Java / Cloud Solution Architect

The Opportunity
Our client is European insurance technology vendor looking to identify a hands-on Java / Cloud Solution Architect for a senior permanent role based in Milan or Turin.
This is a role for someone who combines strong architectural thinking with genuine engineering credibility. The successful candidate will not only design scalable, secure and maintainable solutions — they will prototype, validate, challenge and support the implementation of those solutions alongside delivery teams. This is not a theoretical architecture position. It is best suited to someone who remains close to the technology, is comfortable moving between solution design and practical engineering, and can engage credibly with both technical and business stakeholders.
The company operates an established enterprise insurance software platform serving a growing international client base. The technical environment is demanding: microservices architecture, Kubernetes-based infrastructure, complex integration landscapes, and enterprise insurance clients with high delivery expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Design scalable, secure and maintainable application architectures across the full stack
Define and validate integration patterns between the platform and client systems
Build and guide POCs to test architectural options before implementation decisions are made
Provide hands-on technical direction to engineering teams throughout delivery
Support presales and RFP processes from a technical architecture perspective
Contribute to internal technical standards, best practices and engineering capability
Work across delivery, product, IT infrastructure and presales stakeholders on complex enterprise software engagements
Technical Environment
Languages & Frameworks: Java · Jakarta EE · Quarkus · Spring Boot
Architecture: Microservices · Design Patterns · SOLID Principles · Enterprise Integration Patterns
APIs & Integration: REST · OpenAPI · AsyncAPI · Web Services · Kafka · IBM MQ / MQ Series
Infrastructure & Deployment: Kubernetes · Redis · Load Balancers · Reverse Proxies · Servers
Databases: PostgreSQL · Oracle · NoSQL
Observability: OpenTelemetry · ELK / Kibana · Signoz · Dynatrace
Security: OWASP · Security-by-Design Principles
Cloud: AWS · Azure · Google Cloud (exposure beneficial; not a hard requirement)
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will bring:
Strong hands-on experience with Java, Jakarta EE or Java EE
Solid knowledge of Quarkus and / or Spring Boot
Proven experience designing and delivering microservices-based architectures
Practical experience with Kubernetes-based systems and deployment environments
Strong command of design patterns, SOLID principles and enterprise integration patterns
Experience with REST, OpenAPI, AsyncAPI and web services integration
Messaging and asynchronous integration experience using Kafka and / or IBM MQ
Solid understanding of relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle) and NoSQL environments
Experience with observability tooling — OpenTelemetry, ELK, Kibana, Signoz or Dynatrace
Understanding of OWASP and secure software design principles
Ability to guide and challenge engineering teams constructively and with authority
Confidence engaging delivery managers, product owners, infrastructure teams and presales stakeholders
Fluent English is essential. Italian language skills are strongly preferred.