The area which may get you closer to low-level system programming as Java backend dev is HFT work, eventually OpenJDK/JVM contributions but that is very niche.

The area which may get you closer to low-level system programming as Java backend dev is HFT work, eventually OpenJDK/JVM contributions but that is very niche. Still it may be quite far from firmware/OS/bare-metal systems programming. Anyway 1.5yoe is still early in the career. For junior roles companies may rather seek enthusiastic candidates with self-learning potential to grow in their environment and some commercial experience may be just nice to have. I would scratch my itch with side-projects - demos, blogs, community activity to show off to prospective companies. I did it like that in the past to get foot into Java shop doors, 22yoe Java dev here :)