Java Tech Lead

About the role

Sliema Tech Labs Ltd is a fast-growing software house serving clients across fintech, iGaming and enterprise services. We combine a compact local team with international clients, offering a pragmatic, delivery-oriented culture where technical ownership and quality are valued.

The Java Tech Lead will be responsible for shaping backend architecture, driving best practices across CI/CD and observability, and mentoring a cross-functional team of Java engineers. You will work closely with product managers and DevOps to deliver scalable microservices on cloud platforms and will be expected to improve performance, security and deployment velocity.

This position is based in Sliema/Gżira with hybrid working (3 days office / 2 days remote typical). It is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants technical leadership without losing hands-on development time, and who thrives in a small-island environment where collaboration and clear communication matter. Strong candidates will be offered competitive pay, training support and clear progression towards Engineering Manager or Principal Engineer roles.

About Sliema Tech Labs Ltd

Sliema Tech Labs Ltd is a Malta-based software development firm specialising in backend systems and cloud-native solutions for finance, iGaming and B2B SaaS clients. The company operates from offices in the Sliema/Gżira corridor and works with distributed teams across the EU.

What you can expect

• Hybrid working arrangement (office in Sliema / Gżira)
• Training budget and time for technical conferences
• Private health contribution and performance bonus
• Clear technical progression paths to Lead/Architect roles

Key responsibilities

• Lead a team of Java engineers delivering microservices using Spring Boot and related frameworks
• Design and review system architecture, ensuring scalability, resilience and security
• Own CI/CD pipelines and promote automation for builds, testing and deployments
• Conduct regular code reviews, enforce coding standards and encourage best practices
• Mentor engineers through 1:1s, technical feedback and career development plans
• Collaborate with product owners, QA and DevOps to prioritise technical debt and feature work
• Troubleshoot production incidents and participate in an on-call rota when required
• Drive performance tuning, observability (metrics/logging/tracing) and security improvements

Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years professional experience in backend Java development and 2+ years in a lead/technical lead role
• Strong Java and Spring Boot expertise, including building and maintaining microservices
• Practical experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure or GCP) and containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, Redis) and SQL optimisation
• Experience with CI/CD tools (GitLab CI, Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and automated testing strategies
• Proven ability to perform architecture and design discussions, and to write clear technical documentation
• Fluent English (spoken and written); ability to communicate with international stakeholders
• Eligible to work in Malta (EU citizens preferred; sponsored employment may be considered case-by-case)

How to apply

Send your CV and a short cover note outlining relevant Java leadership experience and availability to [email protected]. Please put 'Java Tech Lead' in the subject line.