Java Developer - WebSphere SME

Position Summary 

Effectual Java Developers are key members of the Public Sector Program Management team, responsible for delivering mission-aligned solutions with a strong focus on technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder satisfaction. As representatives of the Effectual brand, they are expected to stay current with applicable public sector standards, policies, and best practices to consistently deliver high-quality, well-architected solutions that address the diverse needs of government and public sector organizations. 

A Glimpse into the Daily Routine of an Effectual Java Developer 

Design and develop scalable web applications while leading the refactoring and migration of legacy systems to AWS cloud. Provide technical support, collaborate closely with product owners to translate requirements into solutions, and participate in architectural planning. Be available during core customer hours, support in-person collaboration which is essential to ensure effective communication and teamwork. Lead development or refactoring of Java based web applications, utilize modern frameworks, maintain thorough documentation, manage code in GitLab, and follow Agile methodologies. Provide technical support and consultation for projects and processes. Your expertise will be critical in driving both application development and successful cloud migration initiatives. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and analyze business and functional requirements for application development, refactoring, and modernization, feature enrichment and enhancements, and migrations 

• WebSphere expertise, including:  

• Design, install, and configure IBM WebSphere ND Clusters 

• Build and manage multi-node clusters, deployment managers, and security standards 

• Deploy and tune WebSphere JVM settings, thread pools, and connection pools 

• Configure and ensure that WebSphere environments are secure and compliant 

• Comfortable working with custom security registries, LTPA, and SSL/TLS, and LDAP 

• Familiarity with WebSphere migrations 

• Hands-on experience with: 

• Java/J2EE web development, JPA 

• JavaScript Frameworks (React, JS Promise, jQuery, Angular) 

• Spring and Spring Boot development 

• Web services development - SOAP and REST Services 

• GitLab, CI/CD Pipelines 

• AWS Cloud, Cloud Migrations, Python, YAML 

• Knowledge of front-end development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, AJAX 

• Experience working with databases 

• PostgreSQL, SQL, DB2, and Oracle databases including SQL data read and manipulation 

• Ability to create, store, and use structured and unstructured data 

• Work closely with the client and stakeholders to solicitate and analyze requirements, offer design options, build and present prototypes, incorporate review feedback, develop, test, manage GIT CI/CD, participate in the deployment and post-production activities 

• Understanding of Git and branching 

• Assist in the development of project documentation, including requirements documentation, functional specifications, process flows, and user guides 

• Provide expert guidance and support to project teams during the application development lifecycle, ensuring adherence to project timelines and deliverables 

• Foster strong relationships with stakeholders, actively engaging and communicating to ensure alignment and successful delivery of application development projects 

Qualifications 

• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in related field AND 

• Minimum Experience: 8 years of experience, including 4 years in specialized software design roles OR 

• Substitution/Alternative to Minimum Education and Experience: Must have at least 10 years of on-the-job experience 

• Available during customer working hours, as needed—for scheduled and impromptu support 

• Be able to work remotely but, be able to go on-site as requested and/or occasionally on-site in Washington DC  

• Must be a US Citizen 

• 8+ years of experience in Java J2EE application development with deployment and support on IBM WebSphere Application Server, including design, coding, integration, and performance optimization 

• 8+ years of experience with Restful Web services, Node.js, Application.js, XML, and JSON 

• 8+ years of experience with React or other JavaScript Frameworks (JS Promise, jQuery, Angular) 

• 4+ years of experience of AWS cloud, including core services and infrastructure components 

• Demonstrated expertise in successfully migrating applications to the cloud 

• Strong knowledge of cloud management tools and services 

• Experience with infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible 

• Demonstrable knowledge of SDLC methodologies like Agile / Scrum 

• Quick-learner and operating with minimum supervision in a changing environment 

• Experienced in drafting comprehensive documents using Microsoft Office suite 

• Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate and engage stakeholders 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to translate requirements into technical specifications 

• Hardworking and self-motivated, with the ability to work in team and individual settings 

• Detail-oriented and able to stand behind the quality of the work 

• Able to properly understand and communicate level of effort, define due dates, and meet deadlines 

• Ability to work Eastern Standard Time Zone schedule 

Nice-to-Have Skills and Experience 

• Active Clearance or Public Trust (DOJ Preferred) 

• Experience with Mainframes to AWS Cloud migration 

• Experience with Java 1.8, Icefaces JSF (Java Server Faces) framework, DB2 mainframe, GlassFish application server  

• Hands-on experience leading large-scale migrations of on-premises systems to the cloud 

• AWS Certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect) 

• Cloud cost optimization expertise 

• Deep understanding of networking, security, and cloud best practices  

• Knowledge or history working with ANT (Another Neat Tool) or Gradle 

• Experience working with Selenium or another front-end testing framework 

• Experience working with Containers and setting up development pipelines 

• Proficiency in database analysis, mapping, and design  
• Stay updated with emerging AWS cloud technologies, public sector regulations, industry trends, and best practices related to application migrations 

Physical Demands and Work Environment  

The work is generally performed in an office environment.  Physical demands include sitting, keyboarding, verbal communication, written communication.  Employees are occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended anytime at the sole discretion of the Employer. Duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship. Effectual Inc. is an EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected classification in its hiring, promoting, or any other job-related opportunity.