Senior Software Development Engineer - Site Reliability Engineer at Capital One

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Software Development Engineer - Site Reliability Engineer
Company: Capital One
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps Engineer, System Administrator
Date Posted: 2025-07-03
Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 office days per week)

🚀 Role Summary

Key Responsibilities: Lead a team of engineers maintaining and improving critical back-end services, plan and implement SRE initiatives, optimize systems, and enhance observability.
Key Skills: Java, Springboot, API development, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, monitoring, and logging.
Key Technologies: AWS, Java, Springboot, Microservices, Container Orchestration, CI/CD, Jenkins, Maven/Gradle, API testing tools (Wiremock, Pact, Postman, Cucumber), OAuth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles, requiring a strong background in software development and a passion for understanding and improving complex systems.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Team Leadership: Technically lead a group of engineers responsible for maintaining and improving critical back-end services within the cloud.
SRE Initiatives: Plan and implement key SRE initiatives to optimize system efficiency, stability, and scalability.
Observability: Improve system observability through better monitoring and logging.
Collaboration: Work closely with peers to drive consistency and high standards across SRE and the wider engineering community.
Innovation: Contribute to technical innovation within your team and across your domain.
Agile Delivery: Deliver key pieces of intent from inception through to design and hands-on delivery, in collaboration with your SRE Manager.
Estimation & Planning: Estimate, scope, and plan your work within an agile environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience: 5-10 years of production-grade experience in developing and managing APIs using Java and Springboot.

Required Skills:

Java & Springboot development and API management
SOLID principles, SOA, HTTP, and REST
Container orchestration architectures (e.g., Kubernetes)
API testing tools (e.g., Wiremock, Pact, Postman, Cucumber)
API authentication and authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth)
Monitoring and logging tools for troubleshooting distributed systems
Infrastructure as code and CI/CD pipeline management (e.g., Jenkins)
Cloud environment development experience (e.g., AWS)
Back-end architectural and design patterns

Preferred Skills:

Scripting languages (e.g., Python, BASH)
Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles
Experience in a complex, regulated environment

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate your experience in developing and managing APIs using Java and Springboot.
Showcase your API testing skills and understanding of API authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Highlight your experience with monitoring and logging tools, and infrastructure as code.

Technical Documentation:

Provide code samples and explain your approach to API development, following best practices and design patterns.
Document your experience with container orchestration architectures and CI/CD pipelines.
Demonstrate your problem-solving skills and approach to system optimization and improvement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £75,000 - £100,000 per annum (based on market research for Senior Software Development Engineers in the UK)

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package
Hybrid working model (3 office days per week)
Inclusive work environment with various employee networks and support groups
Opportunities for learning and development, including broadening your knowledge of the cloud and scripting languages

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market research for Senior Software Development Engineers in the UK, with adjustments for cost of living in Nottingham.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Large (over 10,000 employees)

Founded: 1988

Team Structure:

The SRE team is responsible for maintaining and improving the reliability, performance, and scalability of Capital One's systems.
The team works closely with other engineering teams to maximize inner-sourcing opportunities and reduce waste.
The SRE Manager sets the vision and goals for the team, and the Senior Engineer leads the team in delivering those objectives.

Development Methodology:

Agile development methodologies, with a focus on continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous improvement.
Collaborative development practices, including code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge sharing.
Infrastructure as code and automated deployment pipelines.

Company Website: https://www.capitalone.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One is a large financial services company with a strong focus on technology and innovation. The company values diversity, inclusion, and collaboration, with various employee networks and support groups.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Software Development Engineer - Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

Reporting Structure: The Senior Engineer reports to the SRE Manager and leads a team of engineers responsible for maintaining and improving critical back-end services.

Technical Impact: The Senior Engineer plays a crucial role in shaping the reliability, performance, and scalability of Capital One's systems, driving consistency and high standards across SRE and the wider engineering community.

Growth Opportunities:

Lead technical initiatives and drive innovation within your team and across your domain.
Mentor and develop junior engineers within your team.
Transition into a technical leadership role, focusing on architecture and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth, including technical leadership, mentoring, and driving innovation within the SRE team and across the wider engineering community.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspace with multiple monitors and testing devices available.

Office Location(s): Nottingham, United Kingdom

Workspace Context:

Collaborative workspace with a focus on knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
Flexible working hours and maintenance windows to accommodate deployment and system management tasks.
Opportunities for remote work, with a hybrid working model (3 office days per week).

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's Nottingham office offers a modern, collaborative workspace with a focus on knowledge sharing and continuous learning. The hybrid working model provides flexibility for engineers to balance their work and personal lives.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Technical Assessment: Demonstrate your API development skills, understanding of back-end architectural patterns, and problem-solving abilities through a hands-on coding challenge.
System Design Discussion: Discuss your approach to system design, focusing on scalability, performance, and reliability.
Team Interaction: Collaborate with the SRE team to solve a real-world problem and demonstrate your communication and teamwork skills.
Final Evaluation: Present your technical impact and career aspirations to the hiring manager and team lead.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience in developing and managing APIs using Java and Springboot.
Showcase your API testing skills and understanding of API authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Demonstrate your experience with monitoring and logging tools, and infrastructure as code.
Explain your approach to system optimization and improvement, focusing on real-world examples.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your Java and Springboot development skills, focusing on API development and management.
Familiarize yourself with container orchestration architectures, API testing tools, and monitoring and logging tools.
Practice system design principles and prepare for a discussion on scalability, performance, and reliability.

