Softwire
Consultant Software Engineer – Career Switchers and Returners 2027 Overview
| Company Name | Softwire |
| Job Role | Consultant Software Engineer – Career Switchers and Returners 2027 |
| Qualifications | Bachelor’s |
| Category | IT Jobs |
| Job Type | Full Time |
| Location | Rest of UK |
This role is designed for people who are switching into software engineering from another career, or returning to software work after a break. It combines hands-on engineering with client-facing advisory work, so you would be helping organisations solve real business problems while also developing into a strong technical professional. The role sits within the software engineering department and is based in London, Cambridge, or Manchester.
The position starts at £45,000, with an average profit share of between £2,250 and £3,000. The company expects to run intakes in March, June, September, and November 2027.
What the role involves
- Working as a technical partner to clients, using software engineering expertise and domain understanding to help them improve how their businesses operate.
- Supporting customers with complex challenges and contributing to work that has a meaningful impact on people, organisations, and society.
- Taking part in a structured induction that builds the foundations needed to work as a professional digital engineer, including coding, source control, modern technology stacks, and related practices.
- Joining a small team of new starters during induction to build a piece of software, often for a not-for-profit organisation or for internal use at Softwire.
- Learning how to deliver software to commercial standards with guidance from experienced engineers.
- Training in AI-assisted development, including how to review, improve, and supervise code produced with AI tools so that the focus shifts from routine coding to higher-level engineering judgement.
- Moving onto client projects after the initial training period, usually working from the office and sometimes from a customer site.
- Receiving close support from colleagues and subject-matter experts, with regular peer review to help your skills develop quickly.
- Continuing to attend an in-house training programme alongside project work, broadening your knowledge of system design, development approaches, and additional technologies.
- Advising clients on the best course of action using your growing technical and domain knowledge, rather than only carrying out assigned tasks.
- Developing toward a range of future paths after the first year or so, including project delivery leadership, technology team leadership, consulting, design, data science, and artificial intelligence specialisms.
Training and development
The first stage of the programme is a full-time induction lasting the opening weeks of employment, supported by a dedicated mentor. This introduces you to Softwire and to the main technologies used in the business. After that, you move straight into practical team-based work on a real project, either internally or for a client, while continuing to learn through part-time off-project training for a further period. The company also says that all new developers receive ongoing review and support from experienced colleagues, and that there is an optional Level 4 apprenticeship route for those who want to continue with a formal learning programme.
Softwire also explains that its broader training for this role includes a six-week in-house course spread across 12 months, covering key areas of professional software engineering such as system design, development methodologies, and additional technologies. The company emphasises that the role is not just about writing code, but about learning to think at a higher level, work effectively with clients, and use AI in a high-quality way.
Who they are looking for
- People who are motivated by building things that make a real difference to businesses, individuals, and society.
- Candidates with a genuine interest in coding; prior experience is useful and any background in programming is welcomed.
- Applicants who enjoy working with customers and are excited by the challenge of understanding their problems and helping solve them.
- People who are comfortable entering new environments and quickly building trust with new clients.
- Strong communicators who can explain technical ideas clearly to audiences with different levels of digital knowledge.
- Team players with a positive, can-do attitude who are happy to help colleagues and contribute to collective success.
- People who are proactive about self-improvement and helping others improve too.
- Individuals with very strong logical reasoning and analytical ability.
The company says it is open to beginners, but it does expect applicants to have some coding experience before they take the assessment process. It suggests around 25 hours of coding practice as a minimum starting point, with more experience improving your chances. A degree is not required if you are already a proficient programmer.
Working arrangements
This is not a remote role. You are expected to work from the office or from a customer site at least three days each week, and during the first one to two years the expectation is typically four to five days per week in person. After that, there is more flexibility, and many employees still work in the office three or more days per week on average. The company says it can sometimes accommodate short periods of fully remote working or other flexible arrangements, for example where caring responsibilities are involved, but it cannot guarantee that remote working will always be possible because some projects and activities require office attendance.
The role is full-time. Employees are contracted for at least 37.5 hours per week, and most people do not regularly work much more than 40 hours. Core hours are required so that teams can overlap, and these are usually 10am to 4pm, although they may vary by team.
Benefits and culture
- Competitive starting pay of £45,000.
- Average profit share of £2,250 to £3,000.
- 25 days of annual leave, with the option to buy or sell days, plus charity days.
- Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
- Regular recognition as one of the best places to work in the UK.
- A dedicated budget for staff events and entertainment, including an annual company holiday abroad.
- Modern offices, a free on-site gym, and a subsidised restaurant in London.
- A diverse and inclusive workplace.
- A relaxed, informal environment with little bureaucracy.
- Strong support for learning, mentoring, and career progression.
Softwire describes itself as a company focused on solving customer business problems through technology, often by tackling complex issues creatively and intelligently. It highlights work on projects such as the Moorfields Eye Hospital and DeepMind collaboration, the BBC Live Events websites, and long-term digital work for David Lloyd Leisure. The company also says it invests heavily in a supportive and inclusive culture, with staff helping decide how social budgets are spent.
Application process
Applications must be made through the careers pages rather than by email. The company says it aims to respond within two working days at each stage of the process, except possibly after the final group assessment when a decision may take longer. Interview times can be selected by candidates through an online booking system, and all interviews except the final one are conducted remotely. The final stage is an in-person group assessment day held at the companyâs offices.
- Submit the application form.
- Complete online tests, which usually take around two hours.
- Attend a 30-minute non-technical interview.
- Attend a 90-minute technical interview.
- Attend a 45-minute soft-skills interview.
- Take part in a final group interview day at the offices.
The company recommends plenty of coding practice before the tests, including hobby projects, academic projects, or any other hands-on programming. It uses CodeSignal for the coding assessment and suggests practising there, as well as on platforms such as HackerRank and LeetCode.
Visa sponsorship
For permanent roles, Softwire says it offers visa sponsorship for non-UK nationals and covers the application costs for a Skilled Worker visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Additional notes
Softwire expects to hire around 50 entry-level consultant software engineers in 2027 and says it will not be taking apprentices or interns that year. It also notes that there are no short-term or temporary placements available at present, and that all software development roles are full-time. If you are a career switcher or returner, this is the role to apply for; otherwise, the company directs applicants to its Consultant Graduate Software Engineer role.
Degree Requirement: Bachelor’s
Visa Sponsorship May be
To apply for this job please visit www.softwire.com.
