Software Engineer Industrial Placement 2026

Holiday Extras; Hythe; On-site; GBP 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A holiday service provider in Hythe seeks undergraduate students for an Industrial Placement as Software Engineers. Successful candidates will work within a dynamic Product Development team to create and enhance products using advanced AI tools. The role focuses on building features across various codebases while gaining industry-relevant experience with technologies like React.js and Node.js. Candidates should have a positive approach to learning and teamwork, and be studying a related degree. This is a 12-month placement starting July 2026.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Parental leave

Gym discounts

Profit share bonus

Qualifications

• Studying towards a relevant undergraduate or master's degree.
• Genuine curiosity about technology and AI.
• Some experience in programming is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Building new features for booking flow.
• Creating customer-facing assistants.
• Integrating with suppliers and innovating in the mobile app.

Skills

Problem-solving approach

Effective collaboration skills

Adaptability

Creativity

Programming experience

Education

Undergraduate or master's degree in computing, mathematics, or computer science

Tools

React.js

Node.js

Typescript.js

Job description

Salary up to £26,228 + Benefits + Bonus

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract: 12 months fixed term

Location: Fully office based in Newingreen/ Hythe, Kent

We are looking for undergraduate students who are passionate about technology and motivated to learn, to join our team as an Industrial Placement Software Engineer.

At Holiday Extras, we’re creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, build their careers and reach their limitless potential. As a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025, we’re proud to offer a world of benefits designed to enhance your lifestyle and well-being. By joining our team, you’ll feel supported and rewarded every day.

The Team

Our Product Development team is based in our custom built campuses in Newingreen, Kent. More than 100 people come together to build and improve our products including engineers, product owners, designers and solution architects. You will collaborate with them every day as we create products that remove hassle for millions of customers.

We are proud to be at the forefront of AI native engineering. Our teams use the most advanced AI coding tools available, from intelligent code generation and automated testing to debugging agents and architectural exploration. These tools (including Enterprise access to ChatGPT, Claude Code and Cursor) help us move faster, improve quality and futureproof the way we build software.

If you want to learn more about what we do you can explore our team blog at tech.holidayextras.com.

The Role

We work across multiple codebases and each day brings something different. As a Software Engineer you could be building new features for our booking flow, creating customer facing assistants, integrating with suppliers or innovating within our mobile app. You will work within an AI augmented engineering environment, where modern tools help you design, build and validate your work. You’ll gain all the skills you need to work within a modern tech stack, using technologies including React.js, Node.js and Typescript.js.

You will learn how to:

• Writing clean, well-constructed, and unit-tested code
• Work confidently with AI coding tools as a core part of your engineering workflow
• Use AI agents for debugging, refactoring and exploring new architectures
• Work as part of an agile delivery team and collaborate with engineers across multiple disciplines
• Contribute to a tech stack that processes around 3 million bookings a year
• Collaborate in a team to deliver high quality products with other Engineers, Product, Agile and Design
• Apply prompt engineering techniques to solve real engineering problems
• Build confidence in commercial programming and using state of the art AI tools
• Learn how to design, ship and improve software
• Develop skills that will keep you ahead of the curve as engineering practices continue to evolve

This placement will enable you to build the skills that modern software engineers need in an AI accelerated landscape.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who bring curiosity, initiative and a willingness to learn. You do not need experience with AI tools or specific frameworks, but you will be excited about the future of engineering and keen to develop modern skills. You will bring:

• A problem solving approach and a willingness to explore different solutions
• A passion for learning; you seek out opportunities to grow and improve
• Effective collaboration skills and the ability to work well with others
• Adaptability and a positive approach to change, especially as engineering practices evolve
• Genuine curiosity about technology, including how AI can support and accelerate engineering
• Creativity and the confidence to try new ideas
• Clear and effective communication
• Enthusiasm and drive in your approach to your work
• A customer focused mindset
• A growth mindset; you are open to feedback, coaching and peer support
• Some experience of programming and an interest in developing software solutions

You’ll need to be studying towards a computing, mathematical or computer science related undergraduate or masters degree and require a placement as an assessed part of course in order to be eligible.

You may have already played around with our languages and frameworks of choice, but no prior experience is needed.

If successful, the placement would start July 2026 for 12 months.

How we hire for this role

If this sounds like a fantastic opportunity to kick start your tech career, please send in your CV and cover letter, outlining what makes you a great fit for the role, what you want to gain from the year at Holiday Extras and any projects you've worked on.

Applications need to be submitted by via the link on our careers site - holidayextras.co.uk/careers

Applications close: Sunday 18th January 2026

We know your time is precious, so we keep our recruitment process as quick and easy as possible. If we believe you might be a match for a job you’ve applied for, you’ll enter our hiring process as follows:

• Pre-assessment day task
• Assessment day (February 2026) involving individual & group tasks

Cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture is paramount for us.

Recognising we are all different, if for whatever reason you need us to adapt the process, please get in touch via [e-mail].

Why choose Holiday Extras?

We believe that holidays are the most precious time of all, so we create products, tech and services that make travel and holidays memorable and fun. We’re on a mission to be the only place to go for your holiday extras, offering unparalleled choice, value and service, turning our customers’ ordinary trips into extraordinarily good times.

At Holiday Extras, we’re creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, build their careers and reach their limitless potential. As a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025, we’re proud to offer a world of benefits designed to enhance your lifestyle and well-being. By joining our team, you’ll feel supported and rewarded every day. Learn more about our culture and benefits.

• Time is precious: 25 days annual leave (+BH’s), extra holidays through Holiday Buy, Birthday Day Off, and Sabbaticals at each milestone.
• Parental Leave: Enhanced parental leave - Up to 1 year off, including 13 weeks at 100% pay, 13 weeks at 50% pay
• Road to well-being: Access to Gym Discounts, Private Dental Insurance and Private Medical Insurance (after 4 years)
• Celebrate success together: Enjoy a Profit Share Bonus and a pension scheme with Aviva.
• Good for the soul: Join our Social Club for 25% off any ticket or event in the UK, Discounts on the latest tech, or give back to your community with our Volunteering Scheme.
• Plan ahead: Income protection, Critical illness cover and Life assurance