ATS Keywords: Java, Springboot, API, SOLID Principles, SOA, HTTP, REST, Maven, Gradle, Microservices, Container Orchestration, API Testing, OAuth, Monitoring, Logging, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD, AWS, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Agile, SRE.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process focuses on assessing your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. The portfolio review and technical challenge preparation tips provide actionable insights to help you succeed in the application process.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Backend & Server Technologies:

Java, Springboot
Microservices architecture
Container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes)
API testing tools (e.g., Wiremock, Pact, Postman, Cucumber)
API authentication and authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth)
Monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, ELK Stack)
Infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins)

Development & DevOps Tools:

Version control systems (e.g., Git)
Scripting languages (e.g., Python, BASH)
Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS)
Container orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes)
CI/CD pipeline tools (e.g., Jenkins)
Infrastructure as code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
Monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, ELK Stack)

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role focuses on Java and Springboot development, microservices architecture, container orchestration, and API management. The tools used for infrastructure as code, CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring and logging are essential for maintaining and improving the reliability, performance, and scalability of Capital One's systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Reliability: Ensure the systems and services are highly available, scalable, and resilient.
Performance: Optimize system performance and efficiency through automation and optimization.
Collaboration: Work closely with other engineering teams to maximize inner-sourcing opportunities and reduce waste.
Innovation: Drive technical innovation within your team and across your domain.
Quality: Maintain high standards for code quality, testing, and documentation.

Collaboration Style:

Knowledge Sharing: Encourage knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the team and across the wider engineering community.
Peer Programming: Collaborate with other engineers to review code, share knowledge, and improve the overall quality of the systems.
Technical Mentoring: Mentor junior engineers within your team to help them develop their skills and advance their careers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The SRE team at Capital One values reliability, performance, collaboration, innovation, and quality. The team encourages knowledge sharing, peer programming, and technical mentoring to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

System Optimization: Identify opportunities to reduce operational overheads through better observability and service automation.
Scalability: Design and implement scalable solutions to accommodate growing user bases and data volumes.
Performance: Optimize system performance and efficiency through automation and optimization techniques.
Resilience: Ensure the systems and services are highly available, scalable, and resilient in the face of failures and unexpected events.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Broaden your knowledge of the cloud (specifically AWS), scripting languages (e.g., Python, BASH), and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles.
Conference Attendance & Certification: Attend industry conferences, obtain relevant certifications, and engage with the technical community to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.
Technical Mentoring: Mentor junior engineers within your team and contribute to their professional development and growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical challenges for this role focus on system optimization, scalability, performance, and resilience. The learning and development opportunities provide actionable insights for technical skill development, conference attendance, and technical mentoring.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

API Development: Demonstrate your API development skills, focusing on Java and Springboot, and explain your approach to API design, implementation, and testing.
System Design: Discuss your approach to system design, focusing on scalability, performance, and reliability. Provide real-world examples of your experience with system design and optimization.
Problem Solving: Solve technical problems related to API development, system design, and optimization, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and approach to troubleshooting and debugging.

Company & Culture Questions:

Team Dynamics: Explain your approach to teamwork, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within the SRE team and across the wider engineering community.
Innovation: Describe your experience with driving technical innovation within your team and across your domain, focusing on real-world examples and their impact on the business.
User Experience: Discuss your understanding of user experience and its impact on the design and implementation of APIs and systems.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Demonstration: Present your API development and testing skills through a live demonstration, showcasing your ability to develop, deploy, and manage APIs using Java and Springboot.
Code Walkthrough: Walk through your code, explaining your approach to API design, implementation, and testing, and highlighting your understanding of back-end architectural patterns.
System Design & Optimization: Present your approach to system design and optimization, focusing on real-world examples and their impact on system performance, scalability, and resilience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation tips focus on assessing your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. The portfolio presentation strategy provides actionable insights for showcasing your API development, system design, and optimization skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Software Development Engineer - Site Reliability Engineer position at Capital One:

Tailor Your Portfolio: Highlight your experience in developing and managing APIs using Java and Springboot, API testing, and system optimization and improvement.
Optimize Your Resume: Emphasize your relevant technical skills, experience, and achievements, focusing on API development, system design, and optimization.
Prepare for the Technical Assessment: Brush up on your Java and Springboot development skills, API testing tools, and monitoring and logging tools. Practice system design principles and prepare for a discussion on scalability, performance, and reliability.
Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Capital One's company culture, values, and technical stack. Understand the role of the SRE team within the wider engineering community and the company as a whole.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Senior Software Development Engineer - Site Reliability Engineer