Senior Java Software Engineer

Join Barclays as a Senior Java Software Engineer within our Digital Feature Engineering team, where you will play a key role in building and modernising the core frameworks behind our retail banking apps and websites used by millions of customers. In this role, you’ll collaborate with global teams to enhance critical customer journeys such as payment and transaction screens, working with both mobile and web APIs. You will guide and support engineers, resolve technical challenges, improve code quality, and lead by example alongside the Principal Engineer.

We’re a technology-driven organisation investing heavily in cloud computing (AWS, Azure), AI/ML, GenAI use cases, and DevOps automation to transform our future. The software and systems you build here make a real-world impact. You’ll be part of a global tech community that shares knowledge and fosters innovation, with structured career development, internal mobility, and strong investment in learning & development.

We welcome candidates from all industries who are passionate about technology and want to apply their skills at scale. If you’re excited about tech, innovation, and building systems that matter — we want to hear from you.

To be successful in this role, you will need the following:

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of working with Java (Spring Boot, REST APIs) in a test-driven development (TDD) style.
• Proficiency in SQL/NoSQL databases and version control systems like Git.
• Expertise in software architecture, design patterns, and secure coding best practises.
• Leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to guide projects and teams.
• Ownership mindset and commitment to engineering excellence.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, coupled with strong stakeholder management skills.

Some other highly valued skills may include:

• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Adaptability to new technologies and evolving project needs.
• Ability to optimise performance and design user-friendly, intuitive applications.
• Proven ability to design and shape solutions that align with the organisation’s strategic objectives.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

The successful candidate can be based in Knutsford (Radbroke Hall) or Manchester (4 Piccadilly Place).

Purpose of the role

To design, develop and improve software, utilising various engineering methodologies, that provides business, platform, and technology capabilities for our customers and colleagues. 

Accountabilities

• Development and delivery of high-quality software solutions by using industry aligned programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Ensuring that code is scalable, maintainable, and optimized for performance.
• Cross-functional collaboration with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define software requirements, devise solution strategies, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives.
• Collaboration with peers, participate in code reviews, and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations and actively contribute to the organization’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.
• Adherence to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and ensure secure software solutions.
• Implementation of effective unit testing practices to ensure proper code design, readability, and reliability.

Vice President Expectations

• Contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures.
• Be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. Lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. Train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.