What Does a Senior Java Developer Do?

A senior java developer's responsibilities will vary upon the industry or preference of a client. Aside from developing programs and applications, the tasks will also revolve around leading a team and overseeing the project's progress, coordinating with every workforce member, conducting extensive research, testing, and analysis, troubleshooting, and designing. It is also essential to detect and resolve issues as soon as possible, implement guidelines, keep detailed documentation about the project, and devise strategies to improve the workforce and workflow.

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Senior Java Developer Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior java developer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Lead a team of 7 people to deliver project which change the entire design of RXP, online payment UI layer.
Develop the UI using HTML, CSS, JSP and JavaScript for interactive cross browser functionality and complex user interface.
Used Struts/MVC framework to enable the interactions between JSP/View layer and implement different design patterns with J2EE and XML technology.
Create web pages using JSP for generating HTML pages dynamically and used CSS to improve the style of the user interface.
Involve in development of XML data files where there is data to be load into the placeholders of JSP.
Work on the website from start to finish to give it a new look using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Develop server-side common utilities for the application and the front-end dynamic web pages using JSP, JavaScript and HTML/DHTML and CSS.
Develop an automate process to send e-mails automatically using Java mail API.
Involve in building and deploying the legacy application on WebLogic and tomcat servers.
Involve in writing the JUNIT test cases involve in writing test suites test units.
Work on the application using the MVC architecture with technologies like spring, JSP/HTML.
Create test cases and perform unit testing to identify and rectify any defects using JUNIT.
Utilize various JavaScript and JQUERY libraries, AJAX for form validation and other interactive features.
Build and maintain restful API and Jax-Rs solutions to pull customer data from major utilities.
Design and develop the modules using angular JS, HTML5 and restful web services using JAX-RS.

Senior Java Developer Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a senior java developer is "should I become a senior java developer?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, senior java developer careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 13% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a senior java developer by 2028 is 20,900.

On average, the senior java developer annual salary is $106,767 per year, which translates to $51.33 an hour. Generally speaking, senior java developers earn anywhere from $82,000 to $137,000 a year, which means that the top-earning senior java developers make $53,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

Once you've become a senior java developer, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren't one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include a developer analyst, lead software developer, team lead and developer, and applications developer.

Learn More About Senior Java Developer Job Descriptions

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12 Senior Java Developer Resume Examples

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Nancy Cook Senior Java Developer Contact Information Boulder, CO (900) 555-5386 ncook@example.com Skills Elasticsearch Architecture Scrum Windows Web Services NPM XML EJB JSP Data Structures Employment History Senior Java Developer 2019 - Present IBM Boulder, CO Developed application using custom tags, Action classes and Action Form classes of Struts Framework. Used FileNet as the Content Management Tool for uploading and downloading files from the content engine using the Content Java API. Created rich and highly interactive responsive UI components with JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3. Completed UI designing using HTML, CSS and Javascript. Java/J2ee Developer 2016 - 2019 Motorola Solutions Scottsdale, AZ Designed and developed Android applications and led the validation effort of the Android software product Motorola Extensions (MX). Worked in both SDK module for back end and mobile module for UI, front end. Created Images, Logos and Icons that are used across the web pages using Adobe Flash, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop. Implemented ESQL logic for database lookups, Metadata-Driven Processing, Message Validation/Translation/Transformation, and Stored Procedures for batched code set lookups. Coded extensively using JavaScript frameworks by implementing MVC architecture. Provided technical expertise to ensure User interfaces, Database Development and Web Development for that Software System. Software Engineer 2015 - 2016 Motorola Solutions Scottsdale, AZ Experience with bug tracking system like Jira, and other tools as Test Central. Sun Solaris Unix platform was used for development and hosting. Evaluated vendor hardware & software for lab use, resulting in optimal device performance per dollar spent. Worked on setting up Spatial workload on windows and z/OS. Junior Software Engineer 2012 - 2015 Esri San Bernardino, CA Prepare the unit test case and designed SQL according to test result. Used C# and ADO.NET to define and implement secure middle-layer components with .Net class libraries using XML and Web Services. Helped in the Setup of a Database Driven Session Management Environment for Clustering purposes. Designed and customized the user interface according to the client's requirements by modifying applets, views, and screens. Developed command-line and web tools for logistics team to assist the process of hardware shipments. Side projects aside, I work primarily in Java and Perl, and a little bit of Ruby. Education Bachelor's Degree Computer Science 2009 - 2012 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA


