Consultant Software Engineer - Career Switchers and Returners 2027

About the Position

Consultant Software Engineer - Career Switchers and Returners 2027

This role is for career switchers or returners looking to blend high-level software engineering with strategic client advisory. Our consultant engineers act as technical partners to our clients, helping them transform their businesses through domain expertise and, increasingly, AI-driven solutions.

As a consultant engineer at Softwire, you’ll be part of a bright, inclusive, supportive team. You will work directly with our customers to solve some of their biggest challenges, making a genuine difference to people’s lives, businesses and society along the way.

Interspersed with the project work, you’ll benefit from structured training that equips you for a long and fulfilling career in the digital world.

Working here, your opportunities are virtually limitless, with a wide variety of career paths open to you, both technical and non-technical. Both our current and our previous managing directors are alumni of our entry level programme.

Key Facts at-a-glance

• Locations: London, Cambridge, and Manchester. This is a non-remote role which requires you to be in the office or on customer site a minimum of three days per week, sometimes up to five days per week.
• Salary: £45,000 with an average of between £2,250 - £3,000 in profit share.
• Start dates: We are anticipating intakes in September and November 2027 with the possibility of earlier start dates which will be confirmed in due course.
• Who can apply: anyone making a career switch into software engineering, or returning to work in software after a career break.
• When can I apply: Applications are now open.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers to solve their biggest challenges.
• Act as a technical partner to clients, providing domain expertise and AI-driven solutions.
• Develop commercial-grade software under the guidance of experienced engineers.
• Advise clients on the best course of action using your domain knowledge.
• Oversee and refine AI-generated code.

Requirements

• A passion for solving real-world challenges.
• A consultancy mindset.
• A positive, can-do team player.
• Extreme STEM skills.

We Offer

• Starting salary of £45,000.
• Generous compensation packages.
• 25 days annual holiday with the option to buy or sell, plus charity days.
• Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption pay.
• Consistently one of the best places to work in the UK*.
• Dedicated budget for staff activities and entertainment + annual company holiday abroad.
• Great offices, plus free on-site gym and subsidized restaurant in London.
• A workplace that promotes diversity and inclusivity.

About the Company

Our mission is to solve our customers’ business challenges using technology. This often demands creativity, tackling complex issues in intelligent ways, to help organisations streamline operations and better serve their customers and users.

We played an important role in the Moorfields Eye Hospital/DeepMind collaboration, which demonstrated how artificial intelligence could help doctors fast-track patients with serious eye diseases. We built the system that runs the BBC Live Events websites, sharing content from Glastonbury, the Reading and Leeds festivals, and the BBC Proms. We’ve been the long-term digital partner for David Lloyd Leisure, building its mobile app, booking system and numerous other capabilities. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Find out what else we’ve been involved with.

Of course, there’s more to Softwire than building software. We’re working hard to nurture a diverse, inclusive and supportive culture, where people love what they do and feel inspired by working with some of the best minds in the business. We also have a generous budget for a varied programme of staff events and activities, with employees, not management, deciding how the money is spent.

We believe we’re the best company in the UK to work for and we have awards and review scores to prove it. Check us out on Glassdoor or Best Companies.

Learn more about our core values, and discover some of our company culture initiatives on our insights page.

Application Process and Start Dates

We know how much effort you put into your application, so we always aim to get back to you within two working days at each stage. And if you are asked to interviews, you can choose your own timeslots, using our online booking system. Interviews are conducted remotely with the exception of the final interview which is an in-person group assessment day.

We typically offer various start dates in the spring and autumn and allocate places to successful applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend applying early to secure your preferred start date.