Java Team Lead

In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a Java Quality Assurance Lead (QAL) to oversee quality, consistency, and trainer performance across Java AI training projects. You will review AI-generated Java code and trainer/QA work, evaluate output quality against project guidelines, provide precise written feedback, and ensure contributors follow expected quality standards.

You will assess work for code correctness, compile-time validity, runtime behavior, object-oriented design, API usage, debugging accuracy, readability, maintainability, performance, security, test coverage, formatting, instruction-following, and adherence to project-specific rubrics. This role requires strong Java expertise, English communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage quality workflows across remote technical teams.

This role is with SME Careers, a fast-growing AI Data Services company and subsidiary of SuperAnnotate, delivering training data for many of the world’s largest AI companies and foundation-model labs. Your Java quality leadership will help ensure Java training data is accurate, executable, idiomatic, secure, clearly explained, and aligned with client expectations.

Selection process involves an AI interview, a domain-specific task, and an interview with a recruiter.

Important: There is no immediate project for this role; however, if qualified, you will be among the first experts we reach out to when relevant opportunities arise. This will also provide you with access to future projects available through our expert network.

Key responsibilities

• Quality monitoring: Spot-check Java items, identify quality issues, provide feedback through DMs, and escalate recurring or critical issues.
• Code review: Evaluate AI-generated Java code, Spring/backend snippets, debugging responses, algorithmic solutions, tests, architecture explanations, and step-by-step reasoning.
• Trainer and QA communication: Update contributors on Discord about guideline changes, workflow updates, and Java-specific review standards.
• Question handling: Respond to questions around Java syntax, OOP design, collections, streams, concurrency, exceptions, Spring Boot, testing, security, and rubric interpretation.
• Trainer/QA activation management: DM inactive contributors, track follow-ups, and flag availability issues.
• Documentation: Create and maintain Java style guides, trackers, FAQs, examples, honeypots, calibration tasks, and onboarding materials.
• Onboarding and training: Run onboarding/training calls for Java contributors.
• Risk and security review: Flag insecure, misleading, non-compilable, inefficient, or non-production-ready Java recommendations.
• Process improvement: Identify recurring quality gaps and improve QA workflows.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or equivalent professional software engineering experience.
• Strong grasp of English to follow guidelines, communicate with teams, and provide clear technical feedback.
• 3+ years of professional experience in Java development, backend engineering, enterprise software, JVM systems, code review, software QA, or technical mentoring.
• Strong understanding of Java fundamentals such as OOP, collections, generics, streams, lambdas, exceptions, concurrency, annotations, JVM behavior, memory management, modules/packages, and modern Java features.
• Ability to evaluate Java content against detailed rubrics and identify issues such as non-compilable code, incorrect logic, poor exception handling, unsafe concurrency, weak object modeling, inefficient algorithms, hallucinated APIs, or incomplete explanations.
• Familiarity with common Java ecosystems and tools such as Spring Boot, Maven, Gradle, JUnit, Mockito, Hibernate/JPA, REST APIs, JDBC, IntelliJ/Eclipse, Docker, GitHub, CI/CD, logging, and profiling tools is preferred.
• Experience leading or supporting remote teams of trainers, annotators, reviewers, engineers, coding mentors, or QAs is strongly preferred.
• Comfortable working in fast-moving remote environments using Discord, Google Sheets, Google Docs, trackers, dashboards, GitHub, and project management systems.
• Highly organized and able to maintain style guides, trackers, FAQs, onboarding materials, honeypots, calibration tasks, and quality documentation.
• Experience with AI training, data annotation, LLM evaluation, code QA, or rubric-based code review is a strong plus.

🌍 Geographic Availability This role is available to qualified experts globally. However, as a U.S.-based company, SME Careers complies with U.S. export control and sanctions regulations. Eligibility depends on your country of residence and any applicable trade restrictions. Some projects may have additional language or region-specific requirements.

💰 Pay Rate May Vary Based on Your Location Your actual compensation will be determined based on your location and local market conditions. See regional job listings for localized pay information, or the application process will clarify your specific rate.

If you're unsure whether you're eligible, proceed with the application—SME's screening will determine your jurisdiction status and applicable compensation.