Stephen Harper Senior Java Developer Contact Info New York, NY (790) 555-1727 sharper@example.com Skills JSPCSSProceduresTechnical SpecificationsProject ManagementProduct QualityStrutsProduct DevelopmentJavascriptETL Employment History Senior Java Developer 2016 - Present Deloitte New York, NY Used CXF and JAX-RS technologies to develop Restful Web services. Worked as a Java/J2EE developer for developing Enterprise Web Application. Developed PL/SQL stored procedures and maintained the reference table synchronization with the scripts. Developed front-end using JSP, HTML, CSS, JAVA Script and J query. Implemented the online application by using Core Java (OOPS), JDBC, JSP, Servlets, Web Services. Project Leader 2014 - 2016 JPMorgan Chase San Antonio, TX Support RBRM Portfolio level project management initiatives and processes, working closely with RBRM managers. Led implementation of Factonomy vendor product and REST web services and batch integration with enterprise systems for corporate-wide resiliency risk management. Create and Track Test Project deliverable documentation artifacts on SharePoint. Utilized most of Informatica transformations and utilities in performing the workflow development. Consultant 2012 - 2014 IBM Austin, TX Project management, successful projects include deployment program for standardized platform. Led business development effort to create new service offering in performance management. Managed and performed physical database maintenance and performance. Analyzed the pricing strategies and customized Pricing procedures for specific document types and a group of Customers and customer material combination. Trained Physicians on Work-flow and Cerner Solutions both Ambulatory and Inpatient areas. Product Developer 2011 - 2012 The Walt Disney Company Burbank, CA Innovated and built a new system that brought efficiencies and ease-of-use to the product development cycle. Work with all consumer age segments, all of Disney s franchises and all retail channels in licensing and product development. Reduced product development lead-times by implementing formalized project management techniques. Education Bachelor's Degree Computer Engineering 2008 - 2011 University of California - Davis Davis, CA


Jason Lane Senior Java Developer Bloomington, IL (830) 555-4318 jlane@example.com Experience Senior Java Developer2019 - Present State Farm•Bloomington, IL Used Java JSP for form handling, session storage and process request for the dynamically generated web pages. Developed client side validation scripts using Java Script. Java/J2ee Developer2018 - 2019 State Farm•Bloomington, IL Implemented various J2EE design patterns such as Session Facade, Business Delegate, Value Object, Data Access Object, etc. Worked on vFabric tcServer to deploy the J2EE Application. Worked on developing web application on a mobile platform using jQuery mobile, jQuery Google API plugin and ASP.Net MVC. Prototyped and used HTML, CSS to build the user interface for Configuration Manager Component. Coded JSP pages and used JavaScript for client side validations and to achieve other client-side event handling. Java Developer2016 - 2018 State Farm•Bloomington, IL Used XML Processing (JAXP) enables applications to parse, transform, validate and query XML documents. Developed the UI screens using Android SDK and Eclipse plug-in to support Portrait and Landscape modes. Used Maven as a tool to use API's in the central and private repository of client. Developed Presentation screens using Struts view tags. Worked on using XML, DTD, and XSD for validation purpose and defining input file structure. Junior Java Developer2014 - 2016 State Farm•Bloomington, IL Designed and developed web forms in ASP.NET&C#.NET using .NET Framework 2.0. Developed XML Schema, DOM, XSLT code for XML documents, used for data transfer between front-end and middleware layers. Developed WCF web services for calling API methods. Developed Enterprise Java Beans (EJB 2.0) with full flow of business logic. Skills AjaxScrumJavascriptDatabaseJenkinsEJBVersion ControlJbossGITQA Education Bachelor's Degree Computer Science2011 - 2014 New York Institute of Technology•Old Westbury, NY

