At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop impactful software solutions for trading and automation.
- Company: Established commodities trading business with a focus on technology.
- Benefits: Up to £80k salary, 39 days holiday, and professional development support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages personal growth.
- Why this job: Join a high-ownership environment where your work directly influences business performance.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in software development, strong Python and SQL skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Location: Chiswick - 3 days a week
Salary: up to £80k basic
My client cannot offer sponsorship now - or in the future.
We’re looking for a Software Engineer to join a growing technology team within an established commodities trading business operating across global markets.
This is an opportunity to work in a high-ownership engineering environment where technology has a direct impact on trading, automation and business performance.
The opportunity
You’ll work closely with Trading, Finance and Operations teams to build pragmatic, high-value technology solutions. You’ll have the opportunity to influence engineering practices, solve complex problems and automate processes that directly improve how the business operates.
You’ll be involved in:
- Designing, developing and reviewing high-quality software
- Building technology solutions for trading teams
- Automating manual and operational processes
- Solving complex technical and business problems
- Improving software development and SDLC practices
- Working with stakeholders across the business to turn ideas into effective solutions
- Contributing to a high-performing engineering culture focused on ownership, delivery and continuous improvement
What we’re looking for
You’ll have 4+ years’ commercial software development experience, with strong skills in:
- Python and SQL
- Relational databases
- Git or similar version control systems
- Software engineering best practices
- Agile ways of working, including Scrum and/or Kanban
- Building pragmatic solutions that prioritise impact over perfection
Experience working with cloud infrastructure would be advantageous.
Experience that would be a bonus
- AWS – including EC2, Lambda, Aurora and S3
- RESTful APIs
- React or other modern UI technologies
- CI/CD and DevOps practices
- Docker/containerisation, ECS, Fargate or Kubernetes
- Kafka/Kinesis, Flink or other real-time data technologies
- Airflow and data engineering pipelines
- Data visualisation and dashboarding
- Datadog or similar monitoring/logging platforms
- Automated testing, TDD, BDD and performance testing
- Low-latency trading or comparable high-performance infrastructure
The kind of person you’ll be
Technical ability is important, but so is how you work. We’re looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership and gets things done
- Is pragmatic and focuses on the highest-impact work
- Thinks logically and enjoys solving complex problems
- Learns quickly and is intellectually curious
- Works well under pressure and remains calm when priorities change
- Communicates clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Has a strong team mindset and works without ego
- Is comfortable challenging ideas and contributing their own
- Cares about quality while understanding the importance of delivery
- Is motivated by continuous personal and professional development
What’s on offer
Alongside a competitive salary and discretionary performance bonus, the package includes:
- 39 days' holiday
- Pension contribution
- Income protection and life insurance
- Physical health allowance
- Professional coaching and personal development support
- Support for professional qualifications and certifications
- A book-a-month personal development initiative
- Team events and social activities
- A supportive, inclusive environment where ideas are encouraged and implemented
Why join?
This is a chance to join a business where engineering is not simply a support function. You’ll have genuine ownership, close exposure to the business and the opportunity to build technology that makes a measurable difference.
If you enjoy Python, solving difficult problems, building useful technology and working in a high-performance environment with low bureaucracy and high ownership, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where different perspectives, backgrounds and ways of thinking are valued.
Senior Software Engineer employer: Morgan McKinley
As a leading international savings and investments business with over a century of experience, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. Our flexible working arrangements and commitment to workplace accommodations ensure that you can thrive in your role as the Group Financial Crime Policy and Standards Manager, while contributing to our mission of delivering exceptional financial outcomes for our clients. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration, innovation, and integrity in the financial sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer
✨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 Morgan McKinley 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 Morgan McKinley.
✨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 Morgan McKinley.
✨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 Morgan McKinley 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 Senior Software Engineer
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 Morgan McKinley.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Morgan McKinley 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 Morgan McKinley
✨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 Morgan McKinley 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.
