# Associate Java Software Engineer

**Company:** [Vestmark](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/vestmark)
**Location:** Wakefield, MA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $80k – $95k/yr
**Experience:** 0+ years
**Skills:** Java, Spring Boot, SQL, MySQL, Postgres, Git, AWS, Data Structures, Algorithms, Oop, LLM APIs, Relational Databases
**Posted:** 2026-07-06

> Early-career Java Software Engineer building backend services and APIs for a wealth management SaaS platform. Requires strong CS fundamentals, 0-2 years experience, and rapid learning of Java/Spring Boot; AI-assisted development experience is a plus.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

**Design & Build Production-Quality Systems**
- Contribute to the design and implementation of Java-based backend services and APIs, adhering to best practices and industry standards.
- Build and ship well-tested, maintainable solutions as part of a squad working on real problems with direct business impact.
- Participate in the full delivery lifecycle: design discussions, development, testing, deployment, and iteration.

**Code Quality & Reusable Foundations**
- Write clean, efficient, well-documented, and maintainable Java code.
- Participate in code reviews as both a reviewer and a recipient.

**Collaboration & Growth**
- Work closely with senior engineers, product managers, and architects to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
- Engage actively in design reviews and architecture discussions.
- Take feedback seriously and apply it quickly.

**Apply AI-Assisted Development Practices**
- Use AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Claude Code) as part of your day-to-day workflow.
- Engage with the team's evolving standards for when and how to apply AI tooling responsibly and effectively.

## What We're Looking For

**Computer Science Fundamentals**
- Strong foundational knowledge: data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, and how production systems behave under real-world conditions.
- Ability to reason through system design problems, understand trade-offs, and write code that is correct before it is clever.
- Understanding of APIs, basic cloud concepts, and modern software delivery practices.

**Technical Skills**
- Proficiency in Java, or a related object-oriented language, with a clear willingness and ability to become productive in Java and Spring Boot quickly.
- Working knowledge of relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server); querying, schema design, and understanding how your application interacts with a database at runtime.
- Proficiency in version control (Git or Bitbucket) in a collaborative team environment.

**AI Fluency & Curiosity**
- Comfort using AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Cursor).
- Openness to learning how and when to apply AI tooling effectively and responsibly.

**Problem-Solving**
- Ability to engage with ambiguous problems: ask good questions, break the problem down, and propose a reasonable approach.
- Attention to the business context of the work.

**Learning Velocity**
- Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and independently.
- Receptive to feedback and able to apply it quickly.

## What Will Help You Stand Out
- Hands-on experience with agentic frameworks, LLM APIs, or workflow orchestration tools.
- Experience with AWS or equivalent cloud environments.
- Background in financial services, mathematics, or quantitative disciplines.
- A project, contribution, or body of work you can speak to in depth.

## Education & Experience
- M.S. in Computer Science preferred; B.S. required (or equivalent work experience).
- 0–2 years of professional software engineering experience; strong internship experience or personal project work considered.
- Experience with or clear ability to ramp quickly on Java, Spring Boot, and relational databases.

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/9209e416-fb32-4c4d-9885-55b2f16f4733
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/9209e416-fb32-4c4d-9885-55b2f16f4733