Software Engineer - Java

Join our Back End Development team and help build the services behind Arco’s next generation of digital platforms. You’ll work with a modern technology stack, including Java, Spring Boot, GraphQL, Cosmos DB and Microsoft Azure, developing scalable, reliable services that support our digital growth and deliver real value to customers.

With a dedicated front-end team, you can focus on back-end engineering, from designing and building APIs to developing, testing and improving services. You’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, develop your skills and work alongside a supportive team that shares knowledge and helps you grow.

We’re looking for someone with good Java development experience who takes pride in writing clean, well-tested code and building well-designed solutions. You don’t need experience across our entire technology stack – curiosity, a willingness to learn and a collaborative approach are just as important.
 
This is a full-time, permanent opportunity, available on a fully remote or hybrid basis. If you prefer hybrid working, our head office is in Hull.
 
Key responsibilities include:

• Designing, building and maintaining back-end services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot
• Developing GraphQL APIs 
• Working with Cosmos DB and other Azure services
• Delivering the features that our customers need as they move onto our new ecommerce platform
• Building the services behind internal tools used to manage customer, product and other data
• Working with our front-end team, business analysts and business users to understand requirements
• Working within an Agile team, contributing to planning, estimation and solution design
• Writing and maintaining automated tests, and supporting system integration and user acceptance testing with the business
• Owning your changes from estimate through to release, and giving honest estimates with a stated degree of confidence
• Taking part in code reviews and helping to keep engineering standards high
• Investigating and resolving second-line support issues for the services the team looks after
• Documenting changes and sharing knowledge with colleagues

On top of working for the UK’s leading integrated health and safety experts, you’ll also receive:

• Competitive starting salary plus bonus
• Up to 8% Arco Pension contributions and Life Assurance worth 4 times your salary
• 32 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays plus 2 fully paid Community Volunteering days every year
• Opportunity to purchase 5 additional days annual leave each calendar year (subject to qualifying salary)
• Access to hundreds of discounts through Perkbox, plus receive employee discount on Arco products
• Health Cash Plan that allows you to reclaim costs for everyday health expenses such as dental treatment, eye tests and physiotherapy
• Access learning resources, qualifications and development opportunities to help you grow, progress and achieve your career ambitions
• Long-term service awards – we’re proud to have employees who have worked for us for 40 year

The ideal Software Engineer will be/have:

• Good knowledge of Java, supported by practical development experience
• Experience with the Spring Framework
• A good understanding of object-oriented programming and software design principles
• Experience building and consuming APIs, using REST or GraphQL
• Experience with Microsoft Azure or another cloud platform
• Experience writing unit and integration tests
• Strong problem-solving skills
• The ability to explain technical issues clearly to non-technical colleagues
• A degree in computer science or a related subject, or equivalent experience developing business applications

The following experience would be an advantage, but is not essential:

• GraphQL
• Cosmos DB or other NoSQL databases
• Ecommerce or B2B systems
• CI/CD pipelines and source control
• Agile ways of working and tools such as Jira