Cloud-Native Backend Developer (Java)
Location:
Leuven (2–3 days onsite per week)
Contract:
Project until end of year + likely extension
Overview
We are seeking an experienced
Cloud-Native Backend Developer
to support the Service-to-Employee backend platform within a large enterprise environment. This platform underpins the automation of internal IT workflows and plays a key role in delivering personalised notifications and tasks to thousands of employees via a digital assistant.
You will join a team building and extending a modern, cloud-native backend based on Java, microservices, and OpenShift, sitting between an analytical data lake and employee-facing applications.
Key Responsibilities
* Design, develop, and maintain backend microservices in a cloud-native environment
* Build and enhance RESTful APIs for secure system-to-system communication
* Process and enrich datasets flowing from the analytical data lake
* Translate business rules into clean, testable, and maintainable backend logic
* Ensure reliable data ingestion, error handling, and notification generation
* Contribute to security, authentication, and encryption standards across services
* Work within CI/CD pipelines to support reliable and automated deployments
Required Skills & Experience
* Fluent in Dutch and English
* Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming and design patterns
* 4+ years' professional experience with Java, Spring, and Spring Boot
* Proven experience building RESTful web services (JSON, HTTP)
* Excellent knowledge of PostgreSQL
* Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Jenkins, GitHub)
* Solid understanding of security and authentication protocols (SSL, OAuth2, OpenID)
Nice to Have
* Experience with Kotlin
* Hands-on exposure to OpenShift / Kubernetes
* Experience with cloud-native or containerised environments
* Familiarity with data ingestion patterns (e.g. S3-style storage, file-based flows)
* Experience in enterprise-scale, regulated environments
Working Environment
* Modern Java backend framework using industry-standard integration patterns
* Microservices architecture deployed on OpenShift
* Close collaboration with data, platform, and security teams
* Hybrid working model with 2–3 days onsite in Leuven
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to work on a strategic internal platform used daily across the organisation, combining backend engineering, data processing, and automation. You will help build a reliable and secure system from the ground up, directly improving the digital employee experience at scale.