WHAT DOES A JAVA APPLICATION DEVELOPER DO?

Published: Nov 13, 2025 - The Java Application Developer is involved in delivering end-to-end software development life cycles, including the design, development, and integration of global components using Java 8 and modern API technologies. This role involves close collaboration with cross-location IT teams, business users, and offshore partners to analyze requirements, deliver in-house web applications for Trading Risk functions, and resolve SIT/UAT issues while adhering to Agile and DevOps practices. The developer also provides second-level application support, ensures successful solution delivery, and contributes to internal knowledge sharing.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Java Application Developer

1. Java Application Developer Job Description

  • Technical Analysis: Analyze and implement technical solutions based on business and technical requirements.
  • Business Support: Support the manager with proposals for business system changes.
  • Standards Development: Contribute to the development and implementation of standards, procedures, and safeguards.
  • Cross-Team Collaboration: Work with management and other teams, businesses, QA, and production support.
  • DevOps Practices: Practice DevOps principles and build end-to-end automated solutions.
  • Issue Resolution: Work with team members to identify and resolve issues, update statuses, and analyze and report on alternative design solutions.
  • On-Call Support: Periodically provide on-call support.
  • Component Management: Assist in managing components/functions in the development and support areas.
  • Solution Leadership: Direct analysts and developers regarding the development and implementation of automated solutions for existing and new systems.
  • eBusiness Reporting: Report to the Manager, eBusiness.

2. Java Application Developer Details and Accountabilities

  • Project Planning: Prepare project plans by gathering, analyzing, and making recommendations based on client input.
  • Technical Design: Develop technical designs for application development.
  • Software Development: Conduct software analysis, programming, testing, and debugging.
  • Documentation Management: Create and maintain supporting documentation for application features and functions.
  • Requirements Translation: Work with the Business Systems Analyst to transform functional requirements into system specifications.
  • Advanced Programming: Work with advanced programming logic and techniques.
  • Application Integration: Ensure programs effectively interface across various applications.
  • Performance Analysis: Analyze and improve application performance.
  • Agile Delivery: Work in a development team using Agile methodology to deliver software.
  • Priority Management: Balance project priorities and ensure deadlines are met.
  • Remote Work: Work in a remote work environment.

3. Java Application Developer Duties

  • Application Development: Responsible for the planning and development of back-end and front-end applications used for premium insurance financing.
  • Requirements Alignment: Interact with staff to understand business requirements and ensure that the applications meet them.
  • Software Lifecycle: Responsible for active involvement in the planning, development, and testing phases of the company’s software applications.
  • Java Expertise: Contribute to the team with strong Java expertise and engineering experience.
  • Cloud Applications: Develop high-profile, high-performance multi-tenant applications using cutting-edge technologies in the cloud.
  • Full-Stack Solutions: Collaborate with the existing Agile Scrum team to design and implement full-stack technical solutions.
  • Technology Evaluation: Identify, test, and implement the latest and most appropriate technologies for the task at hand.
  • Best Practices: Implement industry-standard best practices such as automated testing, continuous integration, continuous delivery, automated deployments, and infrastructure as code.
  • Team Support: Support the success and development of others in the team.

4. Java Application Developer Details

  • Release Management: Apply software releases to production within a schedule coordinated with the product owner and/or Federal managers.
  • Configuration Compliance: Ensure software releases applied to production follow the client's software configuration management processes and procedures.
  • IT Application Support: Provide ongoing IT Support Services for the client's COTS and custom-developed applications.
  • Reporting Support: Provide ongoing IT Support Services for the client's report-writing software.
  • Software Installation: Provide support for installation, upgrade, and removal of COTS and custom-developed software.
  • Software Enhancements: Perform modifications to software and develop extensions for new features, new software, and/or extensions to support new and changed requirements.
  • Requirements Collaboration: Work with IT, functional staff, and Federal managers on requirements definition and design.
  • COTS-First Development: Develop solutions with a COTS-first approach.
  • Standard Functionality: Leverage standard functionality of COTS systems unless proven business value is gained by customizing.
  • Configuration Management: Ensure software and hardware configuration management procedures are followed.

5. Java Application Developer Key Accountabilities

  • Incident Updates: Provide updates to the incident management system on assigned tickets in accordance with current guidelines.
  • Administrative Reporting: Provide required data to other automated administrative systems to meet management reporting requirements.
  • Project Communication: Communicate plans and status of projects and tasks as requested by project managers.
  • User Collaboration Support: Assist end-users with business requirements for their collaboration-based solutions and create the appropriate information architecture, taxonomy, and solution approach.
  • Training Delivery: Create training materials and present a variety of training and seminars to small groups.
  • TIBCO Support: Provide ongoing IT Support Services for the client's TIBCO integrations.
  • TIBCO Development: Provide support for the design, development, testing, quality assurance, and implementation of TIBCO system integrations.
  • Integration Development: Develop and support system integrations using enterprise service bus technologies.
  • Architecture Analysis: Provide architecture analysis to ensure projects adhere to good architecture practices.

