At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and enhance backend features for KAYAK's hotel search technology.
- Company: Join KAYAK, a leading travel search engine under Booking Holdings.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, mental health support, and generous vacation time.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with fun events and a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel while working with innovative tech in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in Java backend development and familiarity with APIs required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world’s leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. We’re also transforming business travel with a new corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.
As an employee of KAYAK, you will be part of a travel company that operates a portfolio of global metasearch brands including momondo, Cheapflights and HotelsCombined, among others. From start-up to industry leader, innovation is in our DNA and every employee has an opportunity to make their mark. Our focus is on building the best travel search engine to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.
We are looking for Java backend developers to help improve and maintain KAYAK’s world leading search and booking technology. Are you passionate about travel and building outstanding user experiences? Then join us at KAYAK and help shape the future of travel!
This role will be required to work from our Cambridge office at least 3 days per week.
In this role, you will:
- Implement new backend search and booking features for Hotel Search Team
- Improve existing features with an eye towards speed and user experience
- Build and maintain existing integrations with third-party APIs
Please apply if you are:
- A proven software engineer with backend experience
- Comfortable in a fast-paced agile environment
- Hands on and self-motivated
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science or related field
- Experience with high performance and scalable Java implementation
- Experience with MySQL, HTTP, XML, JSON
- Working knowledge on APIs
- Bonus Points - Spring, Git, Redis, Kafka
Benefits and Perks:
- Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year
- Focus on mental health and well-being:
- Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth
- Company-paid subscription to HeadSpace
- Company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)
- No meeting Fridays
- Paid parental leave
- Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
- Paid volunteer time
- Focus on your career growth:
- Development Dollars
- Leadership development
- Access to thousand of on-demand e-learnings
- Travel Discounts
- Employee Resource Groups
- Competitive retirement and health plans
- Free lunch 2 days per week
- Fun quarterly events such as boat trips, arcades, ski trips, Thursday happy hours, and more
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
At KAYAK, we aspire to be a workplace that fosters inclusion and reflects the diverse communities we serve. Hiring people with different backgrounds and perspectives is critical to innovation and to how we deliver great experiences for our users, partners, and teams. We strive to be an open and welcoming environment so that no matter who you are, you can be yourself.
We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform job responsibilities, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation(s).
Java Search Engineer, Hotels in Cambridge employer: KAYAK
KAYAK is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and employee growth within the dynamic travel industry. With a strong focus on mental health, work-life balance, and professional development, employees enjoy generous benefits such as flexible working arrangements, extensive vacation time, and company-wide initiatives that foster a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement. Located in London, KAYAK offers a vibrant work environment where every team member can contribute to meaningful projects while enjoying perks like free lunches and social events.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Java Search Engineer, Hotels in Cambridge
✨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 KAYAK 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 KAYAK.
✨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 KAYAK.
✨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 KAYAK 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 Java Search Engineer, Hotels in Cambridge
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 KAYAK.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at KAYAK 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 KAYAK
✨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 KAYAK 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.
