Sellick Partnership
Senior Software Engineer
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Senior Software Engineer – UK Defence Programme
Bath | Hybrid – typically 3 days onsite
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join a major, multi-year technology transformation programme within UK defence.
This is a hands-on engineering role with genuine technical ownership. You’ll be building and evolving a complex software platform and connecting it with a growing ecosystem of systems including data lakehouse technology, ERP platforms, optimisation engines and external partner platforms.
Much of the technical landscape is still being designed, so this is ideal for an engineer who enjoys taking loosely defined requirements, shaping the solution and delivering it through to production.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Design and build backend services and APIs.
- Develop complex integrations with ERP systems, data platforms and external technologies.
- Work primarily across Java, SQL and modern data/integration tooling.
- Design REST and event-driven integrations.
- Introduce Change Data Capture (CDC) and near-real-time data patterns where appropriate.
- Work with data warehouse/lakehouse environments.
- Make technical decisions around architecture, scalability, security and performance.
- Improve automated testing, CI/CD and observability.
- Take substantial pieces of engineering work from initial design through to production.
- Mentor engineers and contribute to wider backend engineering standards.
- Work with technical and non-technical stakeholders across a major defence programme.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll ideally be an experienced Senior Software Engineer with strong backend, integration and data experience.
Key experience:
- Java or a comparable backend language
- Strong SQL
- Backend services and API development
- REST and/or event-driven architecture
- Systems integration
- Data warehouse/lakehouse integration
- CI/CD and automated testing
- Observability and production monitoring
- Strong system and data design knowledge
- Third-party platform / ERP integration
Experience with streaming technologies, Change Data Capture (CDC), data pipelines or near-real-time integrations would be particularly valuable.
We’re looking for someone comfortable working with ambiguity who can understand the underlying problem, make pragmatic technical decisions and take ownership of delivering the solution rather than relying on a fully defined specification.
Defence & Security Requirements
Due to the nature of the programme, candidates must be UK nationals and eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
Existing active SC clearance would be advantageous but isn't essential for candidates who meet the eligibility requirements and are willing to undergo the clearance process.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience within defence, central government, public safety or another regulated environment would also be beneficial.
Location & Benefits
Bath-based with hybrid working, typically around three days per week onsite at either the company office or customer locations.
Benefits include:
- Competitive salary with annual reviews
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Private healthcare including dental
- Enhanced family leave
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Life assurance
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Company social events
Why Consider the Role?
This is an opportunity to take genuine Senior-level ownership within a significant, long-term UK defence technology programme.
You'll work on complex production systems and integrations while having the freedom to influence architecture, technology choices and engineering standards.
It would particularly suit a backend engineer who wants to remain hands-on while solving challenging integration and data problems at scale.
Interview Process
The process is expected to include:
- Initial behavioural/hiring manager interview
- Hands-on programming session
- Product-focused system design discussion
The programming exercise can be completed in a suitable language such as Java, C#, TypeScript, Python or Go.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location