Java, Vice President - Lead Software Eng

We’re seeking someone to join our CDRR Technology team as a Lead Full Stack Engineer/Technical Manager position, in Non-Financial Risk Technology to deliver hands on contributions for firm’s Assurance & Legal Technology platforms.

This is a leadership role focused on developing and designing Core Platform Services to help drive program automation and strategy. The successful candidate collaborates with global teams to understand requirements, develop high-quality code, and deliver impactful projects. Attention to detail and a strong sense of ownership are essential for delivering high-quality applications.

In the Technology division, we leverage innovation to build the connections and capabilities that power our Firm, enabling our clients and colleagues to redefine markets and shape the future of our communities.

This is Vice President position, which is part of the job family responsible for developing and maintaining software solutions that support business needs.

Since 1935, Morgan Stanley is known as a global leader in financial services, always evolving and innovating to better serve our clients and our communities in more than 40 countries around the world.

What you’ll do in the role:

You are required to be a technologist with solid command on distributed development tools and tech-stack - primarily Java and Java-based web development, Angular, databases, frameworks for enterprise system development, enterprise integration patterns, microservices, cloud-focused architecture and tools.

Technical Delivery & Architecture

Architect, design, develop and implement enterprise Java and advanced Java-based applications and technical solutions.

Design and build modern, responsive web applications using Angular and/or React technology.

Experience with web service development, REST and Microservices architecture.

Take ownership of the product vision and oversee deployment, maintenance, and performance tuning of product and platform, ensuring optimal performance.

Lead and participate in code reviews, mentoring junior engineers in development and architectural best practices.

Champion the use of modern technologies in line with the firm’s technical direction.

Establish and promote SDLC and architecture best practices, ensuring compliance with departmental and divisional guidance.

Define and document Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) to ensure team alignment with architectural choices.

Experience in effectively executing IT strategy, delivery and complex initiatives.

Operational Excellence

Identify opportunities to automate and remediate recurring issues, improving operational stability.

Ensure code quality through rigorous reviews, automated testing, and adherence to best practices.

Coordinate with internal and external groups, including offshore development and QA teams, infrastructure, vendors, and support teams.

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Manage, mentor, and grow a diverse team of engineers, fostering a high-performance culture and technical skill development.

Spearhead complex Java projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical standards.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Production Management, Support, and Central Engineering, to maximize efficiency and stability.

Drive modernization initiatives and oversee the decommissioning of legacy products.

Promote Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban) and DevOps/SRE principles across teams.

What you'll bring to the role:

Experience in effectively executing IT strategy, delivery and complex initiatives.

Ability to present information in a clear and concise manner to technology and business leadership.

Advanced understanding of functional area and competent understanding of competitive environment.

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field.

10-15 years of professional experience in full stack development, including hands-on experience on Core Java, Spring, Spring Boot, Hibernate, Angular/React, Microservices architecture, and system design.

Minimum 5 years in a leadership role managing development teams and delivering complex projects.

Strong expertise in object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, and API design.

Proficiency in relational databases (Oracle, DB2, Sybase, MySQL, PostgreSQL) and exposure to NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra).

Familiarity with DevOps tools (CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and version control systems (Git/Bitbucket).

Proven track record in driving modernization initiatives and managing large-scale system integrations.

At least 8 years' relevant experience would generally be expected to find the skills required for this role.

Experience using or integrating AI‑powered developer or automation tools

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and concisely to a range of stakeholders.

Exposure to AI platforms, agent‑based tools, or AI infrastructure

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices into your browser.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.