At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Driving School team to develop innovative digital solutions and enhance user experiences.
- Company: The AA, a leading motoring organisation with a century of evolution and innovation.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, free breakdown membership, discounts, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth and personal development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of driving technology and make a real impact from day one.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering, particularly with JavaScript and TypeScript.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Company Description / Business Unit Location: Cardiff (hybrid working 3 office days per week)
Employment Type: Initial 12 month Fixed Term Contract (FTC)
Additional Benefits: Annual Bonus
Think the AA is just about roadside assistance? Think again. For over a century, we’ve been evolving and adapting. Today, as the nation’s leading motoring organisation, we offer a wide range of products and services to millions of customers. From roadside assistance to home and motor insurance, and the latest driving technologies, we have it all.
As we continue to expand, diversify, and modernise, joining us as a Product Engineer means you’ll play a crucial role in our success and be part of this exciting motoring journey.
This is the job
We are looking for a Product Engineer to join our Driving School engineering team in Cardiff on an initial 12‑month fixed term contract. This is a brand‑new role being piloted within The AA, offering genuine greenfield scope to shape how it works, influence technical direction and make a visible impact from the outset. You will sit at the intersection of technology, product and the business, working closely with stakeholders, product owners and engineers to understand challenges, explore opportunities and turn ideas into practical digital solutions. Rather than simply receiving requirements, you will help define the problem, challenge existing thinking and take ownership of solutions from discovery through to production.
Our Driving School products support thousands of learners and driving instructors across the UK. The technology landscape includes TypeScript, React, Node.js, GraphQL, Flutter and AWS, although we are open to people from a broad software engineering background who can bring strong judgement, curiosity and a solution‑focused mindset.
What will I be doing?
- Partner with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to understand business challenges, uncover user needs and identify opportunities for improvement
- Take ownership of features and solutions from early discovery and design through to development, deployment and production support
- Translate complex requirements into scalable, secure and maintainable technical solutions that deliver measurable customer and business value
- Develop and enhance modern web applications, APIs and supporting services across both new and existing technology environments
- Challenge legacy designs and established approaches, using sound engineering judgement to propose pragmatic and sustainable improvements
- Collaborate with engineers, testers, designers and product colleagues while helping to evolve engineering practices, tooling and responsible use of AI‑assisted development
What do I need?
- Strong, well‑rounded experience in software engineering or web development, ideally including full‑stack development of customer‑facing applications or digital products
- Practical experience with JavaScript and TypeScript, alongside exposure to modern front‑end, back‑end or cloud technologies
- The ability to understand business needs, shape ambiguous problems and turn them into clear, workable technical solutions
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the confidence to explain technical concepts, influence decisions and tell a compelling solution story
- A proactive ownership mindset, with experience driving work forward across discovery, delivery and continuous improvement rather than waiting for fully formed requirements
- Sound engineering judgement and a pragmatic approach to improving existing or legacy software while balancing delivery, quality, security, maintainability and operational stability
Additional Experience That Would Be Useful
Experience with technologies such as React, Node.js, GraphQL, Flutter, AWS, SQL or NoSQL databases, automated testing, continuous integration and infrastructure as code would be valuable, but none are essential in isolation. We are more interested in your breadth of experience, ability to learn and confidence operating as both a capable engineer and a trusted partner to the wider business.
Additional Information
We’re always looking to recognise and reward our employees for the work they do. As a valued member of The AA team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays + holiday buying scheme
- Worksave pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution
- Free AA breakdown membership from Day 1 plus 50% discount for family and friends
- Discounts on AA products including car and home insurance
- Employee discount scheme that gives you access to a car salary sacrifice scheme plus great discounts on healthcare, shopping, holidays and more
- Company‑funded life assurance
- Diverse learning and development opportunities to support you to progress in your career
- Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and a 24/7 remote GP service for you and your family
We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. The AA values diversity and the difference this brings to our culture and our customers. We actively seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us and become part of an inclusive company where you can be yourself, be empowered to be your best and feel like you truly belong. We have five communities to bring together people with shared characteristics and backgrounds and drive positive change.
Product Engineer in Cardiff employer: The AA
The AA is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of London where innovation meets tradition. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, annual bonuses, and a range of perks, all while having the opportunity to lead a dynamic legal team and influence key business decisions. With a strong focus on professional development and a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment, the AA empowers its staff to thrive and grow within their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Engineer in Cardiff
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at The AA who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at The AA!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at The AA to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Engineer in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at The AA!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Product Engineer at The AA! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at The AA
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that The AA uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at The AA that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest The AA, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.
