At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our ML Projects team to design and implement cutting-edge machine learning features.
- Company: Starling Bank, the UK's leading digital bank with a tech-driven culture.
- Benefits: 33 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in reshaping banking with innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering, particularly with Python and machine learning.
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.
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. 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.
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.
About the Role
The ML Projects team is at the forefront of bringing cutting edge machine learning to the core of what we do at Starling. As a software engineer on the ML Projects team you will work with other engineers and data scientists to design, implement and maintain features that make use of machine learning models under the hood. This could mean anything from creating a brand new ML-powered feature from scratch to seamlessly integrating a new model into our core banking platform. This means you'll have the autonomy to shape your own path, identify challenges, and collaborate with colleagues across teams to deliver impactful solutions across a range of technologies.
Requirements
- Skilled software engineer who thrives on building and scaling complex systems.
- Experience with:
- Python
- Java, which makes up the majority of our backend codebase
- JavaScript, particularly React, which makes up our frontend
- Postgres and SQL
- AWS & GCP - we're cloud-native
- TeamCity for CI / CD
- Terraform
- Prometheus and Grafana
- If you have built and deployed complex Python applications or have hands-on experience with generative AI and LLMs, we would be especially keen to talk.
In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:
- Stage 1 - 45 mins with one of the team
- Stage 2 - Take-home challenge
- Stage 3 - 90 mins technical interview with two team members
- Stage 4 - 45 min final with two executives
Benefits
- 33 days holiday (including public holidays, which you can take when it 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
- Incentives refer a friend scheme
- 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
About Us
You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking - and that starts with our brilliant team. Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace.
Projects Software Engineer in London employer: Starling Bank
Starling Bank is an exceptional employer that champions a culture-first approach, fostering creativity and innovation in a dynamic environment. With a competitive benefits package, including generous leave and private medical insurance, employees are supported in their personal and professional growth. Located in Greater London, the bank promotes diversity and inclusion, making it a rewarding place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Projects Software Engineer in London
✨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 Bank 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 Bank.
✨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 Bank.
✨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 Bank 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!
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 Bank.
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 Bank 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 Bank
✨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 Bank 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.