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Senior Java Developer Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 13% of Senior Java Developers are proficient in Java, Spring Boot, and Database. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Creativity, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Senior Java Developers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Java, 13%
Developed common client validation framework using commons validation framework, java script.
Spring Boot, 5%
Reduced boiler plate configuration using Spring Boot with its embedded tomcat support, dependency management.
Database, 4%
Implemented database connectivity using Hibernate Annotation configuration.
Web Application, 3%
Project Description: Business e-Sales web application allows business customers to select and order online any of communication products and services.
MVC, 3%
Designed and developed generated JSP pages based on Struts MVC architecture and also updates configuration setting in configuration files.
Maven, 3%
Developed Maven configurations to automate building and deployment of application artifacts.

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Some of the skills we found on senior java developer resumes included "java," "spring boot," and "database." We have detailed the most important senior java developer responsibilities below.

Arguably the most important personality trait for a senior java developer to have happens to be customer-service skills. An example from a resume said this about the skill, "webmasters have to respond politely and correctly to user questions and requests." Additionally, other resumes have pointed out that senior java developers can use customer-service skills to "developed web service client using spring framework and rest http protocol to get customer credentials and information. "

Another trait important for fulfilling senior java developer duties is creativity. According to a senior java developer resume, "web developers often are involved in designing the appearance of a website and must make sure that it is appealing as well as functional." Here's an example of how senior java developers are able to utilize creativity: "developed the inventory management modules using ejb, struts, jsp and ajax and integrated the same. "

Senior java developers are also known for detail oriented, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a senior java developer resume: "web developers need to have an eye for detail, because a minor error in coding could cause an entire webpage to stop working." We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "spring framework is used to implement inversion of control (ioc) and aspect oriented programming (aop). "

See the full list of senior java developer skills.

Before becoming a senior java developer, 70.5% earned their bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree, 26.9% senior java developers went for the extra education. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it may be impossible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, most senior java developers have a college degree. But about one out of every ten senior java developers didn't attend college at all.

Those senior java developers who do attend college, typically earn either computer science degrees or computer engineering degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for senior java developers include electrical engineering degrees or computer applications degrees.

Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become a senior java developer. We've found that most senior java developer resumes include experience from Deloitte, General Dynamics Mission Systems, and General Dynamics. Of recent, Deloitte had 1,329 positions open for senior java developers. Meanwhile, there are 329 job openings at General Dynamics Mission Systems and 315 at General Dynamics.

If you're interested in companies where senior java developers make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at Flexion Therapeutics, QuinStreet, and Integral Ad Science. We found that at Flexion Therapeutics, the average senior java developer salary is $145,685. Whereas at QuinStreet, senior java developers earn roughly $143,041. And at Integral Ad Science, they make an average salary of $139,364.

View more details on senior java developer salaries across the United States.

If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at Verizon Communications, Bank of America, and Johnson Controls. These three companies have hired a significant number of senior java developers from these institutions.

For the most part, senior java developers make their living in the professional and technology industries. Senior java developers tend to make the most in the retail industry with an average salary of $118,398. The senior java developer annual salary in the finance and telecommunication industries generally make $117,924 and $109,592 respectively. Additionally, senior java developers who work in the retail industry make 22.0% more than senior java developers in the insurance Industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious senior java developers are:

Deloitte1,329 Senior Java Developers Jobs
General Dynamics Mission Systems329 Senior Java Developers Jobs
General Dynamics315 Senior Java Developers Jobs

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What Developer Analysts Do

A developer analyst is a professional who is responsible for building application requirements and develops database solutions that allow operational efficiency and user-friendly tools. Developer analysts are required to develop a detailed definition of business solutions that can include database design, data flow, and transaction processing requirements. They work with other teams to design and implement a web application that manages internal processes and can result in increased productivity. Developer analysts are also required to perform integration tests for various vendors for services that are according to business requirements and testing processes.

