Lead Java Software Engineer
Wells Fargo is hiring a Lead Java Software Engineer. Level rates it ; you can apply on Wells Fargo.
Level's read on this job
- Uses AI ●●○○ is how Level rates this software engineer role: an ordinary role that requires AI tools.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Claude, Copilot and Cursor.
- Level classifies it as a lead role.
- Level lists 1,600+ other open roles at Wells Fargo.
- The role was posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
Wells Fargo is seeking a Lead Java Software Engineer within the Commercial and Corporate & Investment Banking Technology organization. This is an exciting opportunity to join the team building next‑generation solutions for Wells Fargo’s Capital Markets technology organization. We’re looking for engineers eager to be part of our automation, cloud, and Generative AI modernization journey. If you’re passionate about tackling complex, mission‑critical challenges using innovative technologies and strong engineering practices, this role is an excellent fit. This position is a senior developer role within the Prime Brokerage and Equity Finance & Futures (EF&F) Technology team. In this role you will join the team dedicated to the build‑out of next‑generation Prime Services trade processing and clearing capabilities, focusing on high throughput Market Maker Clearing, Financing workflows, and lifecycle automation.
Success requires strong Java expertise, a solid foundation in server‑side design principles, and the ability to architect, build, and deliver scalable microservices and foundational frameworks.
In this role, you will:
- Lead, design, develop, test and implement applications and system components, tools and utilities, models, simulation, and analytics to manage complex business functions using sophisticated technologies
- Write high-quality, performant Java code using object-oriented principles and design patterns
- Solve complex problems requiring a solid grasp of business domains
- Ensure quality, maintainability, and extensibility of supported systems and risk applications
- Resolve coding, testing, and platform issues of a technically challenging nature
- Lead team to ensure compliance and risk management requirements for supported area are met and work with other stakeholders to implement key risk initiatives
- Mentor less experienced software engineers
- Collaborate and influence all levels of professionals including managers
- Leverage GenAI tools to produce high-quality code and maintain high productivity
- Keen eye to look at various technology processes and come up with proposals to solve it using AI technologies
Required Qualifications:
- 5+ years of Specialty Software Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
- 5+ years of hands-on Core Java development with deep expertise in memory management, garbage collection tuning, multithreading, concurrency models, native I/O, and JNI integration
- 3+ year of experience in Capital Markets Technology working on building solutions in any of the following areas Equities/Options trade processing and clearing with OCC, CBOE clearing agencies.
- 3+ years designing and building distributed, multi-tiered systems with high-throughput (~5 million a day), high availability, fault tolerance, and event-driven & microservices-based architectures
- 2+ years working with SQL databases like Oracle or SSL Server, including schema design and query optimization
- 2+ years of hands-on experience designing, deploying, and supporting containerized applications using OpenShift and Kubernetes, including application lifecycle management, CI/CD integration, scalability, resiliency, monitoring, and production support.
Desired Qualifications:
- Strong knowledge of Generative AI and Agentic AI, including LLMs, prompt engineering, responsible AI, and practical patterns for reliable, secure, and auditable AI-assisted software engineering
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with modern AI coding agents and development harnesses, such as GitHub Copilot, Devin, Claude Code, Cursor, or comparable tools, applying agentic workflows to coding, testing, debugging, modernization, and code analysis while maintaining human review and established SDLC, security, and quality controls
- Strong foundation in algorithms and data structures, with a focus on performance optimization
- Hands-on experience with modern SDLC frameworks, including Agile/Scrum, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and secure software development practices
- Proficient in design patterns, clean code principles, and scalable system design
- Familiarity with front-office risk systems, trading workflows, trade lifecycle integration, and products across flow trading, synthetics, exotics, convertibles, and prime brokerage
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills for effective front-office interaction
- Proven ability to thrive in high-pressure, fast-paced environments
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
- Deep understanding of capital markets workflows, including trade capture, lifecycle management, regulatory reporting
- Experience leveraging Kafka and/or Solace messaging for real-time, event-driven integration, enabling reliable publish/subscribe communication across heterogeneous platforms
Job Expectations:
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
- This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship
Location:
- Metro Park, 194 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, New Jersey 08830
- Brevard Street, Charlotte, North Carolina
Pay Range
Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities. $159,000.00 - $305,000.00
Benefits
Wells Fargo provides eligible employees with a comprehensive set of benefits, many of which are listed below. Visit Benefits - Wells Fargo Jobs for an overview of the following benefit plans and programs offered to employees.
- Health benefits
- 401(k) Plan
- Paid time off
- Disability benefits
- Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
- Parental leave
- Critical caregiving leave
- Discounts and savings
- Commuter benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Scholarships for dependent children
- Adoption reimbursement
Posting End Date:
29 Nov 2026*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
We Value Equal Opportunity
Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.
Applicants with Disabilities
To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace. Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.
Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:
a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.
b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.
c. Please be prepared to provide accurate information and supporting documentation in connection with any lawful employment and education verification conducted by Wells Fargo.
How we rate this
Lead Java Software Engineer at Wells Fargo rates 44 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Uses AI (AI Level 2 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Uses AI. An ordinary role that requires AI tools.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical software engineer job
- $167k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical software engineer figure when pay comes up. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- How do you structure and test a prompt to get consistent output from a language model?
- How do you decide when an AI agent can act on its own versus asking for approval first?
- How do you think about the risk of an AI system in this kind of role failing silently?
- What's a project where you used Claude hands-on?
- Walk me through how you've used Copilot in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Prompt engineering, AI agents, AI Safety, Claude, and Copilot. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Put the AI tool in a bullet point about what you did, not just in a skills list. This role treats it as a required part of the job.
Want an expert to read your CV for this job?
Free. Send your CV and the role you want next. We reply by email within 2 to 4 business days.
Get new software engineer jobs (Uses AI ●●○○ or higher) by email
One email a week with the new software engineer jobs (Uses AI ●●○○ or higher), each rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.
Similar roles
Software Engineering roles that use AI, at other companies.
What kind of AI work fits you?
Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.
Find my next step