Software Engineer – Java Full Stack
Ad hoc travel to Manchester/Newcastle once a month
The Company:
At Amber Labs, we are a cutting-edge UK and European technology consultancy that prioritises empowering autonomy, promoting experimentation, and facilitating rapid learning to provide exceptional value to our clients. Our company culture is centred around collaboration, where all colleagues, regardless of their role, work together to minimise risk and shorten delivery times. Our team consists of highly-skilled cross-functional consultants, analysts, and support staff.
Role Overview:
Amber Labs is looking for a talented Software Engineer to join our team, working on impactful digital initiatives that modernise government services across the UK. This role offers the opportunity to design, develop, and maintain critical systems that improve accessibility and efficiency for thousands of users.
You’ll work within a multi-disciplinary agile team, contributing to the development of robust applications and APIs within a modern cloud environment (primarily AWS). Your work will directly influence service improvements and user experience, ensuring high-quality digital solutions are delivered.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and maintain secure, scalable applications using Java, Spring Boot, and AWS integrations (SNS/SQS).
* Collaborate closely with product managers, delivery managers, business analysts, user researchers, and engineers to refine technical direction.
* Write clean, testable code following best practices in security, accessibility, and DevOps.
* Participate in code reviews, pair programming, and continuous integration/deployment processes.
* Troubleshoot and resolve live service issues, ensuring resilience and availability.
* Work within GDS (Government Digital Service) standards and contribute to open-source initiatives where applicable.
Requirements:
* Frontend: Ideally some exposure to Frontend frameworks such as Express, Nunjucks, Typescript or similar
* Backend: Solid experience with Java and Spring Boot, AWS integrations would be beneficial
* Exposure to MongoDB would be beneficial
* Exposure to AWS, Terraform (IaC) would be highly regarded.
* Strong understanding of Agile and DevOps methodologies
* Experience in automated testing and writing maintainable code
* Ability to take ownership of development work and contribute to planning decisions
Desirable Skills
* Knowledge of government digital services
* Familiarity with accessibility standards, security best practices, and performance tuning
* Understanding of event-driven architecture and asynchronous messaging
Benefits:
* Join a rapidly expanding start-up where personal growth is a part of our DNA.
* Benefit from a flexible work environment focused on deliverable outcomes.
* Receive private medical insurance through Aviva.
* Enjoy the benefits of a company pension plan through Nest.
* 25 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays.
* Access Perkbox, a global employee rewards platform offering discounts, perks, and wellness resources.
* Participate in a generous employee referral program.
* A highly collaborative and collegial environment with opportunities for career advancement.
* Be encouraged to take bold steps and embrace a mindset of experimentation.
* Choose your preferred device, PC or Mac.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Here at Amber Labs, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all. Our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion includes:
* Valuing the unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of all employees and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
* Prohibiting all forms of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and victimisation and promoting a culture of dignity and respect for all.
* Educating all new hires on our Diversity and Inclusion policies and ensuring they are aware of their rights and responsibilities to create a safe and inclusive workplace.
By taking these steps, we are dedicated to building a workplace that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our employees and communities.
What Happens Next?
Our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to advise you on the next steps. We have a two-stage interview process for most of our consultants. In certain cases, we may include a third and final stage, which is a conversation with the company Partners. This will only be considered if deemed necessary.