6. Java Application Developer Roles and Responsibilities

  • ESB Expertise: Provide expert advice to project teams on the use of enterprise service bus technologies, data architecture and modeling, system architecture, including integration best practices.
  • Integration Requirements: Work with project teams in defining requirements for integration strategies of their projects into the enterprise architecture.
  • Cross-Functional Support: Work with cross-functional teams in support of existing or future software products.
  • Methodology Application: Utilize ITIL and Agile methodologies.
  • Cloud Knowledge: Understand cloud software, services, and platform development and management.
  • Ticket Documentation: Ensure support tickets are opened and closed with the appropriate documentation.
  • Account Management: Perform application account management.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor and tune application performance.
  • Workflow Management: Monitor, manage, develop, and configure application workflows and processes.

7. Senior Java Application Developer Duties and Roles

  • Java Development: Create and maintain custom application/service solutions built in Java Spring Boot.
  • AWS Deployment: Deploy applications using the AWS platform.
  • GitHub Integration: Integrate with GitHub Enterprise for code repository and pipeline management.
  • Lifecycle Contribution: Contribute to all phases of the development lifecycle.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain relationships with appropriate system stakeholders to continuously improve the speed and quality of data applications.
  • Code Quality: Write well-designed, testable, efficient code.
  • Design Compliance: Ensure designs are in compliance with specifications.
  • Release Preparation: Prepare and produce releases of software components.
  • Continuous Improvement: Support continuous improvement by investigating alternatives and technologies and presenting these for architectural review.

8. Senior Java Application Developer Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Business Partnership: Partner with Business Analysts, Subject Matter Experts from the business, and counterparts from IT.
  • Requirements Documentation: Complete system requirements, technical specifications, and process documentation for assigned projects.
  • Solution Analysis: Review, analyze, and evaluate the scope of business problems presented and help identify viable technical solutions that deliver business value.
  • Design Documentation: Create requirement and design documents for assigned projects.
  • Architecture Adherence: Help develop and ensure adherence to published system architectural decisions and development standards.
  • Multitasking Management: Responsible for multitasking across several ongoing projects and daily duties of varying priorities.
  • SDLC Contribution: Provide input into each phase of the SDLC.
  • Team Leadership: Lead and direct the work of others.

9. Java Application Developer Job Summary

  • API Development: Design and build REST APIs to expose data to front-end applications from the PA Group System, stored either in the original database or in a cache database for performance optimization.
  • Data Updating: Update data stored in the original database from the same front-end applications.
  • Cache Design: Design and implement the cache database.
  • Middleware Building: Build message-queuing middleware.
  • Code Review: Review specifications and code supplied by DevOps team members, check performance and adherence to development standards, and deliver formal acceptance of their work.
  • Continuous Improvement: Contribute by providing analysis and recommendations not directly linked to business requirements, supporting continuous improvement of applications.
  • Application Robustness: Stay permanently focused on the robustness and sustainability of these applications.
  • Product Configuration: Set up the insurance product in the application the team is responsible for by configuring product parameters.
  • Data Migration: Manage data migration from the source local systems (to be decommissioned) to the target application.
  • Data Quality Control: Control the quality of delivered data.

10. Lead Java Application Developer Functions

  • Solution Design: Design software solutions based on business requirements.
  • Application Development: Develop applications using approved languages and frameworks.
  • Unit Testing: Develop, execute, and document unit test plans.
  • Deployment Support: Assist in the deployment of new modules, upgrades, and fixes to the production environment.
  • Deployment Validation: Responsible for validating deployment.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Participate in defect and incident root cause analyses.
  • Production Support: Responsible for providing production support.
  • Team Communication: Provide active and constructive communication with other developers to gather and share knowledge throughout the team.
  • Lifecycle Testing: Support and/or execute all testing efforts across the life cycle.
  • Problem Resolution: Research, analyze, and recommend solutions for problems and/or apply operational break fixes and other proactive maintenance activities until permanent solutions can be implemented.

11. Lead Java Application Developer Overview

  • Defect Resolution: Review modules and fix defects found by quality assurance teams.
  • Standards Development: Assist in defining development guidelines and standards.
  • Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance or system process expertise.
  • DevOps Collaboration: Work with the Solution Integration team, such as DevOps Engineering, to provide operational experience within the development cycle.
  • Project Planning: Participate in project planning processes within own functional area.
  • Workflow Management: Develop work plan timelines and manage workflows to meet project timeframes.
  • Deployment Scheduling: Plan and schedule the installation and deployment of new modules, upgrades, and fixes to the production environment.
  • Checklist Review: Review checklists and scripts and perform updates.
  • Documentation Compliance: Ensure all applications are documented according to standards.
  • Tool Evaluation: Evaluate new application packages and tools and perform research on best practices.

