Senior Software Engineer

Zurich 56 Company Ltd; Warminster; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

12% defined non-contributory pension

Annual company bonus

Income Protection

Life cover — four times salary

Private medical insurance

Virtual GP appointments

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Zurich Nova, part of Zurich, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help define technical strategy and architectural direction. You will work with the Head of Nova to shape AI-enabled software platforms and drive engineering practices across the organisation.

You will mentor engineers, champion Software 2.0, and help teams move from idea to prototype rapidly while delivering tangible business value in a hybrid Warminster environment.

Qualifications

• Engineer with strong technical depth and builder mindset.
• Experience leading architectural decisions and coaching teams.
• Interest in AI-native software and Software 2.0 practices.
• Strong communication and outcome-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Define technical strategy and architectural direction with the Head of Nova.
• Lead design, development and implementation of AI-enabled software solutions.
• Build scalable, secure platforms delivering meaningful business outcomes.
• Mentor engineers and raise technical standards across the organisation.

Job description

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Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis.

Salary: Competitive salary plus an excellent benefits package

Location: Warminster, hybrid with a minimum of 3 days in the office each week and flexible working hours

Help shape the future of software engineering at Zurich Nova

Originally founded in 2023 as a high-tech AI start‑up, Zurich Nova was acquired with a clear mandate: retain everything that made the company successful while giving it access to the scale, reach and backing of one of the world’s leading insurers. We're committed to preserving a genuine start‑up culture. We move quickly, experiment often, challenge assumptions and focus relentlessly on outcomes. We believe the best ideas are tested rather than debated, and we value people who are willing to build, learn and iterate. Nova is led by engineers and built for engineers. We believe software engineering is undergoing its most significant transformation since the emergence of cloud computing. The traditional software development lifecycle, where delivery is measured in months, is being replaced by AI‑native workflows where ideas become requirements, requirements become prototypes and prototypes become products at unprecedented speed. At Nova, we're helping define what that future looks like. Our team combines expertise across artificial intelligence, software engineering, cloud architecture, product development and enterprise transformation. Every day we explore new models, emerging tooling, agent‑based systems and breakthrough techniques that are reshaping how software is built. We actively create space for experimentation, learning and research because staying ahead of the technology curve is fundamental to our success. The technologies we discuss today frequently become the capabilities we deploy tomorrow. Joining Zurich Nova means becoming part of a team that's redefining how software is designed, built and delivered. You'll work alongside engineers who are passionate about technology, obsessed with learning and excited about helping shape the next generation of software engineering.

The opportunity

This role sits within Zurich Nova, part of Life, Health and Bank Distribution, and offers a rare opportunity to influence both technology and engineering culture. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll work closely with the Head of Nova to help define technical strategy, architecture direction and engineering practices across the organisation. This isn't simply a software engineering role. You'll be expected to combine deep technical expertise with leadership, coaching and innovation. You'll help build AI‑enabled products and platforms while also championing new ways of working that enable teams to move faster, learn faster and deliver more value. You'll be a key advocate for Software 2.0: a world where AI is embedded throughout the software engineering lifecycle and where engineers can deliver outcomes at a speed that was previously impossible. Success in this role requires strong technical judgement, curiosity, emotional intelligence and the ability to inspire others to embrace new ways of thinking about software delivery.

What you will be doing

• Partner closely with the Head of Nova to define technical strategy, architectural direction and engineering standards.
• Lead the design, development and implementation of AI‑enabled software solutions.
• Build scalable, secure and maintainable platforms that deliver meaningful business outcomes.
• Shape the future architecture of Nova products and engineering ecosystems.
• Champion AI‑native software engineering and Software 2.0 practices across the organisation.
• Demonstrate how AI can transform every stage of the software development lifecycle.
• Help teams move from idea to requirements to prototype in hours or days rather than weeks or months.
• Experiment with emerging AI models, frameworks and development approaches.
• Design and evolve frameworks, patterns and guardrails for AI‑assisted engineering.
• Mentor engineers and raise technical standards across the organisation.
• Run workshops, coaching sessions and hands‑on training for AI tooling and agentic workflows.
• Collaborate with product, business and technical stakeholders to solve complex challenges.
• Influence engineering culture and define what great engineering looks like in an AI‑native organisation.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Ensure solutions are designed with appropriate governance, security, resilience and commercial considerations.

What we are looking for

We're looking for an engineer who combines technical excellence with a builder's mindset. You're someone who enjoys creating, experimenting and solving difficult problems. You care about outcomes, not just outputs. You're excited by emerging technology and motivated by the opportunity to help shape the future of engineering.

The mindset we value

• A technical leader - You take ownership, provide direction and help others solve difficult problems.
• A startup builder - You are energised by pace, ownership and the opportunity to build something new.
• An engineering evangelist - You enjoy sharing knowledge, teaching others and helping organisations adopt better ways of working
• AI-native - You see AI as a core part of the engineering toolkit, not an optional extra.
• Naturally curious - You are constantly learning, experimenting and seeking to understand how things work.
• Resilient and adaptable - You are comfortable navigating uncertainty and change.
• A strong communicator - You can explain complex ideas clearly.
• Outcome‑focused - You care about solving real problems and delivering impact.
• Committed to growth - You invest continuously in learning.

What we are not looking for

We're not looking for someone who simply critiques ideas, focuses solely on technical perfection or prefers highly structured environments where every answer is known in advance. We're looking for builders. People who identify challenges, communicate them clearly and work collaboratively to create practical solutions. You'll be someone who embraces experimentation, welcomes feedback and is excited by the opportunity to help shape a rapidly evolving organisation.

Our culture

Our culture is intentionally different. While we're backed by Zurich, we operate with the mindset and energy of a technology start‑up. We move quickly, experiment constantly and trust our engineers to make meaningful decisions. We believe exceptional engineering comes from giving talented people ownership, autonomy and the freedom to explore new ideas. Our offices are based in Warminster and we work together in person a minimum of three days a week. We value flexibility and recognise that creativity and innovation don't always happen within traditional working hours. Learning is part of the job. We actively encourage experimentation with new technologies, allocate time for exploration and invest in helping our people stay at the forefront of a rapidly changing industry. The opportunity to combine startup speed with enterprise‑scale impact is rare. At Nova, you'll have the chance to do both.

Assessment approach

This role is designed for an experienced engineer who combines technical depth, architectural thinking, leadership potential and a passion for innovation. The assessment process will focus on how you think, solve problems and apply engineering judgment in real‑world situations. Following an initial recruiter conversation, you'll meet the team on‑site and complete a practical engineering exercise. This may involve reviewing a technical solution, designing an architecture approach, evaluating a software delivery challenge or demonstrating how AI tools can be used to accelerate software development. We're interested in understanding how you approach problems, collaborate with others and balance innovation with delivery. If successful, you'll join a team helping define the future of AI‑enabled software engineering at Zurich.

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The financials

• 12% defined non‑contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus.
• Income Protection.
• Life cover - four times your salary.

Time away

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays.
• You can also request to swap UK bank holidays for days off that have cultural or religious significance to you.
• The option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday.
• Three days paid volunteering.
• Up to 16 weeks' full pay for maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Your health is important to us

• Access to Private medical insurance.
• Virtual GP appointments.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free flu jab.
• Access to a wealth of support from our wellbeing partners.

We're making a difference

• Creating a brighter, more sustainable future underpins all that we do here in Zurich. We were the first insurer to sign the UN Business Ambition for 1.5 degrees C pledge.
• Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, has awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.