Citigroup, Inc

Lead Java Back End Developer - Digital Assets Platform - Vice President

Citigroup, Inc • $142K — $213K *
New York, NY 10025In-Person
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6-10 years of hands-on software development experience in backend engineering, specifically with Java and Spring Boot.
  • Track record of leading by doing, actively coding alongside the team.
  • Experience with detailed code reviews, identifying subtle issues others may overlook.
  • Strong background in low-level design, translating high-level concepts into detailed technical designs.
  • Experience in team leadership and mentorship, improving overall team capabilities.
  • Solid grasp of software engineering fundamentals including algorithms, design patterns, and concurrency.
  • Experience in large-scale, regulated environments, preferably in financial services.

Responsibilities

  • Write, review, and deploy production-quality code as a technical leader.
  • Take ownership of complex engineering problems and ensure quality implementations.
  • Set technical direction for daily tasks and maintain architectural consistency.
  • Perform rigorous code reviews and enforce coding standards and best practices.
  • Drive low-level design discussions and critically review technical designs.
  • Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers, enhancing the team's technical skills.
  • Manage sprint execution by breaking down epics into technical tasks and ensuring timely delivery.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Life, accident, and disability insurance.
  • Wellness programs and initiatives.
  • Paid time off, including holidays and sick leave.
Full Job Description
Role Overview

We are looking for a highly experienced, deeply hands-on Team Lead- Java Back-End Developer to drive day-to-day engineering execution on the Digital Assets Platform. The successful candidate will focus on core backend/platform software engineering leadership: and write production code regularly, leads by example, enforces engineering rigor, and is the technical backbone that junior and mid-level engineers rely on for direction, review, and mentorship.

The ideal candidate will bring at least 6 to 10+ years of hands-on development experience and has "been in the trenches" - someone who can jump into a complex codebase, spot subtle bugs and design flaws during code review, drive low-level design (LLD) discussions with authority, and unblock the team on the hardest technical problems. This person is expected to be more experienced and technically sharper than the other developers on the team, acting as the de facto technical authority and quality gatekeeper for the squad.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-On Technical Leadership
  • Actively write, review, and ship production-quality code alongside the team - this is not a purely managerial or coordination role.
  • Personally take ownership of the most complex, high-risk, or ambiguous engineering problems on the platform.
  • Set the technical direction for the team's day-to-day implementation work, ensuring consistency with overall platform architecture.


Code Quality & Code Review
  • Perform rigorous, detailed code reviews across the team's pull requests, catching subtle logic errors, concurrency issues, security gaps, performance bottlenecks, and maintainability problems before they reach production.
  • Establish and enforce coding standards, review checklists, and best practices (clean code, SOLID principles, secure coding, testability).
  • Act as the final technical quality gate prior to merge/release for critical components.


Low-Level Design (LLD)
  • Drive low-level design sessions, translating high-level architecture and requirements into detailed, implementable technical designs (class/module structures, API contracts, data models, sequence flows, error handling strategy).
  • Review and challenge design proposals from other engineers, ensuring designs are scalable, resilient, and aligned with platform standards.
  • Document key design decisions and trade-offs for traceability and knowledge sharing.


Team Leadership & Mentorship
  • Directly manage and/or technically lead a squad of backend/platform engineers, providing day-to-day technical guidance and unblocking impediments.
  • Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, raising the overall technical bar of the team through pairing, reviews, and structured feedback.
  • Identify skill gaps and growth opportunities within the team; contribute to hiring and technical interviewing.


Delivery Ownership
  • Drive the team's sprint/iteration execution - decomposing epics into well-scoped technical tasks, estimating effort, and ensuring on-time, high-quality delivery.
  • Proactively identify technical risks, bottlenecks, and debt; escalate and resolve issues before they impact delivery timelines.
  • Partner closely with the Engineering Team Lead (SVP), Architect, and Product/Business stakeholders to translate requirements into a sound technical execution plan.


Engineering Excellence
  • Champion automated testing (unit, integration), CI/CD discipline, observability, and operational readiness for everything the team ships.
  • Identify and remediate technical debt, legacy pain points, and recurring production issues.
  • Stay current on backend engineering, distributed systems, and platform reliability best practices (deliberately not a smart contract/Web3-first role - the emphasis is core software engineering excellence).


