Senior Java Developer (Kafka/API)

Job Description

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Role Summary:

The Canadian IT – Platform and Engineering team is looking for a Senior Software Developer with at least 5 years of Java application analysis and development experience. The successful candidate will have strong technical and problem-solving skills and will show initiative, be accountable for results.

What will you do?

• Lead and participate in the design, development, deployment of Java REST web service APIs and microservices using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Ensure service designs follow approved architecture.
• Learn and incorporate emerging API technologies into our APIs.
• Build event driven services using Kafka
• Use and enhance our Dev Ops tools and processes for CD/CI, these tools include Jenkins, Artifactory, BitBucket, Gradle, Continuous Delivery Director, Ansible
• Mentor and support colleagues in their capabilities
• Identify defects in services, debug and provide effective solutions to resolve the defects.
• When required, support existing APIs built on older technologies e.g., Websphere, DB2, Java UI etc.

The API Platform:

• Our APIs areREST services built from Open API/Swagger specswritten in Java Spring Boot,Deployed to a Kubernetes environment (on prem/AWS) using Docker containerssecured with oauth2 using Okta
• Build new microservices/domain services that populate and access database technology like MongoDB and Postgres
• Build event driven processes/microservices that consume topics from Kafka

What you need to succeed:

• Post secondary Computer Science diploma or degreeMore than 5 years of development skills and progressive information technology experience with full application development life cycle and systems integration experience
• Strong working experience with Java APIs, REST, SOAP, Spring, JSON, Open API, Swagger, web services and web hosting technologies
• 1+ years experience using DevOps tools (Jenkins, Artifactory, BitBucket, Maven, CDD/Ansible)
• 2+ years experience with Kafka and/or Kafka Streams (with KSQL)
• Customer obsession – customers are at the center of all we do
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to analyze situations/problems systematically and deliver effective right-sized solutions in a timely manner
• Experience with managing and coordinating team activities in a multi-site environment.Strong organizational and planning skill
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

Assets:

• Experience with Kubernetes, Okta, AWS, MongoDB
• Experience with Group Benefits products and business domains
• Experience with WebSphere, DB2, Java UI: Swing, Spring MVC, SonarQube for static code analysis
• Exposure to Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) integration architectures and technologies

Additional Requirements:

• Periodic weekend / after-hours work may be required to support project implementations and system upgrades
• Occasional travel between SLF locations may be required depending on work assignments

What’s in it for you:

• We’re honoured to be recognized as a 2026 Best Workplaces in Canada by Great Place to Work® Canada.
• Wellness programs that support the three pillars of your health – mental, physical, and financial
• The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential.
• As a hybrid organization, you and your leader use business and Client needs to choose where you work, at home or in the office

This role requires Reliability Status Clearance. In addition to a law enforcement inquiry and a credit check, as part of your application, the Government of Canada will ask if you lived or travelled outside of Canada for 6-consecutive months during the last 5 years, and you must account for all activities during this time. Important: Obtaining Reliability Status Clearance within a reasonable amount of time is a condition required to start employment for this role at Sun Life.

Must be able to satisfactorily complete applicable background checks prior to the start date and during employment, in accordance with Sun Life’s policies and practices.