Senior SRE (Java) The Opportunity: A Software-First Approach to Reliability I am currently partnering with a major FTSE 100 FinTech company that is undergoing a massive modernisation and observability overhaul. They aren't looking for a traditional, infrastructure-heavy SRE; they need a Senior Java Developer who has recently transitioned into the SRE space. My client operates high-performance trading platforms for over 340,000 global users. They need an engineer who can "get under the hood" of a Java codebase to build, debug, and instrument for high-scale reliability while defining the standards for their future cloud-native architecture. Why This Role is Different True Engineering Ownership: You'll be helping the division from the ground up by defining SLOs/SLIs and implementing OpenTelemetry (Otel) and tracing across distributed systems. Modernisation at Scale: This is a "roll up your sleeves" environment moving heavily toward cloud-native services and containerised infrastructure. High Visibility: You will bridge the gap between code and infrastructure, working directly with internal departments and the UK leadership team to champion reliability patterns. Complex Challenges: You'll work with high-throughput, low-latency trading operations that demand zero downtime, focusing on JVM performance tuning and message-driven systems. The Essentials The Foundation: 5 years of Java development experience with a deep understanding of JVM internals. The SRE Pivot: Recent experience in a Site Reliability or Observability role, with hands-on knowledge of OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, or similar tracing tools. The Mindset: A strong philosophy on what makes a "good" SLO and a passion for eliminating toil through automation. Technical Breadth: Experience with message brokers (Kafka, ActiveMQ), containerization (Nomad/Docker), and troubleshooting distributed systems. Systems Thinking: A passion for both software development and reliability engineering, applying discipline to solve operational challenges at scale. The Perks Flexible Benefits: A 12% flexible fund on top of your base salary to spend on what matters to you (medical, dental, etc.). Generous Time Off: 25 days holiday, plus your birthday off and 2 days for voluntary work (28 total). Health & Wellbeing: Private medical cover for you and your family, plus contributions to gym memberships. Growth: Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning, tailored development programs, and mentoring with senior leaders. Inclusive Culture: Active employee-led networks (LGBTQ, Women's, Black, and Parents & Carers) with dedicated budgets for events and projects. Interested? If you are a Java expert who has found your calling in Reliability and Observability, I would love to discuss the company, the role, and the compensation package with you. Apply, or reach out directly: