Lead Backend Engineer (Kotlin/Java/Spring)

Hello, we’re Bilue - a leading design and development agency specialising in mobile, cloud, web, and emerging technologies.

Bilue was founded by Cameron Barrie, an app developer with a vision to help Australian companies design and deliver cutting-edge digital experiences. What began in Cam’s living room has grown into a thriving company with a team of 50+, and offices in Sydney and Melbourne. For more than 14 years, we’ve partnered with some of Australia’s top brands to create innovative, human-centred digital solutions.

About the Role
As a Lead Backend Engineer at Bilue, you’ll play a critical role in building scalable, high-quality solutions for our clients and helping shape the way our teams deliver backend services. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineer with strong Kotlin, Java and Spring Boot skills to step into a leadership role, guiding high-performing teams and delivering robust systems across cloud-native platforms.

You’ll combine technical expertise with strong stakeholder communication and delivery experience, working closely with cross-functional teams to bring meaningful digital products to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical design, development, and delivery of backend services using Kotlin, Java, and Spring Boot
• Architect scalable, secure and cloud-native solutions (AWS) that meet client needs
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, QA engineers and frontend developers to implement full-stack solutions
• Drive and maintain high engineering standards, including code quality, performance, and testing practices
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to other engineers on the team
• Conduct code reviews, support pair programming, and champion continuous improvement
• Participate in and guide agile ceremonies, planning sessions and architectural discussions
• Own technical decision-making and help shape engineering best practices across projects

About You
You’re a hands-on technical leader who thrives on solving complex problems and delivering quality outcomes. You enjoy coaching others, communicating with stakeholders, and leading by example. With a strong backend foundation and experience working in collaborative, fast-paced teams, you're ready to take ownership and make a real impact.

Experience & Skills

• 7+ years of experience in backend development with Kotlin, Java and Spring Boot
• Proven leadership experience guiding engineering teams in agile environments
• Strong knowledge of RESTful API design and service-oriented architecture
• Solid understanding of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and ORM tools
• Experience with containerisation tools (e.g., Docker) and CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), particularly AWS services
• Experience with messaging systems (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and asynchronous processing
• Monitoring and logging using tools like Prometheus, ELK or Grafana
• Understanding of microservices, distributed systems, performance, and security
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset

Life at Bilue

• Client-focused: We are dedicated to delivering exceptional value to our clients while supporting each other to achieve collective success.
• Flexible work: We offer 1-2 days per week in the office, balancing flexibility with the expectation that you'll go the extra mile for our clients when needed.
• Professional development: We’re committed to your personal and professional growth, offering continuous learning through Go1 (which provides unlimited access to a wide range of courses), along with support from our dedicated internal performance coach.
• Annual events: We organise annual events to foster in-person connection and team collaboration.
• Flat structure: We operate with a flat structure, where our casual, approachable executive leadership team (ELT) ensures everyone’s voice is heard.
• Internal communities: We build and nurture internal communities for knowledge sharing and collaboration, keeping everyone connected and informed.

Bilue = Big + Blue Ocean. Are you ready to set sail? Apply now!

NB. This is a full-time position based in Sydney. To be considered, candidates must have unrestricted working rights in Australia.

We believe that having balanced and diverse teams is fundamental to our success. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, neurodiversity or disability status.

We are a 2024 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.