Java Backend Engineer for Scalable Travel APIs

At SilverRail, we're on a mission to reshape the way the world travels, and we're inviting you to be part of this journey. Rail is becoming the go-to choice for short and medium‑haul travel worldwide, and we're here to help make it happen. In the face of the ongoing climate crisis, our vision is crystal clear. We are transforming the online customer experience for rail travel, making it easier than ever for customers to find, buy and use rail. Our cutting‑edge technology is the backbone of rail and travel agencies worldwide, making it effortless for travellers to choose the eco‑friendly option and reduce their carbon footprint.

We have more than 15 years of trailblazing success behind us, and our teams are spread across the globe, with bases in London, Boston, Brisbane, and Stockholm. We thrive on the philosophy of 'fail-fast-fail-early,' which drives us to find ingenious solutions to complex challenges. Join us, and help shape the future of travel!

The Role

As a Software Engineer, you will play an important role in the design, development, and maintenance of scalable applications and services, working closely with Product Owners, QA Engineers, Architects, and fellow developers throughout the software development lifecycle. You will contribute to translating business requirements into high‑quality technical solutions that deliver value to customers and stakeholders.

You will be responsible for developing clean, maintainable, and efficient code using modern engineering practices and technologies, with a strong focus on application performance, reliability, scalability, and security. The role requires active participation in technical discussions, solution design, code reviews, testing activities, and continuous improvement initiatives within an Agile delivery environment.

The ideal candidate will bring strong hands‑on experience in software development, excellent problem‑solving skills, and a collaborative mindset. You will also contribute to the evolution of engineering standards and best practices while supporting and mentoring junior members of the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse business and technical requirements to design, develop, test, and maintain software components and services.
• Design, develop, and support modern APIs, ensuring reliability, scalability, and maintainability.
• Write clean, efficient, and scalable code aligned with established engineering standards and best practices.
• Contribute to application and service design, including scalable and modular architecture approaches.
• Perform unit testing, integration testing, troubleshooting, and defect resolution to ensure software quality and stability.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, QA Engineers, and development teams throughout the Agile software delivery lifecycle.
• Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance engineering practices and delivery processes.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members, supporting knowledge sharing and team development.

Required Competence and Skills

• Three or more years of hands‑on software development experience.
• Strong knowledge of Java 17+, Spring, Spring Boot.
• Good knowledge of Hibernate or equivalent ORM, and relational databases like MySQL; experience with NoSQL databases is a bonus.
• Experience building JSON and XML APIs; knowledge of RESTful principles is a plus.
• Experience working in an Agile (Scrum) environment.
• Experience using Git SCM and CI/CD pipelines; GitLab experience would be beneficial.
• Experience with cloud technologies such as AWS, Docker and Kubernetes would be beneficial.
• Experience with micro‑service and SaaS architectures.
• Experience with Event‑Driven Architecture and Domain‑driven design concepts a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritise workloads under pressure and meet deadlines.
• A self‑starter who is hands‑on and knows how to find answers and work with ambiguity.
• Values‑driven and practical in your approach.

Why us?

• We are an accredited flexible company, utilising a hybrid working model, providing equipment for home working alongside one or two monthly visits to our beautiful central London office.
• We offer a highly competitive benefits package including private healthcare and rail discounts.
• We provide a wealth of career development opportunities with training that is individual, focused on improving your skills and helping you become the best professional you can be.
• Our team's health and wellness is genuinely important to us, so we offer a number of wellbeing subscriptions including membership to the #1 leading meditation app.
• A unique opportunity to work for a tech company that is helping the environment by revolutionising the way we travel.
• Our values are simple: Do Good by working for a better tomorrow; Think Big Act Smart by being curious, adaptable and data‑driven; and remember that through collaboration we will always be Stronger Together.

We are a neurodiverse employer and are working hard to improve our recruitment processes, so if there is any way that we can make the recruitment experience better for you then please let us know in your application - all information will be treated as strictly confidential.