Intermediate Software Engineer – Java, DevOps & AI

Description

We are looking for an Intermediate Java Developer to join our engineering team. This role is suited to a proficient engineer who can deliver high-quality software, take ownership of features, and contribute to continuous improvement within their squad.

You will work across Java development, DevOps practices, and emerging AI-driven approaches to support CDL’s products and platforms.

About CDL
CDL is one of the UK’s leading software development houses, employing over 600 people at its campus in Stockport. It has a consistent history in the high-volume retail insurance sector. CDL has spearheaded developments in the aggregator, web and telematics space, including connected home, enrichment and self-service solutions. As a result, the company’s robust and innovative technologies have enabled its customers to thrive in the highly competitive UK insurance marketplace.

We have built a collaborative and creative culture, leveraging AI-driven solutions to enhance our products, processes and decision-making. We pride ourselves on cultivating an inspiring working environment with our employees at the heart of our company.

In a nutshell we are the market leading software house in our industry, creating the software, websites & apps for the Insurance & Finance sector across the UK. If you were to go on a price comparison website, approximately 65% of the companies on there are our clients!

Why Join CDL

• Opportunity to work on enterprise-scale, cloud-native platforms
• Strong focus on engineering quality, automation, and modern practices
• Growing adoption of AI-supported development approaches
• Clear and transparent career progression framework
• Collaborative environment across squads and technology communities

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and maintain Java-based applications and services
• Deliver well-tested, secure and scalable solutions aligned to CDL standards
• Take ownership of features or components end-to-end
• Contribute to solution design and technical decisions
• Support and improve CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes
• Collaborate with Product and Platform teams
• Participate in team ceremonies and squad delivery
• Contribute to continuous improvement and adoption of AI tools

About You

Essential:

• Strong Java enterprise development experience
• Experience with APIs and microservices
• Understanding of software engineering principles and best practices
• Exposure to DevOps / CI-CD pipelines
• Experience working in an AI development environment

Desirable:

• Experience with AWS (compute, networking, or serverless services)
• Cloud-native development and distributed systems
• Docker / Kubernetes
• Infrastructure as Code
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools
• Awareness of secure coding practices, application security, and cloud security principles

What We’re Looking For

• Ability to deliver independently and take ownership
• A collaborative team player who contributes positively to squad outcomes
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and learning
• Interest in modern engineering practices (DevOps & AI)

Level Expectations (Engineer 3)

• Delivers independently with minimal supervision
• Owns features or components within the squad
• Contributes to technical improvements and best practices
• Supports and collaborates with other engineers

What You'll Get

Salary

The salary for the role of Intermediate Software Engineer pays up to £45,000p.a. providing a fantastic opportunity for career progression through CDL’s clearly defined career framework (https://progression.cdl.co.uk/).

Your growth and advancement within CDL are only limited by your own ambition and effort.

Benefits

🏠🏢 Hybrid Working (2 Days a Week in the office - SK4 2HD)
⏱️ Flexible working.
🌴 25 days holiday to start, increasing by 1 day per 1 year of service up to 30 days.
🏆 Top employer for 10th year running
🌱 Excellent training and development platform
🪜 Opportunities for career progression
💙 Health and Wellbeing Programme
☕ Virtual activities, lunch and learns, coffee mornings and meetups.
🛡️ Life and health assurance
⚡🚗 Electric Vehicle Scheme
🎖️ Established Recognition Award System
👶 Great Parental Benefits
🌍 Diversity and Inclusion network
💰 Pension scheme
🤝 Community projects and volunteer days
👥💸 Refer a friend bonus

Campus Benefits:
🅿️ On-site free parking
🏢 Open plan modern offices
🤫 Quiet Spaces are also available
🚌 Shuttle bus to and from the station
🍽️ Subsidised restaurant
🎮 Games room, pool & table-tennis tables and chill out zone
💻⚙️ Annual Hackathon & Deep Racer Events
🎉 Social activities, regular social events through our social group Xtra, including a summer BBQ, competitions, bowling, go-karting, football games, Winter party and much more!
💇♂️ Car wash, barber, yoga classes, boot camp and massage services all on site
🚲 Cycle to work scheme
🚿 Shower and dry rooms

Diversity and inclusion:
We’re on a journey to keep innovating, that means welcoming new ideas and ways of thinking.
CDL recognises that building a diverse workforce is critical to the success of our business. We strongly encourage applications from a diverse talent pool and welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility requirements and workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Recruitment Agency Notice:
CDL have a PSL in place, but haven't used them for over 3 years, therefore be advised that any unsolicited submission of candidate details - including but not limited to LinkedIn profiles, CVs, or resumes (whether redacted or unredacted) - will be considered freely given and unsolicited. As such, these submissions will not be subject to any fees, terms, or obligations on our part.

Only candidate profiles that have been formally discussed with and approved by our Talent Acquisition (TA) team prior to submission AND submitted by agencies on our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) operating under agreed terms are authorised to submit candidates. Any submissions from non-PSL agencies, or those made outside of agreed processes, will be deemed non-compliant and will not be eligible for any fees or consideration.
This Policy was last updated in April 2025, August 2026 The UKs biggest insurance retailers rely on CDLs trend setting solutions to drive success and growth. Our ambition and commitment has produced a track record of delivering exactly that. The result is a client base that includes some of the most profitable insurance operations in the UK.