Java Engineer - Defence in Cheltenham

At IBM CIC, we provide technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients in the UK. A career in IBM CIC means you’ll have the opportunity to work with leading professionals across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. You will get the chance to deliver effective solutions, driving meaningful business change for our clients, using some of the latest technology platforms. Curiosity and a constant quest for knowledge serve as the foundation to success here. You’ll be encouraged and supported to constantly reinvent yourself, focusing on skills in demand in an ever changing market. You’ll be working with diverse teams, coming up with creative solutions which impact a wide network of clients, who may be at their site or one of our CIC or IBM locations. Our culture of evolution centres on long-term career growth and development opportunities in an environment that embraces your unique skills and experience.

We Offer:

• Many training opportunities from classroom to e-learning, mentoring and coaching programs and the chance to gain industry recognized certifications.
• Regular and frequent promotion opportunities to ensure you can drive and develop your career with us.
• Feedback and checkpoints throughout the year.
• Diversity & Inclusion as an essential and authentic component of our culture through our policies and process as well as our Employee Champion teams and support networks.
• A culture where your ideas for growth and innovation are always welcome.
• Internal recognition programs for peer-to-peer appreciation as well as from manager to employees.
• Tools and policies to support your work-life balance from flexible working approaches, sabbatical programs, paid paternity leave, maternity leave and an innovative maternity returners scheme.
• More traditional benefits, such as 25 days holiday (in addition to public holidays), private medical, dental & optical cover, online shopping discounts, an Employee Assistance Program, life assurance and a group personal pension plan of an additional 5% of your base salary paid by us monthly to save for your future.

Your Role And Responsibilities:

We’re excited to welcome a Java Engineer to our dynamic team at IBM, supporting projects across the public sector, defence, and secure environments. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside seasoned engineers, contributing to the design, development, and maintenance of robust software systems that make a real impact. You’ll play a key part in delivering secure, reliable, and high-performing solutions that support critical national and public services. As a Java Engineer, you’ll grow your skills, learn from experts, and play a vital role in projects that demand the highest standards of quality, security, and performance.

Responsibilities:

• Write, test, and debug high-quality code for our software systems using Java and related web technologies.
• Contribute to the development of solutions for clients in the public sector, defence, and other secure domains.
• Continuously expand your knowledge of Java, web technologies, and secure software development practices through training, self-study, and collaboration with senior engineers.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to project planning, code reviews, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Familiarise yourself with IBM’s engineering practices and contribute to their continuous improvement.
• Take ownership of smaller tasks and features, ensuring they meet security, performance, and compliance requirements.

Education and Qualifications:

Preferred Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise:

• Foundational Java programming knowledge and familiarity with front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Commitment to learning, a growth mindset, and passion for software development.
• Willingness to work collaboratively and communicate effectively within a team.
• Flexibility to learn from experienced engineers and adapt to new skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic problem-solving skills to tackle day-to-day technical challenges.
• AWS; Front end / Back end; GitLab; Terraform or Ansible; AI, Java, Python and PySpark; DevOps.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. However, for you to be eligible for this role, you must have the valid right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we do not offer visa sponsorship and have no future plans to do so. You must be a resident in the UK and have been living continuously in the UK for the last 5 years. You must be able to hold or gain a UK government security clearance.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience:

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies.
• Basic understanding of cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Knowledge of database systems (SQL or NoSQL).
• Understanding of software testing methodologies.

The role requires a dedication to continuous learning and a commitment to delivering high-quality software solutions and is perfect for those starting or early in their careers, offering an opportunity to grow and learn under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Desirable Certifications:

• Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE (OCP)
• Oracle Certified Associate: Java SE (OCA)
• IBM Certified Developer – Java and Web Technologies
• AWS Certified Developer – Associate (for Java-based cloud development)
• Spring Professional Certification (Pivotal)
• Any relevant certifications demonstrating secure software development or cloud integration expertise.