Software Engineer - Java

KARIER; Hull and East Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive starting salary

8% Pension contributions & Life Advice

32 days holiday + volunteering days

Perkbox discounts

Health Cash Plan

Job summary

Arco is seeking a Backend Software Engineer to join the Back End Development team. You will design, build and maintain scalable Java/Spring Boot services, develop GraphQL APIs, and work with Cosmos DB on Azure.

You’ll collaborate with a dedicated frontend team and business users in an Agile setting, delivering value as you grow your skills. The role supports full remote or hybrid working, with Hull as the head office option.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in computer science.
• Experience building APIs using REST or GraphQL.
• Knowledge of Java and Spring Boot.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain back-end services using Java and Spring Boot.
• Develop GraphQL APIs and consume Cosmos DB.
• Collaborate with frontend, analysts, and business users in Agile.
• Write automated tests and participate in code reviews.

Skills

Java development

Spring Framework

REST/GraphQL APIs

Unit & integration testing

Azure / cloud

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

GraphQL

Cosmos DB

CI/CD

Jira

Job description

About The Role

Join our Back End Development team and help build the services behind Arco’s next generation of digital platforms. You’ll work with a modern technology stack, including Java, Spring Boot, GraphQL, Cosmos DB and Microsoft Azure, developing scalable, reliable services that support our digital growth and deliver real value to customers.

With a dedicated front-end team, you can focus on back-end engineering, from designing and building APIs to developing, testing and improving services. You’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, develop your skills and work alongside a supportive team that shares knowledge and helps you grow.

We’re looking for someone with good Java development experience who takes pride in writing clean, well-tested code and building well-designed solutions. You don’t need experience across our entire technology stack – curiosity, a willingness to learn and a collaborative approach are just as important.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity, available on a fully remote or hybrid basis. If you prefer hybrid working, our head office is in Hull.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing, building and maintaining back-end services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot
• Developing GraphQL APIs
• Working with Cosmos DB and other Azure services
• Delivering the features that our customers need as they move onto our new ecommerce platform
• Building the services behind internal tools used to manage customer, product and other data
• Working with our front-end team, business analysts and business users to understand requirements
• Working within an Agile team, contributing to planning, estimation and solution design
• Writing and maintaining automated tests, and supporting system integration and user acceptance testing with the business
• Owning your changes from estimate through to release, and giving honest estimates with a stated degree of confidence
• Taking part in code reviews and helping to keep engineering standards high
• Investigating and resolving second-line support issues for the services the team looks after
• Documenting changes and sharing knowledge with colleagues

On top of working for the UK’s leading integrated health and safety experts, you’ll also receive:

• Competitive starting salary plus bonus
• Up to 8% Arco Pension contributions and Life Assurance worth 4 times your salary
• 32 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays plus 2 fully paid Community Volunteering days every year
• Opportunity to purchase 5 additional days annual leave each calendar year (subject to qualifying salary)
• Access to hundreds of discounts through Perkbox, plus receive employee discount on Arco products
• Health Cash Plan that allows you to reclaim costs for everyday health expenses such as dental treatment, eye tests and physiotherapy
• Access learning resources, qualifications and development opportunities to help you grow, progress and achieve your career ambitions
• Long-term service awards – we’re proud to have employees who have worked for us for 40 year

The ideal Software Engineer will be/have:

• Good knowledge of Java, supported by practical development experience
• Experience with the Spring Framework
• A good understanding of object-oriented programming and software design principles
• Experience building and consuming APIs, using REST or GraphQL
• Experience with Microsoft Azure or another cloud platform
• Experience writing unit and integration tests
• Strong problem-solving skills
• The ability to explain technical issues clearly to non-technical colleagues
• A degree in computer science or a related subject, or equivalent experience developing business applications

The following experience would be an advantage, but is not essential:

• GraphQL
• Cosmos DB or other NoSQL databases
• Ecommerce or B2B systems
• CI/CD pipelines and source control
• Agile ways of working and tools such as Jira

About Us

With a proud 140-year legacy, you’ll be part of something special when you join the UK’s leading safety experts. As the only integrated safety products and services business, Arco’s size, scale and reputation are why we have such an impressive portfolio of satisfied customers.

It’s an exciting time for us, and whatever your role, you’ll play a part in Arco’s journey to become more profitable and sustainable. To drive a performance culture, we consistently invest in our people to ensure we push for shared success. We respect and value everyone’s unique skills, experience and ideas so you’ll have ample opportunity to help shape our future growth and be rewarded for delivering against our targets.

At Arco, inclusion means ensuring everyone feels valued, respected and able to be their best. We celebrate the unique skills, experiences and perspectives each colleague brings, and we’re committed to creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. As part of our journey to everyday inclusion, we recognise that individual needs may vary. If you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process, please let us know. Be Safe, Be Yourself, Be Your Best.