12. Lead Java Application Developer Details and Accountabilities

  • Project Leadership: Lead and/or participate in all project planning processes across functional areas.
  • Workflow Planning: Develop work plans or review other work plan timelines and manage workflows to meet project timeframes.
  • Strategic Contribution: Contribute to strategic planning meetings.
  • Solution Guidance: Provide guidance and expertise on system options, risk, cost vs. benefits, and impacts on business processes and goals.
  • Architect Collaboration: Work closely with architects to ensure all systems and solutions are in line with the IT strategy.
  • Technical Mentorship: Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentoring to team members.
  • Program Leadership: Lead major projects/programs, providing subject matter expertise and technical direction.
  • Cross-Application Work: Work on projects that span a broad range of applications.
  • Application Support: Responsible for supporting multiple applications.

13. Java Application Developer Essential Functions

  • SDLC Delivery: Involved in the delivery of an end-to-end software development life cycle.
  • Global Solutions: Drive the delivery of global components and solutions, and design and integrate them in various stages of the software development life cycle.
  • Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate across cross-location IT teams in delivering software components.
  • API Development: Develop and build APIs in Java 8 technology.
  • Defect Resolution: Investigate and resolve SIT and UAT defects.
  • Web Enhancement: Develop and enhance an in-house web application to support various Trading Risk functions.
  • Requirements Analysis: Work with users and onshore/offshore teams to analyze requirements, propose technology solutions, and prioritize workload while multitasking to meet business expectations.
  • Agile DevOps: Practice end-to-end Agile development methodologies, complying with internal DevOps delivery processes and standards.
  • Solution Delivery: Work with various business and technology partners to ensure successful solution delivery.
  • Application Support: Provide second-level application support and internal knowledge sharing.

14. Java Application Developer General Responsibilities

  • Product Modernization: Help reshape clients' core products, working on greenfield and brownfield solutions using the latest technologies.
  • Software Development: Build new software with the latest technologies to replace existing vendor software used in fund services, involving requirement gathering, design, and extensive coding.
  • Application Scaling: Build or modify software to scale the application to meet business growth and reduce operational costs.
  • Lifecycle Participation: Play a large role in the product lifecycle, contributing to design, development, and delivery through automated deployment pipelines.
  • Service Creation: Build easy-to-consume services for use by multiple product teams and systems.
  • Testing Automation: Bring strong TDD and automation experience to increase confidence in and quality of the systems.
  • Data Transformation: Transform front-end trade data into input for a back-end trade lifecycle platform.
  • System Integration: Integrate their solution into a robust, market-leading integration platform.
  • Lifecycle Contribution: Contribute to all phases of the development lifecycle and prepare and produce releases of software components.
  • Code Quality: Write well-designed, testable, efficient code with automated unit test cases and strong problem-solving skills.

15. Java Application Developer Roles and Details

  • Requirements Alignment: Work with business users to agree on requirements and specifications.
  • Design Documentation: Document functional and technical designs for the area of work.
  • Code Development: Write and design testable and effective code.
  • System Requirements: Gather requirements for system design.
  • Client Collaboration: Gain client engagement experience, collaborating with business users on project delivery.
  • Prototype Development: Build prototypes, develop applications, and create interfaces with legacy, ERP, and other enterprise systems.
  • Platform Development: Work on business-critical platforms such as pre-trade analytics tools, trader efficiency applications, and P&L and risk management websites.
  • Project Assistance: Assist with strategic projects that arise for the desks.
  • Technology Adoption: Quickly learn new technologies needed to help build next-generation infrastructure.
  • SDLC Involvement: Involve all aspects of the software lifecycle, including analysis of existing systems/functionality, design, implementation, production roll-out, and subsequent support.

16. Java Application Developer Responsibilities

  • Requirements Understanding: Understand the requirements as well as the overall system setup, from both a business and an IT perspective.
  • Application Development: Participate in development/enhancement of the application (including documentation, effort estimation, development and unit testing).
  • Level 2 Support: Provide Level 2 support to internal and external stakeholders, respond to production issues promptly, and escalate issues.
  • Issue Resolution: Understand operation issues and deliver application enhancement, resolution, and workaround.
  • Communication Skills: Communicate effectively with the team and users/customers.
  • Documentation Update: Prepare/update the relevant documentation.
  • Status Reporting: Responsible for reporting work status.
  • Continuous Learning: Learn new languages, frameworks and technologies as a continuum and will grow in career without limits.
  • Inclusive Environment: Thrive in an inclusive environment.
  • Career Growth: Find a wealth of opportunities to create the career always envisioned as a developer.
  • Hands-On Learning: Learn new technologies and industries in a “hands-on” format will be able to build, design, rub shoulders and think with clients in agile and design thinking environments and methodologies.

