics collection, logging aggregation, and using data-driven insights to improve system performance.
Search & Analytics TechnologiesExperience with OpenSearch, Elasticsearch, or similar search technologies for implementing full-text search, analytics, and complex querying on large datasets.
Container Orchestration & DevOpsAdvanced experience with Kubernetes, container networking, StatefulSets, service mesh technologies, and infrastructure automation that supports continuous deployment.
CI/CD Pipeline DevelopmentExperience designing and implementing robust CI/CD pipelines using tools like TeamCity, establishing automated testing gates, and enabling safe continuous delivery practices.
NoSQL Database ArchitectureProduction experience with DynamoDB or other NoSQL solutions, understanding partitioning strategies, eventual consistency models, and polyglot persistence decisions.
Real Estate or FinTech Domain ExperienceBackground in real estate technology, financial technology, or regulated industries where understanding compliance, transaction handling, and agent-centric workflows provides valuable context.
Compensation & benefits
Salary
USD 152,000 – 194,000 (annual)
Apply for this position
You'll be redirected to the company's application page
More Jobs at Real
2 other open positions
Real
View all jobs
Real is a technology-powered real estate brokerage firm dedicated to transforming the home buying and selling experience. It empowers real estate agents with innovative tools, training, and a collaborative platform, fostering a supportive community. The company's mission is to modernize the real estate industry by leveraging technology to enhance agent productivity and client satisfaction. Real primarily operates in the residential real estate market across various regions, providing agents with higher commission splits and stock options.
Toronto, CanadaFounded 2014onereal.com
Tech Stack
Languages
Java 17+SQL
Frameworks
Spring Boot 3.xSpring Framework CoreHibernate 6 / JPA
Databases
PostgreSQLDynamoDBRedis
Tools
KafkaDockerKubernetesAWSDatadogArgoCDTeamCity
Other
OpenSearchClaude Code / CursorModel Context Protocol (MCP)Domain-Driven Design PatternsCQRS Architecture Pattern