Qualifications
  • 6 -10 years of hands-on professional software development experience, with demonstrated depth in backend engineering (e.g., Java, Spring Boot, distributed systems, microservices, REST/gRPC APIs).
  • Proven track record of leading by doing - an engineer who still codes regularly and is respected for technical depth rather than title alone.
  • Strong, demonstrable experience conducting thorough, high-signal code reviews and catching issues that others miss (correctness, security, performance, edge cases, race conditions).
  • Strong command of low-level design - able to independently produce and critique detailed technical designs, not just high-level architecture diagrams.
  • Experience leading or technically mentoring a team of engineers (formal management experience a plus, but technical leadership is essential).
  • Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals: data structures & algorithms, design patterns, concurrency, database design, API design, and testing practices.
  • Experience working in large-scale, regulated, or enterprise environments (financial services experience strongly preferred).
  • Excellent communication skills - able to explain complex technical trade-offs clearly to both engineers and senior stakeholders.


Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).

Preferred
  • Prior exposure to blockchain, distributed ledger, or digital asset platforms (as context, not as a primary skill requirement - this role is intentionally weighted toward core engineering depth over Web3/smart contract specialization).
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes/OpenShift), and cloud-native architectures.
  • Experience operating in an Agile/Scrum delivery model.
  • Prior formal people-management experience (performance reviews, career development conversations).


Job Family Group:
Technology

Job Family:
Applications Development

Time Type:
Full time

Primary Location:
New York New York United States

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:
$142,320.00 - $213,480.00

In addition to salary, Citi's offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

Most Relevant Skills
Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Anticipated Posting Close Date:
Sep 08, 2026

About Citigroup, Inc

Citigroup is a financial services holding company that provides financial products and services. The company operates through two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG). The GCB segment offers traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, commercial banking, Citi-branded cards, and Citi retail services. The ICG segment offers various banking, and financial products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients. This segment provides wholesale banking products and services, including fixed-income and equity sales and trading, foreign exchange, prime brokerage, derivative services, equity and fixed-income research, corporate lending, investment banking, and advisory services, private banking, cash management, trade finance, and securities services. Citi is committed to sustainability and social responsibility, and the company invests in initiatives that promote economic progress.

Citigroup, Inc Careers

Join the vibrant team at Citigroup, Inc, a leading global bank, and propel your career into the future. Citigroup offers a plethora of job opportunities that span across various fields and expertise, making it an ideal place for ambitious professionals to thrive.

Work You’ll Do

At Citigroup, Inc, you will engage in exciting work that matters. Join our team to help innovate and drive transformation in the banking industry. With Citigroup, you can lead initiatives that redefine how banking works and how financial services can empower people globally.

Innovate and Lead

Citigroup, Inc is at the forefront of financial innovation and leadership. By joining our team, you will work alongside top professionals to develop solutions that enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Our commitment to innovation is fundamental, and we encourage our team to push boundaries and think outside the box.

Grow Your Career

Citigroup, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can grow both professionally and personally. We offer robust career paths and professional development opportunities that help you reach your potential. With diverse career tracks and the support of leadership, your growth at Citigroup is limitless.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe our strength comes from the diversity of our team. Citigroup, Inc is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute their best work. Through diversity training and a culture that embraces differences, we create a welcoming environment for all employees.

Benefits and Culture

Citigroup, Inc values the well-being of its employees. We offer competitive benefits packages that support the health, finance, and lifestyle of our team members. Our culture is built on collaboration, respect, and a commitment to excellence. We ensure that every team member feels valued and part of our global family.

Internship and Employment Opportunities

Start your professional journey with Citigroup through our internship programs or full-time job opportunities. We are constantly hiring fresh talent and seasoned experts who bring creativity and innovation to our team. Whether you're refining your skills or ready to lead, there's a position waiting for you at Citigroup.

Networking and Professional Development

At Citigroup, Inc, networking and continuous learning are part of our DNA. We provide platforms for employees to connect with industry leaders and peers, enhancing their skills and opening up new career opportunities. Our leadership programs and professional development initiatives ensure that you are always ahead of the curve.

Join Our Team

Explore the numerous positions available at Citigroup, Inc that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to make an impact.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest in career opportunities and industry insights at Citigroup, Inc. Subscribe to our job alert emails and read our careers blog to stay ahead in your professional journey.

Explore Citigroup, Inc Jobs

Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Citigroup, Inc. Tailor your resume, prepare for your interview, and take the next step in your career with us.

SEARCH CITIGROUP JOBS

READ CAREERS BLOG

Citigroup, Inc is where your ambition meets opportunity. Join us and transform your career while making a global impact.
Learn more about Citigroup, Inc
Market Cap
$1.3 billion
Industry
Finance & Insurance
Net Income
$89.6 million
Founded
1812
5 Year Trend
+4.6%
NASDAQ
C
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Citigroup, Inc

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Lead Java Back End Developer - Digital Assets Platform - Vice President jobs:

NationwideNew York, NY