At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop high-quality Java applications while mentoring junior engineers.
- Company: Join Target Group, a tech-driven company transforming financial services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 30 days holiday, hybrid work, and health perks.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values wellbeing and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on modern platforms and shape the future of technology.
- Qualifications: Proficient in Java, Spring ecosystem, and front-end technologies.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
At Target Group, we’re passionate about using technology to improve financial services – but more importantly, we’re passionate about people, partnerships and progress. We’re entering an exciting phase of modernisation and transformation, opening up our longstanding platforms through API‑driven services, cloud technologies and new digital channels. To help us shape the future, we’re looking for a Senior Java Software Engineer who combines technical excellence with a collaborative, people‑first mindset.
What can you expect?
As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll sit at the heart of our engineering capability. You’ll be responsible for translating business and system requirements into robust designs and high‑quality software solutions, while acting as a guardian of code quality and engineering standards. This is a hands‑on engineering role, but with real influence. You’ll spend time:
- Analysing complex problems
- Designing scalable, secure solutions
- Guiding our offshore development teams
- Reviewing and approving code before release
You won’t have direct line management responsibility, but you’ll play a key role in mentoring, coaching and developing other engineers, shaping best practice across our global teams.
My Team – What’s it like here?
You’ll be joining a team that:
- Values trust, collaboration and openness
- Celebrates success through our My Recognition portal
- Provides regular feedback and career support through meaningful 1‑to‑1s
- Cares deeply about wellbeing, flexibility and continuous learning
We believe great engineering happens when people feel supported, challenged and empowered.
What you’ll be doing
People & Leadership
- Coach and mentor less‑experienced engineers across onshore and offshore teams
- Lead code reviews and design discussions
- Support offshore teams by providing clear requirements and removing blockers
- Take ownership of your personal development and stay current with industry trends
Engineering & Delivery
- Interpret requirements and create complex functional and technical designs
- Design and develop large‑scale, high‑quality Java applications
- Act as a gatekeeper for quality, ensuring standards are met before release
- Investigate and resolve defects, incidents and performance issues
- Define and execute testing strategies to deliver reliable, error‑free solutions
Process & Standards
- Ensure solutions align with company standards, security principles and best practice
- Contribute to software engineering policies, tools and ways of working
- Support modernisation initiatives, APIs and third‑party integrations
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Take part in client and user meetings, clearly presenting options and solutions
- Support users with acceptance testing and problem resolution
- Deliver outcomes that solve real customer challenges
Requirements
What we’re looking for
Technical skills
- Java 21, J2EE
- Spring ecosystem: Spring Core, MVC, Boot, Batch, Apache Camel, Hibernate
- REST API design and SOAP services
- Front‑end technologies: AngularJS, React, JSP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript
- JUnit 5, Mockito
- Application servers (WebSphere and/or Tomcat)
- Containerisation, serverless, AWS (and on‑prem environments)
- Relational databases: DB2, MySQL, PostgreSQL or similar
- Secure coding principles and cloud security concepts
- Tooling: Git, Maven, Eclipse/IntelliJ, Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, Jenkins, SonarQube, Artifactory
Benefits
Core Benefits
- Competitive salary of up to £50,000 per annum
- 30 days holiday plus bank holidays – from day one
- Hybrid working policy
- Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (employer matched up to 6%)
- Company‑paid Private Medical Insurance (benefit in kind)
- Group Life Assurance
- Group Income Protection
- Discretionary annual bonus scheme
- Annual pay review
Flexible & Lifestyle Benefits
- My Flex benefits platform – access to a wide range of voluntary benefits
- Technology Buying Scheme (salary sacrifice)
- Gym Flex – discounted gym and health club memberships
- Dental Insurance
- Critical Illness Cover
- Health Cash Plan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Tastecard / Coffee Club
- Employee Discount Scheme across hundreds of retailers
Wellbeing & Support
- Wisdom Wellbeing – confidential health and wellbeing support, including EAP
- Free flu vaccinations and eye tests, plus contributions towards glasses
- Recognition Scheme celebrating successes across the business
- Free mortgage advice and support
- Charitable payroll giving
- Access to a GP 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through GP24
- Everest Funeral Concierge
- Free Bereavement and Probate Advice and Support
- Enhanced parental leave
Why Join Target
You’ll be joining a team that genuinely:
- Celebrates success through our My Recognition portal
- Invests in your development with regular feedback and support
- Cares about wellbeing as much as delivery
- Encourages curiosity, innovation and best practice
We’re committed to creating a Diverse & Inclusive culture through the execution of our D&I strategy, community relationships, our people & leaders. Grow your future with us. If you’re a Senior Java Engineer who wants to make an impact, shape modern platforms and help develop others, we’d love to hear from you.
Senior Software Engineer (Java) in Cardiff employer: Target
At Target Group, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises innovation and employee growth. As a remote Analyst/Programmer, you'll enjoy the flexibility of working from home while having the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals in our Cardiff or Newport offices when needed. We offer competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to your professional development, making us an excellent employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the Financial Services and Technology sectors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer (Java) in Cardiff
✨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 Target 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 Target.
✨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 Target.
✨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 Target 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 (Java) in Cardiff
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 Target.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Target 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 Target
✨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 Target 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.
