At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of scalable backend systems for our verification platform.
- Company: Wise, a global tech company revolutionising money management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join an inclusive team that values innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by removing barriers to financial freedom for customers worldwide.
- Qualifications: 10+ years of Java experience and strong system design skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money. We are the Global KYC and Onboarding squad in the Servicing department and we have a mission: to enable teams at Wise to expand and fine-tune the business in a "config change" manner all across the globe, while remaining compliant and safe for the customers.
Our verification systems aren't supporting tools — they're core production infrastructure that protects customers, enables growth, and must stay reliable under constant change in regulations, policies, and evolving threat patterns. We bring together backend and frontend engineers, mobile developers, designers, data analysts, and product managers who collaborate closely to deliver exceptional customer experiences. We own the entire verification lifecycle – from document collection flows and automated review systems to agent tooling and compliance monitoring.
We operate with high ownership in a bottom-up, transparent culture, make data-driven decisions, and celebrate both technical excellence and customer impact. Right now we're focused on building KYC/FinCrime as a configuration-driven product, refactoring and building new scalable microservice systems, and increasing automation using ML/AI where it genuinely improves decisioning, review quality, and operational efficiency — with safe fallbacks and clear observability.
As IC4, you'll shape architecture across the squad's services, lead the technical direction on initiatives like the configuration-driven KYC platform, and raise the engineering bar through mentorship and cross-team influence. As a team that touches both regulatory requirements and customer experience, we have unique opportunities to innovate in a space traditionally resistant to change.
Your code will help individuals and small businesses access global banking faster, enable entrepreneurs to pay international employees on time, and allow people like you and your teammates support their families across borders without friction. We're not just building verification systems – we're removing barriers that stand between our customers and their financial freedom.
As a Staff Backend Engineer (IC4), you'll provide technical leadership within your team, designing and implementing scalable, resilient systems that power our verification platform. Design, build and maintain high-performance, scalable backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and cloud technologies.
- Lead technical initiatives that improve our verification systems, focusing on automation, reliability, and performance.
- Build internal tools that help our verification agents work efficiently.
You have 10+ years of Java 8+ knowledge, recent experience with Spring framework, experience in working with SQL and NoSQL database, strong system design skills with experience building distributed, high-throughput services, strong understanding of security best practices and data protection principles. Experience with financial or KYC verification systems is a plus.
We're people building money without borders — without judgement or prejudice, too. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.
🌳🌳🌳Staff Software Engineer🌳🌳🌳 in London employer: Wise
Wise is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration, team members are encouraged to develop their skills while contributing to meaningful resilience strategies on a global scale. Located in a vibrant city, Wise offers competitive benefits and unique opportunities for career advancement, making it an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding and impactful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land 🌳🌳🌳Staff 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 Wise 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 Wise.
✨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 Wise.
✨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 Wise 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 🌳🌳🌳Staff Software Engineer🌳🌳🌳 in London
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 Wise.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Wise 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 Wise
✨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 Wise 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.
