Application Engineer - III - Vanguard

ZipRecruiter; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment platform is seeking a Senior Application Engineer in Manchester. The candidate will lead Backend Development initiatives, mentor junior staff, and contribute to all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle. They should have advanced knowledge of Java/Kotlin and a commitment to best practices. The role offers a hybrid work environment, combining flexibility with collaborative opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent training required.
• Strong analytical capabilities and problem-solving skills.
• Deep understanding of Java / Kotlin and related technologies.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy for technical areas and foster community.
• Mentor junior staff on best practices.
• Participate in all phases of the SDLC.

Skills

Java / Kotlin

Problem solving skills

Backend Development

AWS

API Design

Automation testing

Education

Undergraduate degree in a related field

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Senior Application Engineer with deep technical expertise and thought leadership. You will drive strategy for your area of expertise across teams and foster a developer community within your domain. The role involves mentoring junior staff, ensuring high-quality deliverables, promoting best practices like TDD and BDD, and leading engineering practices across the SDLC.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide advanced technical expertise in Backend Development, supporting the team with effective solutions and practical insights.
• Participate in all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.
• Demonstrate a commitment to keeping up with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, actively applying them in your work.
• Contribute new ideas, tools, and methodologies to help foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the team.
• Share knowledge and mentor peers and junior engineers, supporting their growth and skills development.
• Collaborate with technical leads, IT teams, and business stakeholders to understand project requirements, implications, and dependencies.
• Review and provide feedback on technical documentation, suggesting improvements where appropriate.
• Promote and practice best development approaches such as Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) to deliver high-quality, maintainable code.
• Apply design patterns to address complex problems, ensuring code is efficient, readable, and reusable.
• Adhere to IT and Information Security policies and procedures in all engineering activities.
• Participate in special projects and perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or the equivalent combination of training and experience
• Strong analysis and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of the financial services industry
• Deep understanding of Java / Kotlin (Required): Java / Kotlin, Spring, OAuth
• Other technologies/areas: AWS, API Design, Automation testing

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.