Software Engineer - Confluent Stream Processing & Analystics

IBM; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Software in the UK is seeking a hands-on software developer at entry level to join our distributed systems team, building Kafka-backed services and cloud-native components.

You will write clean, tested code in Java or Go, participate in code reviews, work with Kubernetes and Docker, and collaborate with a small team to deliver scalable, reliable software.

Qualifications

• Hands-on software development experience (new grads welcome).
• Fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, concurrency, networking, and operating systems.
• Ability to write clean, maintainable, well-tested code in at least one modern language (Java, Go, or similar).
• Curiosity about distributed systems and how large-scale services like Kafka are designed and operated.
• A self-starter mindset – comfortable asking questions, seeking feedback, and iterating based on code review.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate closely with a small team.

Responsibilities

• Develop production-quality software and services, focusing on code that is readable, testable, and scalable.
• Collaborate with a small, agile team and participate in code reviews and testing.
• Work with REST APIs, databases, and basic system design concepts.
• Contribute to distributed systems design and maintenance, including Kafka-backed components.

Skills

Programming fundamentals

Problem solving

Clean engineering practices

REST APIs

Distributed systems

Self-starter mindset

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Git

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms

Job description

Introduction

At IBM Software, we transform client challenges into solutions. Building the world's leading AI-powered, cloud-native products that shape the future of business and society. Our legacy of innovation creates endless opportunities for IBMers to learn, grow, and make an impact on a global scale. Working in Software means joining a team fueled by curiosity and collaboration. You'll work with diverse technologies, partners, and industries to design, develop, and deliver solutions that power digital transformation. With a culture that values innovation, growth, and continuous learning, IBM Software places you at the heart of IBM's product and technology landscape. Here, you'll have the tools and opportunities to advance your career while creating software that changes the world. With Confluent, data doesn't sit still. We put information in motion, streaming in near real time so organizations can react faster, build smarter, and deliver experiences as dynamic as the world around them.

Your Role And Responsibilities

• Strong coding fundamentals: Proficient in at least one programming language with solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and time/space complexity.
• Problem-solving ability: Can independently solve medium-complexity coding problems, debug issues, and break down ambiguous requirements into actionable tasks.
• Clean engineering practices: Writes readable, maintainable code, uses Git effectively, and follows code review and testing best practices.
• Backend/API and database basics: Understands REST APIs, HTTP fundamentals, SQL, and basic system design concepts such as client-server architecture and caching.
• Ownership and learning mindset: Takes initiative, seeks feedback, learns quickly, and can deliver assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication and collaboration: Communicates progress, asks thoughtful questions when blocked, and works effectively within an agile team.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Hands-on software development experience (new grads welcome)
• Solid fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, concurrency, networking, and operating systems
• Ability to write clean, maintainable, well-tested code in at least one modern language (Java, Go, or similar)
• Curiosity about distributed systems and how large-scale services like Kafka are designed and operated
• A self-starter mindset - comfortable asking questions, seeking feedback, and iterating based on code review
• Strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate closely with a small team

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Coursework or projects involving Apache Kafka, distributed systems, or cloud infrastructure
• Exposure to Kubernetes, Docker, or cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)
• Contributions to open-source projects. - Interest in observability or platform engineering