Junior Software Engineer II - Graduate Programme 2026 (Manchester)

Booking Holdings, Inc.; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel technology company in Manchester is seeking a Graduate Software Engineer for a 12-month program. This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with experienced engineers, receive guidance through a dedicated mentor, and develop impactful software solutions in the travel industry. Ideal candidates have a relevant degree with a passion for travel and technology. The company provides training, competitive benefits, and an ambitious culture that promotes growth and meaningful contributions.

Benefits

25 days’ paid holiday plus bank holidays

Up to 10% matching pension

Discounts and credits on company products

Qualifications

• Graduation in 2025 or 2026 required.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of object-oriented code or Javascript and React.
• Passion for travel and technology.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a team of engineers to craft, develop, and deliver high-quality software solutions.
• Coordinate for the end-to-end delivery of your projects.
• Learn new technologies and stay ahead of the curve.
• Contribute to the evolution of our engineering standard processes.
• Write clear, concise, and comprehensive user documentation.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Interpersonal skills

Understanding of object-oriented code

Javascript and React

Passion for travel and technology

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Job description

About Booking.com Compass

We know you’ve just started navigating your career journey. And we’re here to help. We promise it’s going to be fun and exciting! We’re a company of travel-obsessed, resourceful, dedicated people who work to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you make. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the food you sample. Through our products, partners and people, we can empower everyone to experience the world.

About the graduate programme

We are thrilled about this 12-month programme within our TRIPS Business Unit. This department bridges the Booking.com of today with the Booking of tomorrow, leading the evolution of Booking.com from a single-product company to a multi-product offering company with an outstanding, personalized travel experience at the heart of its success.

This programme will provide an excellent foundation for graduates to develop their skills and have a significant impact on our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, building and improving great products for both travelers and for our accommodation partners.

As a Graduate Software Engineer at Booking.com, you will be a fully-fledged, permanent team member, and will work alongside experienced engineers responsible for the design & delivery of services and products to offer customers the best selection of properties and rooms.

You will be guided and supported throughout the programme with a dedicated mentor, onboarding bootcamp, learning exploration and opportunities to develop world-leading technical expertise through two rotations within the engineering business unit.

This is a unique opportunity to launch your professional career and learn great software engineering principles and working practices at one of the world’s leading travel companies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a team of engineers to craft, develop, and deliver high-quality software solutions.
• Coordinate for the end-to-end delivery of your projects.
• Learn new technologies and stay ahead of the curve.
• Contribute to the evolution of our engineering standard processes.
• Write clear, concise, and comprehensive user documentation.

To succeed in this role, you'll need

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related STEM field with a 2:1 or above (including predicted grades). Note that your graduation date has to be in 2025 or 2026.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of object-oriented code or Javascript and React.
• A passion for travel and technology.

What we offer

• A great new office to work in the heart of Manchester.
• Impactful training and development, including in Java and professional growth in building software applications, software system design, technical incident management and architectural mentorship.
• An award-winning company culture (Best Leadership Teams & Global Culture 2023, Best Workplace for Women 2024 & In-house Recruitment Early Careers Award Finalists 2024)
• The opportunity to work on meaningful and exciting projects.
• A fast-paced and ambitious culture.
• The chance to make a real difference in the travel industry.
• Technical, behavioral and interpersonal competence advancement via on-the-job opportunities, experimental projects, hackathons, conferences and active community participation.
• 25 days’ paid holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 28 days after 3 years of service)
• Up to 10% matching pension.
• Discounts & Wallet credits to spend on our products, upgrade to Booking.com Genius Level 3, and friends & family Booking.com discount vouchers.

In order to be eligible for this programme you need to:

• Be able to commit to attending our in-person final interview day (Assessment Centre) on March 27th, 2026 in our Manchester Office>
• Graduate in 2026 or have graduated in 2025.
• Be available to start a full time position for our 12 month programme mid-September 2026.
• Be able to commute to our office in Manchester.

Inclusion at Booking.com:

Inclusion has been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.”

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.