Software Engineer Java Back End

SOM 3 Recruitment; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SOM 3 Recruitment is hiring an experienced Software Engineer – Java / Back End to join a hybrid team in Milton Keynes. You will transition software from outsourced delivery to in-house, shaping future roadmaps and contributing to modern Java development practices including AI coding assistants.

The role focuses on implementing backend features, API design, and data modelling in PostgreSQL, with a strong emphasis on Code quality and scalable architecture.

Qualifications

• Excellent Java development experience (Java 11+) in production, including Spring Boot, dependency injection, and RESTful API design.
• PostgreSQL skills: schema design, complex queries, indexing, and migration tooling (Flyway or Liquibase).
• Experience designing and documenting APIs using OpenAPI/Swagger.
• Proficiency with build tools such as Maven or Gradle and a modern Java development workflow.
• Understanding of SOLID, DRY, and Clean Architecture.
• Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes from a developer perspective.
• Interest in AI coding assistants such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the development team during the transition from an outsourced model to in-house delivery.
• Support knowledge transfer through code walkthroughs, pairing sessions, and documentation reviews with the outgoing external team.
• Gain understanding of the current Java application architecture, including service boundaries, dependency injection patterns, build system, and deployment configuration.
• Design and implement new back-end features, enhancements, and bug fixes in Java, following agreed coding standards and architectural principles.
• Work on the PostgreSQL data model, including schema design, migration management, indexing strategy, and query optimisation.
• Design, document, and maintain RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs, ensuring consistency, versioning, and thorough OpenAPI/Swagger documentation.
• Identify, catalogue, and systematically address technical debt in collaboration with the wider team.

Skills

Java development

Spring Boot

RESTful API design

PostgreSQL

OpenAPI/Swagger

Maven/Gradle

Software architecture principles

Docker/Kubernetes (dev)

AI coding assistants familiarity

Tools

Maven

Gradle

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenAPI/Swagger

GitHub

Flyway

PostgreSQL

Job description

Salary: £60,000 - 100,000 per year

Requirements

• Great communication skills, with the ability to contribute to future product roadmaps.


• Excellent Java development experience (Java 11+) in a production environment, including Spring Boot, dependency injection, and RESTful API design.


• PostgreSQL skills, including schema design, complex query writing, index optimisation, and migration tooling (Flyway or Liquibase).


• Experience designing and documenting APIs using OpenAPI/Swagger.


• Proficiency with build tools such as Maven or Gradle, and a modern Java development workflow.


• Understanding of software design principles, including SOLID, DRY, and Clean Architecture.


• Familiarity with containerised deployment environments such as Docker and Kubernetes from a developer perspective.


• Understanding of and interest in AI coding assistants such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the development team during the transition from an outsourced model to in-house delivery.


• Support knowledge transfer through code walkthroughs, pairing sessions, and documentation reviews with the outgoing external team.


• Gain understanding of the current Java application architecture, including service boundaries, dependency injection patterns, build system, and deployment configuration.


• Design and implement new back-end features, enhancements, and bug fixes in Java, following agreed coding standards and architectural principles.


• Work on the PostgreSQL data model, including schema design, migration management, indexing strategy, and query optimisation.


• Design, document, and maintain RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs, ensuring consistency, versioning, and thorough OpenAPI/Swagger documentation.


• Identify, catalogue, and systematically address technical debt in collaboration with the wider team.

Technologies

• AI


• API


• Claude Code


• Copilot


• Cursor


• Docker


• Flyway


• GitHub


• Gradle


• GraphQL


• Support


• Java


• Kubernetes


• Liquibase


• Maven


• OpenAPI


• PostgreSQL


• Spring


• Spring Boot


• Swagger


• Backend

More

We are hiring an experienced Software Engineer – Java / Back End to join our hybrid team, working 2 days per week in the office in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. This is a permanent role in IT, with a salary range of 50,000 to 65,000. We are moving our software development from an outsourced model to in-house, and you will work alongside our development team during this transition. The role offers the opportunity to contribute to knowledge transfer, influence future roadmaps, and work with modern Java development practices and AI coding assistants.

last updated 36 week of 2026