17. Java Application Developer Duties and Roles

  • Application Support: Responsible for application support for maintaining Java-based systems.
  • System Analysis: Conduct analysis for system issues and tasks.
  • Technical Solutions: Propose and deliver technical solutions for customers’ requests or system issues.
  • Java Project Participation: Participate in a new massive Java development project (team size of 40-50).
  • Java Development: Design and develop robust, low-latency Java applications for mission-critical trading systems and deliver high availability and performance.
  • Code Documentation: Write well-designed, efficient, and testable code and technical documentation.
  • Client Communication: Communicate with the client and ensure the delivery schedule.
  • Crypto Development: Develop software for a major cryptocurrency-based startup.
  • Server Framework: Responsible for developing new applications, extensions and bug fixes on the server framework.
  • RESTful Services: Responsible for creating RESTful web services to extend the platform to web and mobile applications.
  • User Impact: Serve a large user base, and have the opportunity to make an impact on applications that reach the crypto masses.

18. Java Application Developer Role Purpose

  • System Modernization: Build and enhance the transitioning mission-critical payment processing solution from legacy architecture to J2EE architecture.
  • Feature Development: Design and develop various features to modernize the payment processing solution, leveraging Java, J2EE and other open source technologies such as Spring, MongoDB, Kafka, and Hadoop.
  • Technical Communication: Drive technical ideas and communicate clearly with technical as well as non-technical audiences.
  • Requirements Analysis: Gather and analyze requirements from product owners.
  • Scalable Systems: Design and develop highly scalable and fault-tolerant systems using Java, J2EE and open source technologies.
  • Architectural Guidance: Provide technical and architectural guidance for systems that are reliable, massively scalable, highly available, and maintainable.
  • SOA Adherence: Understand and adhere to SOA principles utilizing a REST-based foundation.
  • Code Maintenance: Responsible for code maintenance/enhancements in Java for a global application that filters and moves electronically generated calls to IBM customer support systems.
  • Duplicate Handling: Provide an extensive and complex logic to identify and eliminate duplicate calls.

19. Java Application Developer Roles and Details

  • Automation Services: Develop automation services using sound software/system design and frameworks for GUI and CLI.
  • Framework Development: Develop automation frameworks for reuse by development, test automation and DevOps.
  • Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance to other colleagues and assist in resolving problems.
  • Process Improvement: Improve development and DevOps process tools.
  • Test Tools: Develop and improve the core test script and tools.
  • CI/CD Development: Responsible for developing the CI/CD pipeline.
  • Technical Direction: Play a key role in setting the technical direction for the project.
  • Microservices Development: Define, design, develop, test, deploy, and support microservices that comprise mission-critical enterprise applications.
  • Process Automation: Automate development, testing, and deployment processes.

20. Java Application Developer Role Purpose

  • Debugging Skills: Troubleshoot and debug applications, including user and system interface functionality.
  • Team Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and clients to define, design, and deliver enhancements, new applications.
  • Technical Solutions: Responsible for technical solutions that meet the needs of the company, its clients, and the end users.
  • Technology Research: Research, evaluate, and implement new technology to optimize application efficiency and usability.
  • Design Modifications: Design modifications based on defined requirements and coordinate development efforts on maintained applications.
  • Application Development: Lead and/or participate in the design, development, and implementation of complex applications using the latest applicable technology and make use of its ability to understand technology requirements, as this role requires overcoming obstacles through collaboration, research/testing and communication.
  • Solution Negotiation: Negotiate solutions working in a high-pressure, fast-paced 'Global' environment, providing daily support to multiple competing priorities.
  • Project Participation: Participate in project/team meetings and actively contribute.
  • Developer Coaching: Provide coaching and guidance to more junior developers on the team as part of an Agile process framework.

21. Java Application Developer Tasks

  • System Building: Build robust and scalable systems, services and tools to handle new products and business requirements.
  • Architectural Leadership: Contribute best practices and architectural leadership to backend applications and help pick the architecture, frameworks and tooling for the next-generation platform.
  • Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate with product and other teams on functionality, security, reliability and automation.
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Support testing processes and troubleshooting issues and resolve them.
  • Product Maintenance: Maintain and expand the functionality for existing products.
  • Team Mentorship: Mentor junior teammates and be a part of the hiring process for a growing team.
  • Product Innovation: Develop innovative new products and enhancements to existing products in Userful’s portfolio.
  • Problem Solving: Work closely with other team members in solving problems that deliver real value to customers around the world.
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure that product quality is maintained throughout the design, development and testing process.
  • Code Review: Collaborate with peers and colleagues through active participation in design and code reviews.
Relevant Information
What Does A .NET Developer Do?
What Does An Application Developer Do?
What Does A C# Developer Do?