Graduate - Software Engineer (Java) - London - 2026
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
support personal development and growth. Role Overview The successful candidate will work primarily with Java, contributing to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of backend services and APIs. We're looking for someone who's passionate about coding as this role is hands-on from day one. They will write production code, use Git and GitHub in a professional workflow, and collaborate within an Agile engineering team. They are not expected to know everything - but they are expected to learn fast, take ownership, and care about clean engineering practices. Key Responsibilities Develop backend services and APIs using Java Write clean, maintainable, and testable code Use Git for version control following team branching strategies Contribute via GitHub pull requests and participate in code reviews Fix bugs and improve existing services Write unit tests and contribute to improving test coverage Participate in Agile ceremonies (stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives), The graduate software engineer will contribute to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of backend services and APIs using Java. They will collaborate within an Agile team to deliver high-quality code while participating in code reviews and sprint ceremonies.
Requirements
Java, REST APIs, Git, GitHub, Agile, CI/CD, Unit testing, Object-oriented programming, Data structures, Algorithms, Spring Boot, Docker, AWS, SQL, NoSQL, JUnit, Collaborate with engineers, product managers, and QA Technical Skills (Essential) Solid understanding of Java fundamentals (OOP, collections, exceptions, streams) Understanding of REST APIs and HTTP basics Basic knowledge of Git (branching, merging, pull requests) Familiarity with GitHub workflows Understanding of basic software engineering principles Technical Skills (Desirable) Some exposure to Java frameworks such as Spring Boot (e.g. through university projects or personal learning) A basic understanding of how code is built, tested, and deployed (CI/CD concepts) Awareness of containerisation or cloud platforms, such as Docker or AWS Experience writing basic unit tests and understanding why testing matters (e.g. JUnit, Mockito) Familiarity with databases, either relational (SQL) or NoSQL, and how applications interact with them We're looking for somebody with: A 2:1 degree or above in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline - Equivalent practical experience will also be considered (e.g., strong portfolio, internships, open-source contributions) A strong academic foundation in data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming Is driven to achieve positive outcomes for themselves and their team Is ambitious and wants to grow and develop themselves Has a growth mindset to continually improve whilst remaining remain humble Is a team player who works well with others to achieve outcomes Is intrinsically motivated to do the best for themselves and their team Is proactive and continually seeks to support/ help/ own/ deliver, regularly putting their hand-up to drive things forward Please note we only accept one application per recruitment cycle for our Graduate roles. Please consider all placement positions before applying as your first application will be considered your only application. We recruit on a rolling basis and expect this vacancy to close before the deadline. To be in with the best chance of securing a role, please submit your application ASAP. #FutureTalent #FTGraduates Additional Information Whatever your role, we reward ability, performance and attitude with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Your hard work will be rewarded when you join us. At L&G, we believe it's possible to generate positive returns today while helping to build a better future for all. If you join us, you'll be part of a welcoming, inclusive culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views, and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel. We care passionately about outcomes rather than attendance and are therefore open to discussing all kinds of flexible working options including part-time, term-time and job shares. Although some roles have limited flexibility due to customer demand, we accommodate requests when we can. It doesn't matter if you don't meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead, think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths, potential and connection to our purpose. Permanent/Regular or Fixed Term Contract/Temporary: Permanent (UK and ROW) / Regular (US) L&G Business Unit: Legal & General Retail L&G sub Business Unit: WORKPLACE Primary Location: London, One Coleman Street Job Family: IT & Change