At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop resilient back-office systems for high-volume wholesale operations.
- Company: Join Booker Group, a leader in the wholesale industry with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career progression in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by working on innovative tech solutions that drive business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development, especially with COBOL and Java, is essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester, Lancashire, M30 7RT
Shift Hours: 38 hrs per week (Hybrid)
Salary: Competitive
As a Software Development Engineer, you'll help design, build and support resilient back-office systems that power sales, stock control and financial accuracy across our Booker estate. You'll work across a mixed technology landscape combining legacy systems with modern platforms to deliver reliable, scalable solutions for high-volume wholesale operations. This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity where you'll play a key role in maintaining system performance, delivering change safely, and supporting business-critical services. You'll collaborate closely with colleagues across Technology, Operations, and external partners to ensure everything we release is robust, secure and ready for real-world use.
- Design, develop and maintain store back-office systems using COBOL, Java, REST APIs and scripting within a Linux environment
- Deliver high-quality, well-tested code aligned with engineering standards and change control processes
- Support and enhance system functionality to ensure accuracy, resilience and performance especially around stock integrity and sales processing
- Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues, providing 3rd line support and identifying long-term fixes
- Deliver system changes, upgrades and new store rollouts with minimal disruption to trading
- Collaborate with product, programme teams, operations and third-party suppliers to deliver effective solutions
- Produce and maintain clear technical documentation covering design, interfaces and support processes
- Ensure systems meet security, audit and compliance requirements
- Continuously improve system performance and maintainability, supporting modernisation while maintaining legacy systems
- Contribute to team learning, peer reviews and continuous improvement of development practices
You will need:
- Proven experience delivering and supporting business-critical software in a production environment
- Hands-on experience with COBOL and Java, or a strong willingness to work across both
- Experience working in a Linux environment, including scripting and batch processing
- Knowledge of transactional or back-office systems (e.g. stock control, sales processing, financial systems), ideally in retail or wholesale
- Strong problem-solving skills, with experience diagnosing and resolving complex live issues
- Experience delivering changes via structured development and release processes
- Familiarity with source control tools like Git and development lifecycle practices
- Strong collaboration and communication skills, working with technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Ability to produce clear technical documentation
- Awareness of security, governance and compliance requirements
Software Development Engineer (FTC 12 months) - Booker Group in Manchester employer: Booker Group
At Booker Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Manchester that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our hybrid working model supports a healthy work-life balance, while our commitment to employee development ensures you have ample opportunities for growth and skill enhancement. Join us to be part of a team that values resilience, creativity, and the drive to deliver impactful solutions in the wholesale sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Development Engineer (FTC 12 months) - Booker Group in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at Booker Group who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at Booker Group!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at Booker Group to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Development Engineer (FTC 12 months) - Booker Group in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at Booker Group!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Software Development Engineer (FTC 12 months) - Booker Group at Booker Group! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at Booker Group
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that Booker Group uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at Booker Group that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest Booker Group, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.
