Junior Java Backend Developer Jobs in Kansas City, MO

This position is onsite in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri

Summary

We are a financial organization building our first in-house Development and DevOps teams, and we are looking for a skilled Full Stack Developer to join our technology division. In this role, you will work across the entire stack - from designing engaging front-end user interfaces to building robust back-end services and databases - to deliver high-quality software solutions that meet our business and compliance. As a Full Stack Developer, you will collaborate closely with the newly formed teams to ensure seamless integration of development and operations practices and contribute to the overall technology strategy by implementing secure, scalable, and effective technical solutions. This is a unique opportunity to help shape our development culture from the ground up, leveraging your versatile skill set in front-end & back-end development, infrastructure understanding, and compliance awareness to drive innovation within our organization.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain end-to-end software applications, handling both client-side and server-side tasks. Build intuitive front-end interfaces with modern web technologies and create robust server-side logic and database structures, ensuring the entire system is scalable, efficient, and well-integrate.
• Collaborate in defining application architecture, including designing the overall solution structure and data flows. Develop and manage well-functioning databases and data storage solutions and write effective APIs to integrate with internal services and third-party systems. Ensure that various system components communicate seamlessly and securely with each other.
• Test software to ensure responsiveness, performance, and reliability. Troubleshoot and debug issues across the stack, providing timely fixes to maintain high availability of applications. Perform regular code reviews, updates, and refinements to continuously improve existing software, and monitor/optimize system performance for efficiency.
• Implement best practices for secure coding and data protection, including proper authentication, authorization, and encryption measures. Ensure all development activities and outputs adhere to the organization's compliance requirements and industry regulations (e.g. data privacy laws, financial security standards), incorporating necessary checks and documentation to meet audit and governance stand
• Work closely with peers to architect, implement and operate CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows. Configure and manage development environments and assist in infrastructure-as-code or containerization efforts to streamline releases. Take part in deploying applications to production and monitoring their health, ensuring smooth releases with minimal downtime.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members - including other developers, DevOps engineers, system administrators, and product stakeholders - throughout the software development life cycle. Participate in Agile/Scrum processes, contribute to planning and design discussions, and clearly communicate technical decisions and progress to ensure alignment. Serve as a bridge between development and operations, fostering a culture of partnership and shared ownership of the final product.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies, frameworks, and best practices in full-stack development. Conduct research and recommend improvements to tools, coding standards, or processes that can enhance our development workflow and product quality. Contribute to the broader technology strategy by providing insights on how new technologies or architectural approaches could benefit the organization's products and infrastructure.

• Protect all client and bank information confidentially and follow all company policies.
• Complete monthly training in a timely manner to ensure knowledge of bank regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Other specified duties as assigned.

Skills

• Strong proficiency in multiple front-end languages and frameworks (e.g. HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and libraries/frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js) alongside solid back-end development skills with languages like Node.js, Python, C#, Java, or similar (including their associated frameworks). Ability to design user-friendly UIs as well as robust server-side logic and APIs.
• Proficiency with version control systems (particularly Git) and familiarity with continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and tools (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab CI, Github Actions) for automated build and deployment processes. Exposure to modern development workflows and tooling is expected, enabling close collaboration with other team members.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail in code and system design. Ability to analyze complex requirements or issues across the full stack and devise effective, efficient solutions that align with business needs and user expectations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively within a collaborative team environment. Proven ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and to document work clearly. A proactive attitude and eagerness to share knowledge and learn from others are essential, especially as we build a new team culture.
• A track record of contributing to open-source projects, hackathons, or other innovation initiatives is welcomed, as it demonstrates passion for technology and creative problem-solving. Showing initiative in exploring new technologies or sharing knowledge (e.g. via internal knowledge bases or community contributions) is a strong positive.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Proven experience (5+ years) as a Full Stack Developer or similar role developing web applications in a production environment. Experience in a fast-paced or highly regulated industry (financial services, fintech, etc.) is highly desirable.
• Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g. Computer Science or an MBA with a technology focus) is a plus. Professional certifications - for example, in cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), security (e.g. CISSP), or software development (Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer, etc.) - are advantageous and show a commitment to ongoing learning.
• Experience working with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g. MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB CosmosDB), including writing complex queries and designing schemas for reliability and performance. Familiarity with web servers and general server administration (Linux/Windows OS, networking basics) to effectively deploy and troubleshoot applications in various environments.
• Good understanding of software security fundamentals (e.g. OWASP top 10, secure coding practices, NIST 800-218 (SSDF)) and experience implementing data protection measures within applications. Awareness of relevant compliance and regulatory considerations in development - especially in finance (such as handling sensitive data, audit logging, or PCI-DSS requirements) - to ensure solutions meet required standards.
• Prior experience developing software for financial services or banking applications. Familiarity with the finance industry's terminology, workflows, and regulatory environment can help you quickly adapt and contribute effectively.
• Experience participating in Agile development teams and familiarity with modern DevOps practices beyond the basics. Knowledge of additional tools and techniques for automation is beneficial; for instance, experience with containerization (e.g. Docker) or infrastructure-as-code can be an asset in our evolving environment.
• An eye for good user experience or past collaboration with designers to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces is a plus. Experience in performance tuning web applications (both client-side optimization and server-side scaling techniques) helps in building fast, responsive systems that perform well under load.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and Copilot required

Physical Requirements

The work environment is typical of a standard office or retail banking setting. The position is sedentary, involving sitting most of the workday; however, the position will involve moving about the workspace to reach entrances/exits, restrooms, conference rooms, or other areas within the work environment. Reaching may be required involving the ability to move arms in any direction. Office equipment, such as a computer and telephone, will be used requiring the ability to manipulate a keyboard, mouse, and/or keypad. The ability to decipher a computer screen or written documents is necessary. The ability to express or exchange ideas; impart information to clients, coworkers, or the public; or to convey detailed or important instructions; is required. The ability to receive and understand detailed information shared through oral or written communication is required.Position requires lifting and/or the exerting of up to 10 pounds of force.

Benefits

Fulltime associates are eligible for our benefits package:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) plan
• Company paid life insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Company paid vacation, paid leave and holidays

This position will remain open until a qualified applicant is hired.