At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build cloud-native applications using Java, Python, and modern frameworks.
- Company: Join a fast-growing tech company transforming businesses with data and AI.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, private medical cover, and more.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Lead innovative projects and mentor engineers in a dynamic, remote-first environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering with strong skills in Java, Python, and API development.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are creating a world of opportunity for businesses by responsibly harnessing data and AI to enable positive change. We adapt to our clients' needs and then bring our engineering, development and consultancy expertise. Our people and our solutions ensure they head into the future equipped to succeed. Our clients include Tier 1 Banking and Insurance clients, and we have also been listed in the Sunday Times Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies.
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, architect, and deliver enterprise-grade, cloud-native applications using Java, Python, and modern frameworks. You'll work in a remote-first environment with occasional client site visits, leading technical delivery, shaping architecture decisions, and mentoring engineers to deliver scalable, secure, and high-quality solutions that meet both client and business needs.
What You'll Do:
- Architect, design, and build scalable, high-performance applications using microservices, event-driven, and serverless patterns.
- Lead full-cycle software delivery on client projects, collaborating with distributed, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Translate business requirements into cloud-native, API-first, secure technical solutions.
- Coach, mentor, and lead engineers to improve technical capability and delivery quality.
- Influence architecture, tooling, and technology adoption in agile environments.
- Implement DevSecOps best practices, including CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code.
- Ensure application observability (logging, tracing, metrics) from design through production.
- Provide post-delivery warranty support (12 months) to ensure stability and knowledge transfer.
What You'll Bring:
- 5+ years commercial software engineering experience with leadership in complex delivery environments.
- Core Languages: Strong Java, JavaScript and/or Python (both highly desirable), with solid testing and performance optimisation skills.
- API Development: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, OpenAPI/Swagger, API Gateway design.
- Cloud Expertise: AWS (Lambda, ECS, EKS, API Gateway, RDS, DynamoDB, SQS/SNS), plus awareness of Azure and GCP equivalents.
- Databases: Advanced SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB, Cassandra).
- Architecture Patterns: Microservices, hexagonal/clean architecture, event-driven, CQRS, and DDD.
- Messaging & Streaming: Kafka, RabbitMQ, AWS Kinesis, or Azure Event Hubs.
- DevOps & Platform Engineering: Docker, Kubernetes (EKS/AKS/GKE, OpenShift), Terraform, Helm.
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Argo CD.
- Security: OAuth 2.0, OIDC, JWT, encryption, secrets management, secure coding standards.
- Observability: OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/EFK stacks.
- Collaboration: Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
- Growth mindset with a willingness to adopt emerging tools and approaches.
In return, you will receive:
- Competitive salary
- Generous Annual Leave
- Discretionary Annual Bonus
- Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Private Medical Cover (inc family)
- Permanent Health Insurance Cover / Income Protection
- Employee Assistance Programme
- A Perkbox account
Software Engineer employer: bigspark
As a leading player in the tech industry, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With a focus on innovation and professional growth, we offer extensive training opportunities, competitive benefits, and a supportive environment where your contributions truly matter. Join us in Glasgow or Edinburgh and be part of a team that is not only shaping the future of technology but also making a positive impact on businesses worldwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at bigspark or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to bigspark.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like bigspark.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like bigspark that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at bigspark.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at bigspark and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at bigspark
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If bigspark uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
