Software Engineer in Cardiff

We're looking for a talented mid to senior Software Engineer to join our growing engineering team. You'll play a key role in building and evolving our maritime technology platform, working on systems that process millions of inspection data points and directly influence vessel transactions worth millions of pounds. This is an opportunity to write code that genuinely transforms an entire industry.

Idwal is the global leader in vessel inspections, technology and data. Founded in 2010 we've become the trusted partner for independent sale and purchase inspections and fleet condition monitoring across the maritime industry. We inspect almost half of all vessels sold globally each year. Our 500-point inspection reports provide transparent and actionable insights into a vessel's maintenance, quality and ESG compliance, all contextualised by the Idwal Grade® – the industry standard for measuring asset integrity.

With over 10 million data points, more than 15% of the global fleet inspected since 2019, and operations in over 100 countries, we've transformed ship inspections from a traditional service into a data-driven digital platform. Operating from our headquarters in Cardiff Bay, with employees in Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Athens, and supported by an extensive network of expert marine surveyors worldwide, we serve leading banks, financial institutions, private equity groups, ship owners, brokers, insurers and charterers.

Why work at Idwal?

• Innovation meets stability. Backed by private equity (LDC), we have the resources and ambition of a scale-up combined with the stability of an established, profitable business.
• Real impact. The work you do here matters. Our technology platform and data services directly influence multimillion pound vessel transactions and help ensure safer, more sustainable shipping worldwide.
• Technology at our core. We're not a traditional shipping company that's added technology – we're a technology company serving the maritime sector.
• Global reach, local roots. While we operate globally across 100+ countries, our engineering team is based in Cardiff Bay with a flexible, hybrid working model.

What is it like at Idwal?

• Our culture. We've built something special here – a passionate team of shipping professionals, marine engineers, master mariners, developers and technology specialists working towards a common goal.
• Where you'll work. We operate a hybrid working policy with one day per week in our Cardiff Bay office, giving you the flexibility to balance focused home working with valuable face-to-face collaboration time.
• How we work. We embrace agile methodologies and modern engineering practices. Our teams are empowered to make decisions, experiment with new approaches, and continuously improve.

What you'll do:

• Work within a cross‑functional Agile team to design, build and deploy customer‑focused solutions that drive the maritime industry forward.
• Develop across the full technology stack, from intuitive front‑end interfaces to robust back‑end services and cloud infrastructure.
• Participate in all stages of the development lifecycle, from initial concept and technical design through to deployment and continuous improvement.
• Balance evolving our core inspection and data platforms with prototyping innovative new features and capabilities.
• Collaborate closely with Data Science and Business Intelligence teams to turn insights into actionable product features.
• Mentor and support less experienced engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

What you'll need:

• At least 3 years of professional software engineering experience successfully delivering products in Agile environments.
• Strong programming skills with the ability to write clean, scalable, and maintainable code.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies like Docker.
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices and tools (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar).
• Understanding of RESTful APIs, microservices architecture, and modern database technologies.
• Experience using generative AI tools (GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) to accelerate development and improve code quality.
• Experience with test automation frameworks (Cypress, Jest, or similar).
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Professional Qualities:

• Analytical mindset with a data‑driven approach to problem-solving, combined with creative thinking and a proactive 'can‑do' attitude.
• Passion for writing tested, quality code and contributing to technical excellence across the team.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Interested? Get in touch with our recruitment team to find out more. Either send your CV or LinkedIn profile to Rhys.jevons@idwalmarine.com or speak to Allison Hetherton on 02920 446 644.