Junior Java Developer Jobs in Worcester, MA (NOW HIRING)

Our digital solutions team is more than a traditional IT organization. We are a team of passionate, collaborative, agile, inventive, customer-centric, results-oriented problem solvers. We are intellectually curious, love advancements in technology and seek to adapt technologies to drive Staples forward. We anticipate the needs of our customers and business partners and deliver reliable, customer-centric technology services. 

The Software Engineer III - WMS is a senior individual contributor responsible for designing, developing, and supporting complex enterprise systems and integrations within Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). This role operates at the center of large-scale platform modernization initiatives, driving the migration of legacy systems (e.g., AS400-based platforms) to modern cloud-based SaaS and microservices architectures.

This role requires deep technical expertise, strong problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to lead solution design and integration efforts. While not responsible for direct people management, the role provides technical leadership, mentors junior engineers, and ensures high-quality, scalable, and maintainable solutions across the software development lifecycle.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design, develop, and maintain complex software components, services, APIs, and integrations supporting WMS platforms.
• Lead and contribute to platform modernization efforts, including migration from legacy systems to cloud-based microservices architectures.
• Develop Java-based services and integration frameworks supporting supply chain and warehouse operations.
• Build and maintain real-time and batch integrations using messaging and file-based protocols (e.g., MQ, Pub/Sub, SFTP, TCP/IP).
• Perform coding, debugging, testing, and troubleshooting across all phases of the software development lifecycle.
• Conduct requirements analysis and translate business needs into technical specifications and high-quality code.
• Develop utilities and migration tools to support data and system transitions from legacy environments.
• Lead solution design discussions and contribute to architectural decisions in partnership with architects and product teams.
• Analyze and optimize system performance, scalability, reliability, and availability while ensuring adherence to engineering and security standards.
• Document system designs, integrations, workflows, and operational procedures (runbooks).
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve complex technical issues; recommend sustainable long-term solutions.
• Support production systems and provide ongoing operational improvements.

What You Bring to the Table

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Ability to think strategically while executing tactically
• Effective communication and collaboration skills
• Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving technical environment
• Ownership mentality with accountability for end-to-end delivery
• Ability to mentor and influence others without direct authority
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments
• Experience participating in full SDLC (design, development, testing, deployment, support)
• Strong understanding of system performance, scalability, and reliability concepts

What's Needed - Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent work experience
• 6+ years of progressively complex experience in software engineering or related technical roles
• 5+ years of experience in software development using Java or similar object-oriented programming languages
• 3+ years of experience building or supporting enterprise applications or distributed systems
• 2+ years of experience working with APIs, microservices, and system integrations
• Demonstrated experience with messaging or integration technologies (e.g., MQ, Kafka, Pub/Sub, SFTP, TCP/IP)
• Experience supporting or working with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or supply chain platforms

What's Needed - Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science or Engineering (or related field)
• Experience migrating legacy systems (e.g., AS400 or monolithic platforms) to cloud-based architectures
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and SaaS-based solutions
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience with Java (8+), Spring Boot, relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., Postgres, Couchbase), Kafka, and Linux
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• Knowledge of supply chain and warehouse operations workflows
• Experience with event-driven architecture and real-time data processing
• Exposure to infrastructure-as-code or automated deployment tools
• Prior experience mentoring junior engineers or leading technical initiatives

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• 22 days of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, geography, business considerations, and internal equity. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for bonuses, or other forms of variable compensation.