Software Engineer - Developer Experience

Software Engineer - Developer Experience at Barclays

Join us as a Software Engineer - Developer Experience at Barclays, where you'll spearhead the evolution of our digital landscape, driving innovation and excellence. You'll harness cutting-edge technology to revolutionize our digital offerings, ensuring unapparelled customer experiences. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in cloud-native technologies, distributed streaming platforms, Kubernetes orchestration, and multi-region architecture patterns.

Key Responsibilities and Experience:

• Hands-on experience developing and maintaining custom Gradle plugins (Groovy/Java), including plugin project structuring and publishing practices.
• Strong expertise in Gradle build engineering for multi-module projects, including consistent build configuration across modules and root-level build orchestration.
• Experience working with IDE integrations and associated plugin frameworks, enabling modern developer workflows (debugging, test frameworks, code quality/security plugins).
• Ability to standardize local developer setup: importing Gradle projects into IDEs, configuring JDK/Gradle settings, and enabling repeatable builds/tests across modules.
• Proven experience driving build quality gates and tooling adoption by embedding automation into builds (e.g., test, reports, mutation testing) and improving developer productivity.
• Experience managing and governing DevHub / Developer Portal content, publishing engineering standards, IDE/tooling guidance, and supporting enterprise-wide adoption.
• Expert-level development experience in Java, Spring Framework, Spring Boot, and JUnit-based unit testing.
• Strong experience designing and building microservices and RESTful APIs for scalable, distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with event-driven data pipelines and messaging platforms such as Apache Kafka.
• Proficient in Git-based version control and working knowledge of DevOps toolchains, containerization, and Kubernetes.
• Experience deploying and operating applications in cloud environments, with AWS as the preferred platform.
• Solid understanding of microservices and event-driven architectures, applying design patterns, SOLID principles, and engineering best practices.
• Deliver software using Agile methodologies, actively participating in sprint planning, reviews, retrospectives, and continuous improvement.
• Strong familiarity with modern developer tooling including GitLab, DevSecOps pipelines, and secure CI/CD practices.
• Hands-on experience with Docker Desktop for local containerized development, IntelliJ IDEA or equivalent enterprise IDEs, and secure source control, branching strategies, and automated quality gates.
• Drive a test-first, quality-driven engineering culture with hands-on experience in Contract testing, Unit Testing, Performance and Load testing, Mutation Testing.
• Demonstrate strong awareness and practical adoption of AI assisted engineering practices with AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, GitLab Duo, Copilot or equivalent) to support code generation, refactoring, documentation, and test creation, while retaining engineering judgement and accountability.

Other Highly Valued Skills:

• Acts as an Individual Contributor Engineer (ICE), owning technical delivery end-to-end with strong accountability and limited supervisory dependency.
• Work effectively within Agile/Scrum delivery models, using Jira for backlog management, delivery tracking, and sprint execution.
• Apply strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to diagnose and resolve complex issues in distributed, event-driven systems.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication, producing clear architecture designs, decision records, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (engineering, DevOps, security, architecture) to deliver integrated, enterprise-ready solutions.
• Exhibit strong ownership, self-drive, and innovation mindset, staying current with cloud-native technologies and modern engineering best practices.

You may be assessed on key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

Purpose of the Role:

To design, develop and improve software, utilising various engineering methodologies, that provides business, platform, and technology capabilities for our customers and colleagues.

Accountabilities:

• Development and delivery of high-quality software solutions by using industry aligned programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Ensuring that code is scalable, maintainable, and optimized for performance.
• Cross-functional collaboration with product managers, designers, and other engineers to define software requirements, devise solution strategies, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives.
• Collaboration with peers, participate in code reviews, and promote a culture of code quality and knowledge sharing.
• Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations and actively contribute to the organization’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.
• Adherence to secure coding practices to mitigate vulnerabilities, protect sensitive data, and ensure secure software solutions.
• Implementation of effective unit testing practices to ensure proper code design, readability, and reliability.

Analyst Expectations:

To perform prescribed activities in a timely manner and to a high standard consistently driving continuous improvement. Requires in-depth technical knowledge and experience in their assigned area of expertise. Thorough understanding of the underlying principles and concepts within the area of expertise. They lead and supervise a team, guiding and supporting professional development, allocating work requirements and coordinating team resources. If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others. OR for an individual contributor, they develop technical expertise in work area, acting as an advisor where appropriate. Will have an impact on the work of related teams within the area. Partner with other functions and business areas. Takes responsibility for end results of a team’s operational processing and activities. Escalate breaches of policies / procedure appropriately. Take responsibility for embedding new policies/ procedures adopted due to risk mitigation. Advise and influence decision making within own area of expertise. Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work you own or contribute to. Deliver your work and areas of responsibility in line with relevant rules, regulation and codes of conduct. Maintain and continually build an understanding of how own sub-function integrates with function, alongside knowledge of the organisations products, services and processes within the function. Demonstrate understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub-function. Make evaluative judgements based on the analysis of factual information, paying attention to detail. Resolve problems by identifying and selecting solutions through the application of acquired technical experience and will be guided by precedents. Guide and persuade team members and communicate complex / sensitive information. Act as contact point for stakeholders outside of the immediate function, while building a network of contacts outside team and external to the organisation.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Key skills/competency

• Software Engineer
• Developer Experience
• Gradle
• Java
• Spring Boot
• Microservices
• Kubernetes
• AWS
• Agile
• DevOps