Java Engineer

Company Overview

Version 1 is a well-established technology consultancy with 30 years of experience delivering transformative tech solutions to major global brands. The company maintains strategic partnerships with leading technology providers like Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, OutSystems, and Snowflake, which enables them to offer high-quality services. Recognized as a top employer, Version 1 employs over 3300 people and has a substantial revenue footprint of €350/£300m. The company is accolades-driven, being noted as a Great Place to Work for over a decade in Ireland and the UK, including specific honors for wellbeing and gender diversity.

Role Summary

The Java Engineer position is part of the UK Digital Data & Cloud Practice and involves working with a prominent financial services client. The role focuses on backend Java development within a high-volume, message-driven environment utilizing Kafka, Kubernetes/OpenShift, caching, REST APIs, and distributed systems. The candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining backend systems ensuring high performance and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain backend components using Java, prioritizing performance and fault tolerance.
• Implement features across messaging platforms, caching layers, and distributed processing systems.
• Diagnose and resolve issues related to message sequencing, failure recovery, and high-volume processing.
• Support software releases, deployment processes, and ensure production environment stability.
• Follow continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices, adhere to code quality and operational standards.
• Incorporate security, resilience, and performance best practices, particularly in message handling.
• Collaborate closely with technical leads and team members to meet project objectives and share technical knowledge.
• Actively participate in design reviews, team discussions, and communicate risks, blockers, and project progress clearly.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Experience or awareness of trading or financial platforms emphasizing non-functional requirements like latency, resiliency, throughput, and failover.
• Proficiency building cloud-native microservices deployed on Docker, Kubernetes, or OpenShift.
• Strong application development skills in Java, SQL (e.g., SQL Server or Oracle), and messaging technologies such as Kafka and MQ.
• Hands-on experience with Spring Framework and Spring Boot.
• Building secure Java REST APIs using best practices like OAuth and JWT.
• Familiarity with build and version control tools including Gradle, Maven, Git, or Bitbucket.
• Knowledge of caching tools like Redis.
• Understanding and critical application of AI coding assistants (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude) to enhance development processes and code quality.
• Experience with Agile and Scrum methodologies in software development.

Additional Information and Benefits

• Quarterly performance-related profit sharing scheme rewarding collective company success.
• Structured career development programs, mentorship, and leadership coaching through dedicated pathways.
• Flexible and remote working policies to support work-life balance and personal circumstances.
• Comprehensive financial wellbeing benefits like pension schemes, private healthcare, life assurance, financial advice, and employee discounts.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including gym discounts, bike-to-work, fitness sessions, mindfulness workshops, and an employee assistance program.
• Generous leave policies including holiday allowance, enhanced parental leave, and special leave options.
• Support for continuing education and certification in AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat technologies.
• Employee recognition awards and platforms encouraging peer acknowledgment.
• Active engagement in environmental, social, and community initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Diversity and Inclusion

Version 1 is strongly committed to building an inclusive workplace where all individuals feel respected and able to thrive. They encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds, including those reflecting disability and neurodiversity, and consider reasonable accommodations during recruitment confidentially and respectfully.