At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting projects and build innovative banking features from scratch.
- Company: Join Engine by Starling, a dynamic tech company transforming global banking.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to reshaping banking for good.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the banking sector with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proficiency in software development and a passion for problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
At Engine by Starling, we are on a mission to find and work with leading banks all around the world who have the ambition to build rapid growth businesses on our technology. Engine is Starling's software-as-a-service (SaaS) business, the technology that was built to power Starling, and two years ago we split out as a separate business. Starling has seen exceptional growth and success, and a large part of that is down to the fact that we have built our own modern technology from the ground up. This SaaS technology platform is now available to banks and financial institutions all around the world, enabling them to benefit from the innovative digital features and efficient back-office processes that have helped achieve Starling's success.
As a company, everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves to help deliver great outcomes for our clients. We are an engineering-led company and we’re looking for people who will be excited by the potential for Engine’s technology to transform banking in different markets around the world. Our purpose is underpinned by five values: Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim For Greatness.
Hybrid Working
We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Engine - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person.
About Engineering at Engine by Starling
We’re looking for Backend Software Engineers to work on the Engine Platform and make our existing features work for banks all over the world as well as building new features from scratch that Starling hasn’t released in the UK market. Engine by Starling engineers are excited about helping us deliver new features, regardless of what their primary tech stack may be.
Day in the Life of a Software Engineer
We are looking for engineers at all levels to join the team. We value people being engaged and caring about customers, caring about the code they write and the contribution they can make to banking around the world. People with a broad ability to apply themselves to a multitude of problems and challenges, who can work across teams do great things here at Engine, to continue changing banking for good.
As a Staff Engineer you will:
- Have the opportunity to lead multiple complex projects from inception through to run
- Be a Technical Leader, whether that be with a team to manage or without
- Take ownership of technical challenges critical to the success of the business
- Identify where existing tooling, applications, or processes can be enhanced and deliver innovative change
- Collaborate with clients, solution architects, product owners, and other engineers to help meet the client goals
- Obtain a wide and varied understanding of how banks operate around the world
- Shape the future capabilities of Engine, including our approach, tooling, automation and architecture
- Lead by example in your contributions to the codebase, setting a high bar for others to aim for
- Contribute to our award-winning platform and internal tooling
- Build new features and products from scratch in a configurable way
- Share your knowledge with those around you, contributing to our learning culture
- Own your projects, working in small teams across the bank to collaboratively deliver
- Aim for greatness in everything you do, staying curious and inquisitive
- Be part of a scaling team and organisation as we change banking for good
Requirements
We’re open-minded when it comes to hiring and we care more about aptitude and attitude than specific experience or qualifications. We are very open about how we deliver software. For the most part we code in Java, but you need not be an expert when you join us! We believe in clean coding, simple solutions, automated testing and continuous deployment. If you care enough to find elegant solutions to difficult technical problems, we’d love to hear from you.
As a Staff Engineer you will bring the below experience or knowledge:
- Delivering change to critical systems in a distributed environment
- Be a highly proficient developer, maintaining a high standard for technical and coding excellence in the collective, through your own work
- Good understanding of DevOps practices
- Delivering complex outcomes across multiple domains and teams
- Working cross-functionally with technologists from other specialties, and non-technical stakeholders across the business
- Coaching and mentoring members of a team to upskill and develop them in their career
- Leading the technical delivery on large scale projects to successful completion
The main part of our Backend Tech Stack is listed below:
Java, which makes up the majority of our backend codebase
AWS & GCP - we're cloud-native
Microservice based architecture
Kubernetes (EKS)
TeamCity for CI / CD (with multiple production releases per day)
Terraform and Grafana
Our Interview process
Interviewing is a two-way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:
- Initial interview with an Engineer - ~45 minutes
- Take home technical test to be discussed in the next interview
- Technical interview with some Engineers - ~1.5 hours
- Final interview with our CTO / deputy CTO ~45 minutes
Benefits
33 days holiday (including public holidays, which you can take when it works best for you)
An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
16 hours paid volunteering time a year
Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
Generous family-friendly policies
Incentives refer a friend scheme
Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing
About Us
You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway. We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems. Engine by Starling is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace.
Staff Backend Engineer — Engine Platform (Hybrid) in London employer: Engine By Starling Limited
Engine by Starling offers a dynamic and supportive work environment for Legal Counsel, where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides comprehensive benefits including 33 days of holiday, private medical insurance, and opportunities to engage with senior stakeholders in a hybrid setting across London, Manchester, or Cardiff. Join a forward-thinking team that values your expertise in banking SaaS and financial services, while contributing to the exciting international expansion of their banking technology platform.
Contact Details:
Engine By Starling Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Backend Engineer — Engine Platform (Hybrid) in London
✨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 Engine By Starling Limited 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 Engine By Starling Limited.
✨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 Engine By Starling Limited.
✨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 Engine By Starling Limited 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 Staff Backend Engineer — Engine Platform (Hybrid) in London
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 Engine By Starling Limited.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Engine By Starling Limited 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 Engine By Starling Limited
✨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 Engine By Starling Limited 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.
