Java Engineer

Java Engineer

Full-Time 55000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and develop backend Java components for high-volume message processing.
  • Company: Join a leading tech firm in the financial services sector with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive pay, and wellness initiatives to support your lifestyle.
  • Other info: Great career progression opportunities and a supportive team atmosphere.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while advancing your tech skills.
  • Qualifications: Experience in Java development and cloud-native applications is essential.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.

We are seeking a Java Engineer to join our UK Digital Data & Cloud Practice. Our Digital Practice is expanding rapidly and you will have the opportunity to develop your career and technical skills. You will be working for one of our high‑profile trading clients within the financial services domain, contributing hands‑on to a Java‑based development team supporting a high‑volume message processing environment. The team is heavily Java‑focused, operating within a client ecosystem that relies extensively on Kafka, Kubernetes/OpenShift, caching solutions, REST APIs, and high‑throughput distributed systems. You will bring solid, practical experience in backend Java development and a keen interest in scalable distributed systems.

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and maintain backend components in Java, with a focus on performance and resilience.
  • Contribute hands‑on to features across messaging, caching, and distributed processing layers.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to sequencing, recovery, message failures, and large‑volume processing.
  • Support releases, deployments, and production stability activities.
  • Adhere to CI/CD pipelines, code quality standards, and operational readiness requirements.
  • Apply performance, security, and resilience best practices, particularly around message handling.

Collaboration

  • Work closely with the Technical Lead and peers to deliver against team objectives.
  • Contribute to technical discussions, design reviews, and knowledge sharing within the team.
  • Raise risks, blockers, and progress updates clearly within the team.

Qualifications

  • Some exposure to trading or financial platforms, with an awareness of non‑functional requirements such as latency, resiliency, throughput, and failover handling.
  • Experience developing cloud‑native applications with a microservices architecture running on Docker/OpenShift/Kubernetes.
  • Solid application development skills in Java, SQL (SQL Server, Oracle, etc.) and messaging platforms such as Kafka and MQ.
  • Experience with the Spring framework and Spring Boot technologies.
  • Experience in Java REST API development and application security best practices (OAuth, JWT, etc.).
  • Experience with build and source control tools: Gradle, Maven, Git/Bitbucket.
  • Familiarity with caching services such as Redis.
  • Awareness of AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or Claude to accelerate development, generate boilerplate, and review code.
  • Ability to apply AI tooling critically – validating, refactoring, and integrating AI‑generated code rather than accepting output uncritically.
  • Awareness of prompt engineering techniques relevant to software development workflows (code generation, test writing, documentation, debugging).
  • Experience working in an Agile/Scrum environment.

Benefits

  • Share in our success with the Quarterly Performance‑Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits.
  • Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through the Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
  • Flexible/remote working, providing flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance.
  • Financial Wellbeing initiatives including Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme.
  • Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies.
  • Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat.
  • Reward schemes including Version 1's Annual Excellence Awards & 'Call‑Out' platform.
  • Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allowing you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.

Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer.

Java Engineer employer: Version 1 Solutions Limited

At Version 1, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within our expanding UK Digital Data & Cloud Practice. As a Java Engineer, you will benefit from strong career progression opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive range of wellbeing initiatives, all while contributing to high-profile projects in the financial services sector. Join us to be part of a supportive team that values your growth and success, with unique advantages such as performance-related profit sharing and educational assistance for professional development.

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Contact Details:

Version 1 Solutions Limited Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Java Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech and finance sectors. Attend meetups, webinars, or even local events to meet potential employers and get your name out there. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a GitHub profile or personal website showcasing your Java projects, especially those involving Kafka or Kubernetes. This gives us a chance to see your hands-on experience and creativity in action, making you stand out from the crowd.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and system design knowledge. Practice common Java interview questions and be ready to discuss your experience with microservices and cloud-native applications. We want to see how you think and solve problems!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to connect directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Java Engineer

Java Development
Kafka
Kubernetes
OpenShift
Caching Solutions
REST APIs
Distributed Systems

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Java Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, cloud-native applications, and any relevant technologies like Kafka or Kubernetes. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background in backend development makes you a great fit. Don’t forget to mention your interest in scalable distributed systems!

Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on any projects that involved Java, microservices, or messaging platforms, make sure to include them. We love seeing practical examples of your work, especially if they relate to financial services or high-volume processing.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to keep track of your application status. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative!

How to prepare for a job interview at Version 1 Solutions Limited

Know Your Java Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your Java skills before the interview. Be prepared to discuss your experience with backend development, especially in high-volume message processing environments. Familiarise yourself with key concepts like performance optimisation and resilience in Java applications.

Get Comfortable with the Tech Stack

Since the role involves working with Kafka, Kubernetes, and REST APIs, it’s crucial to understand these technologies. We recommend reviewing how they integrate with Java applications and being ready to share examples of how you've used them in past projects.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Be prepared to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly around troubleshooting issues related to message failures or large-volume processing. Highlight your approach to resolving these problems and any best practices you followed.

Engage in Technical Discussions

During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the team’s current projects and technical challenges. This shows your interest in collaboration and helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values. Plus, it gives you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge and insights!