At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting projects, enhance banking tech, and collaborate with global clients.
- Company: Join Engine by Starling, a dynamic SaaS company transforming banking.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values learning and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space while growing your skills.
- Qualifications: Passion for coding, problem-solving, and teamwork are key.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Overview
At Engine by Starling, we are on a mission to collaborate with leading banks worldwide to build rapidly growing businesses using our technology.
Engine is Starling's software-as-a-service (Saa S) business, spun off as a separate entity two years ago.
The platform powers Starling and is now available to banks and financial institutions globally, delivering innovative digital features and efficient back‑office processes.
Hybrid Working
We adopt a hybrid approach to working. Our preference is that you are located within a commutable distance of our offices so we can collaborate in person.
About Engineering at Engine by Starling
We are looking for Backend Software Engineers to work on the Engine Platform, maintaining existing features for banks worldwide and building new features that have not yet been released in the UK market.
Engineers at Engine are motivated to deliver new features regardless of their primary tech stack.
- Staff Engineer Responsibilities
- Lead multiple complex projects from inception through to run
- Act as a Technical Leader, with or without a team to manage
- Take ownership of critical technical challenges
- Identify opportunities to enhance tooling, applications, or processes and deliver innovative change
- Collaborate with clients, solution architects, product owners, and engineers to meet client goals
- Develop a wide understanding of how banks operate worldwide
- Shape Engine’s future capabilities, including tooling, automation, and architecture
- Lead by example, setting a high bar for code quality and engineering practices
- Engineer Responsibilities
- Contribute to our award‑winning platform and internal tooling
- Build new features and products from scratch in a configurable way
- Share knowledge and contribute to a learning culture
- Own projects, working in small teams across the bank to deliver collaboratively
- Pursue greatness, stay curious and inquisitive
- Participate in a scaling team and organization, changing banking for good
Requirements
We value aptitude and attitude over specific experience.
We code primarily in Java and emphasize clean code, simple solutions, automated testing, and continuous deployment.
If you enjoy solving complex technical problems, we want to hear from you.
- Delivering change to critical systems in a distributed environment
- Maintaining a high standard of technical excellence in your work
- Good understanding of Dev Ops practices
- Delivering complex outcomes across multiple domains and teams
- Working cross‑functionally with technologists and non‑technical stakeholders
- Coaching and mentoring teammates to upskill
- Leading the technical delivery of large scale projects to successful completion
- Backend Tech Stack
- Java (core backend codebase)
- AWS & GCP – cloud‑native operations
- Microservice architecture
- Kubernetes (EKS)
- Team City for CI/CD with multiple production releases per day
- Terraform and Grafana
- Interview Process
- Initial interview with an Engineer – 45 minutes
- Take‑home technical test to be discussed in the next interview
- Technical interview with Engineers – 1.5 hours
- Final interview with CTO/deputy CTO – 45 minutes
Benefits
- 33 days holiday (including public holidays)
- Extra day off for your birthday
- Annual leave increases with length of service; you may buy or sell up to five extra days
- 16 hours paid volunteering time per year
- Salary sacrifice and company‑enhanced pension scheme
- Life insurance at 4× salary & group income protection
- Private medical insurance with Vitality Health, including mental health support and cancer care; partner benefits such as discounts with Waitrose, Mr & Mrs Smith and Peloton
- Generous family‑friendly policies
- Refer‑A‑Friend incentive scheme
- Perkbox membership granting retail discounts, wellness platform, and weekly perks
- Initiatives like Cycle to Work, salary‑sacrificed gym partnerships and electric vehicle leasing
- Equal Opportunity Employer
Engine by Starling is an equal opportunity employer.
We consider applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.
By submitting your application you consent to Engine by Starling and Starling collecting and processing your data for recruiting purposes in accordance with our Privacy Notice.
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Staff Software Engineer - Engine by Starling in Manchester employer: Starling
Starling Bank is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth, offering a vibrant work culture in Manchester. With a commitment to flexible working, comprehensive benefits, and a focus on innovation, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in the banking industry while enjoying a supportive and inclusive environment. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to doing the right thing and shaping the future of banking.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Software Engineer - Engine by Starling in Manchester
✨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 Starling 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 Starling.
✨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 Starling.
✨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 Starling 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 Staff Software Engineer - Engine by Starling in Manchester
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 Starling.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Starling 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 Starling
✨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 Starling 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.