We looked at the average senior java developer annual salary and compared it with the average of a developer analyst. Generally speaking, developer analysts receive $21,488 lower pay than senior java developers per year.

While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both senior java developers and developer analysts positions are skilled in java, web application, and mvc.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A senior java developer responsibility is more likely to require skills like "spring boot," "database," "maven," and "junit." Whereas a developer analyst requires skills like "c++," "architecture," "data analysis," and "sharepoint." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Developer analysts receive the highest salaries in the finance industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $99,277. But senior java developers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $118,398.

On average, developer analysts reach lower levels of education than senior java developers. Developer analysts are 9.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Lead Software Developer?

A lead software developer is responsible for creating and designing software applications and systems to support business functions and client requirements. Lead software developers analyze specifications to build efficient applications, conduct multiple quality testing, and enhance the user's interface. They also coordinate with the design engineers to modify and improve the features of existing software applications for optimal performance. A lead software developer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in considering the current technology trends to meet demands.

Now we're going to look at the lead software developer profession. On average, lead software developers earn a $8,305 higher salary than senior java developers a year.

While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both senior java developers and lead software developers are known to have skills such as "java," "spring boot," and "web application. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that senior java developer responsibilities requires skills like "database," "mvc," "git," and "front end." But a lead software developer might use skills, such as, "architecture," "application development," "software development," and "javascript."

On average, lead software developers earn a higher salary than senior java developers. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, lead software developers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $115,917. Whereas, senior java developers have higher paychecks in the retail industry where they earn an average of $118,398.

On the topic of education, lead software developers earn lower levels of education than senior java developers. In general, they're 5.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Team Lead And Developer Compares

A team lead and developer is a person who handles a group of employees in a particular section, geared to accomplish daily specific goals. The team lead and developer ensures that the team works cohesively and efficiently to achieve its goals. It is the role of the team lead to ensure employees are well-equipped, trained properly, and capable. The team lead conducts regular assessments of teammates and offers support. Added to the role of the team lead is to request training, enhancement seminars, and submit accomplishment and activity reports to company management.

The third profession we take a look at is team lead and developer. On an average scale, these workers bring in lower salaries than senior java developers. In fact, they make a $20,943 lower salary per year.

While looking through the resumes of several senior java developers and team lead and developers we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "java," "spring boot," and "web application," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

As mentioned, these two careers differ between other skills that are required for performing the work exceedingly well. For example, gathering from senior java developers resumes, they are more likely to have skills like "database," "git," "eclipse," and "microservices." But a team lead and developer might have skills like "architecture," "c++," "javascript," and "application development."

Additionally, team lead and developers earn a higher salary in the telecommunication industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $110,027. Additionally, senior java developers earn an average salary of $118,398 in the retail industry.

When it comes to education, team lead and developers tend to earn lower education levels than senior java developers. In fact, they're 8.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of an Applications Developer

An application developer is responsible for creating program applications for devices based on clients' specifications and business needs. Application developers must have excellent knowledge of computer systems, as well as a strong command of programming languages to develop customized programs. Duties of an application developer also include running diagnostic tests to ensure the application's performance and stability, providing instruction manuals for reference, performing troubleshooting for any inconsistencies, upgrading design codes for optimization, and launching the application following the client's timetable.

The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than senior java developers. On average, applications developers earn a difference of $17,562 lower per year.

While their salaries may vary, senior java developers and applications developers both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "java," "spring boot," and "database. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "mvc," "design patterns," "tomcat," and "jax-rs" are skills that have shown up on senior java developers resumes. Additionally, applications developer uses skills like javascript, c++, application development, and regression on their resumes.

Applications developers earn a higher salary in the finance industry with an average of $103,905. Whereas, senior java developers earn the highest salary in the retail industry.

The average resume of applications developers showed that they earn lower levels of education to senior java developers. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 8.6% less. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Updated October 2, 2020