At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to create innovative customer service tools using the latest tech.
- Company: Starling Bank, a leading digital bank transforming the banking experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth and support from your team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of customers with your coding skills.
- Qualifications: 5 years Java experience preferred; passion for clean coding is key.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
The Customer Service Engineering group is all about making things better for our customers. We use the latest tech to build solid solutions that let customers help themselves, easily find out what the bank offers, and give our Operations teams the best tools to help customers quickly and effectively. Join us and help us create easy-to-use tools and ensure every support interaction is quick, helpful, and effective for millions of customers.
Our process: Interviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:
- Initial phone call - ~45 minutes
- Take home technical test to be discussed in the technical interview - ~3 hours
- Technical interview - ~1.5 hours
- Final Interview - ~40 minutes
We're seeking a highly motivated and experienced engineer to play a key role in our Customer Service Engineering Group. You should have a strong understanding of delivering robust and scalable code, applying best practices, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality software. Experience with AWS and Postgres is highly desirable.
We're open-minded when it comes to hiring and we care more about aptitude and attitude than specific experience or qualifications. We are very open about how we deliver software. For the most part we code in Java, and though we are looking for someone with at least 5 years of commercial experience with Java, you need not be an expert! We believe in clean coding, simple solutions, automated testing and continuous deployment. If you care enough to find elegant solutions to difficult technical problems, we'd love to hear from you.
The main part of our Tech Stack is listed below, we don't ask that you have experience in all of this, but if you do, that's great!
- Java, which makes up the majority of our backend codebase
- Postgres
- AWS & GCP - we're cloud-native
- Distributed service based architecture
- Kubernetes (EKS)
- TeamCity for CI / CD (lots of teams are releasing code 15-20 times per day!)
- Terraform and Grafana
Starling is the UK's first and leading digital bank on a mission to fix banking! We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We're a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. We're a bank, but better: fairer, easier to use and designed to demystify money for everyone. We employ more than 3,000 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester offices. Our technologists are at the very heart of Starling and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that is all about building things, creating new stuff, and disruptive technology that keeps us on the cutting edge of fintech.
We operate a flat structure to empower you to make decisions regardless of what your primary responsibilities may be, innovation and collaboration will be at the core of everything you do. Help is never far away in our open culture, you will find support in your team and from across the business, we are in this together! The way to thrive and shine within Starling is to be a self-driven individual and be able to take full ownership of everything around you: From building things, designing, discovering, to sharing knowledge with your colleagues and making sure all processes are efficient and productive to deliver the best possible results for our customers.
Our purpose is underpinned by five Starling values: Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim For Greatness.
Hybrid Working: We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Starling - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person.
Our Engineering Environment: Starling engineers are excited about helping us deliver new features, regardless of what their primary tech stack may be. We value people being engaged and caring about customers, caring about the code they write and the contribution they make to Starling. People with a broad ability to apply themselves to a multitude of problems and challenges, who can work across teams do great things here at Starling, to continue changing banking for good.
Benefits include:
- 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
- An extra day's holiday for your birthday
- Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
- 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
- Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
- Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
- Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care
- Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
- Generous family-friendly policies
- Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing
Java Backend Engineer — Customer Service Tools in Cardiff employer: Starling Bank
Starling Bank is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, where engineers are empowered to take ownership of their projects and collaborate across teams. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer generous benefits including 25 days of holiday, enhanced family-friendly policies, and a commitment to mental health support, all within a hybrid working environment that encourages interaction and teamwork. Join us in revolutionising banking while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and promotes continuous learning.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Java Backend Engineer — Customer Service Tools in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company before your interview! Research Starling's values and culture, and think about how your skills align with their mission. This will help you ask insightful questions and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your Java skills and familiarising yourself with AWS and Postgres. Consider doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.
✨Tip Number 3
Be curious during the interview! Remember, it's a two-way street. Ask about the team dynamics, the projects you'll be working on, and how they implement clean coding practices. This shows you're engaged and ready to contribute.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about the roles and the company while you're at it. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Java Backend Engineer — Customer Service Tools in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Java Backend Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, AWS, and any relevant projects that showcase your ability to deliver robust solutions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about customer service tools and how you can contribute to our mission. Be genuine and let your personality shine through; we want to get to know the real you!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, mention specific examples where you've tackled complex technical challenges. We love seeing how you approach problems and find elegant solutions, so don't hold back!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Java, Postgres, and AWS. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've used them to solve problems in previous roles.
✨Prepare for the Technical Test
Since there's a take-home technical test, practice coding challenges that focus on clean coding and scalable solutions. Brush up on algorithms and data structures, and ensure you can explain your thought process clearly during the technical interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about the team culture, the projects you'll be working on, and how they implement their values like 'Keep It Simple' and 'Aim For Greatness'. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past. Highlight your ability to find elegant solutions and your approach to continuous improvement, as this aligns with the company's focus on innovation and collaboration.
