01 · Public sector
Letting analysts search data themselves
Cloud platforms on AWS that let analysts shape and search large volumes of operational data on their own, instead of waiting for bespoke engineering.
What you’d touch
Graduate Software Engineer · September 2027
Build software that matters.
Help build the systems the UK public sector relies on, in defence, policing, justice and national security. You’ll train in our own engineering academy on real AWS environments, then join a close-knit team that will help you grow.
- Salary
- £35,000
- Starts
- September 2027
- Where
- Cheltenham & London
- Closes
- Dec 2026
In 30 seconds
What you will do.
Training, real client work and a senior engineer supporting you the whole way through.
01
Tech Academy
Modules in Java, AWS, containers, AI and consulting, taught through lessons and hands-on labs in real environments.
Your first months02
Client simulations
Two client simulations. Take over a GOV.UK service, then build a secure system from nothing.
Within the Academy03
Client work
Join an AE team on a public sector engagement, with a senior engineer looking out for you.
As clearance allows04
Keep growing
An AWS certification path and a published career ladder from L1 to L5.
Ongoing
Why Austin Elliot
Three ways we will build your career.
Work that matters
Your work helps serve the country, makes life better for the public and keeps people safe.
- Data platforms analysts use every day
- Safe information sharing between organisations
- Public services built to GOV.UK standards
Real training
You learn by building and running real systems on AWS, in a team, for a client.
- Labs in real AWS environments
- Two full delivery simulations
- Paid AWS certifications
A team you can shape
A close-knit team where every voice is heard, and where graduates help shape how we work.
- A named senior engineer for you
- Regular 1:1s
- A published L1 to L5 career ladder
Who we’re looking for
You don’t need to know it all.
We want people who can learn to engineer software well and want their work to matter. Computer science, engineering, maths and physics graduates, yes. Also graduates in any STEM subject who code in their own time, career changers, and bootcamp or apprenticeship graduates with a degree.
You need
- 01A 2:1 or above, achieved or expected by 2027, in a subject such as computer science, engineering, maths or physics, or another STEM subject plus code you’ve written yourself
- 02To enjoy solving problems and explaining how you solved them
- 03To work well in a team and ask for help when you’re stuck
- 04To be a British national, able to get UK security clearance
How it works
Four stage process.
- 01
Application form
About 20 minutes. Upload your CV and answer two short questions. Open until December 2026.
- 02
Telephone interview
A relaxed call with one of our team about you, your interests and why AE. No trick questions.
- 03
Assessment centre and problem-solving day
A day with us: work through problems with other candidates, talk an engineer through something you built and meet the team. Friendly, not a grilling.
- 04
Decision
We tell you either way, with feedback. If it’s an offer, we then sponsor your security vetting.
The programme
Train first, then deliver.
You’ll start in STAc, the Secure Technical Academy: our own engineering academy. You build and run real systems on AWS, in a team, for a client who behaves like a real one.
- 7 MODULESJava to AI
- 2 SIMULATIONSReal client conditions
- THENClient delivery
01 · The Academy
Lessons and labs.
STAc runs across seven modules, from Java and AWS through containers, AI and consulting to two full client simulations. You learn through lessons from engineers who do this for a living, and hands-on labs in real environments.
LESSONS
Lessons
Engineers who do this for a living explain the ideas, show them working and answer your questions. Small groups, plenty of time to ask.
LABS
Labs
You build it yourself in a real environment. Things break. You find out why, fix them and talk through what you learned.
The seven modules
- M01Java and object-oriented programming
- M02AWS
- M03Containers and orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift, Helm and Argo CD
- M04AI
- M05Consulting
- M06Simulation: Child Arrangements Plan
- M07Simulation: Project Lazarus
Modules 06 and 07 · Client simulations
Two client simulations.
You learn how agile teams plan, build, release and improve, then you do it for real: sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives and release approvals, with a client who asks hard questions.
SIMULATION 01
Child Arrangements Plan
Your team takes over a real, open-source GOV.UK service published by the Ministry of Justice. You fix problems its users hit, add a question in English and Welsh, and release through development, staging and production.
SIMULATION 02
Project Lazarus
Build a secure system from nothing for a fictional national security client: an intake form, a second-person approval, and a signed, one-way transfer into a protected AWS environment, with tests that prove it is safe.
03 · Client delivery
Joining a client team.
You’ll join AE teams on public sector engagements, supported by a senior engineer, as your clearance and the work allow. You’ll release software to production in your first months, with a team, and with someone checking your work.
- A senior engineer beside youSomeone who reviews your work and helps you get unstuck.
- Regular 1:1sTime to talk about how it’s going and what you want next.
- AWS certification pathPaid certifications from graduate to lead engineer level.
Your career
Career progression from L1 to L5.
Every level has written expectations, so you always know what progress looks like and how to get there. You join at L1.
- L1Graduate EngineerWhere you start.
- L2EngineerDelivering independently.
- L3Senior EngineerOwning larger pieces, mentoring others.
- L4Lead EngineerSetting technical direction.
- L5Principal EngineerShaping how we engineer.
What you get
Benefits.
- £35,000Reviewed as you progress up our published career ladder.
- £3,000 learning budget£3,000 a year to spend on your learning and development, plus paid AWS certifications.
- Work-life balanceA strong focus on it, with a flexible mix of in-person and remote work.
- 5% pensionWe contribute 5% to your pension.
- 28 days’ holidayTime to properly switch off.
- Social eventsTeam socials and a monthly engineers’ get-together.
The work
The work we do.
This is the kind of thing our engineers build. We don’t name clients here, but the problems are real and so is the code.
02 · Public sector
More than 27 analysis applications
A suite of analysis tools used by analysts every day, built in Python with purpose-built user interfaces and GitLab CI/CD.
What you’d touch
03 · Public sector
Sharing information safely
A data platform that lets several government organisations share information across their boundaries safely: more than ten live microservices in Java and React, being moved to AWS.
What you’d touch
04 · Justice
Public services for the Ministry of Justice
Digital services used by the public, built to GOV.UK standards so they work for everyone, first time.
What you’d touch
The stack
Our tech stack.
Modern tools, used properly.
- AWS
- Python
- Java
- TypeScript
- React
- AWS CDK
- GitHub
- GitLab CI/CD
- Linux
- Agile delivery
Who can apply?
You need a 2:1 or above, achieved or expected by summer 2027, in computer science, engineering, maths, physics or another STEM subject with code you’ve written yourself. Final-year students, recent graduates, career changers and part-time students are all welcome, as long as you’ve finished your degree by September 2027.
Do I need security clearance to apply?
No. You must be a British national, and we sponsor your vetting once you’ve accepted an offer. Clearance has UK residency requirements, but time abroad for study, family or service doesn’t always rule you out, so email us before you apply and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Where will I work, and is it hybrid?
Yes. We work a flexible mix of in-person and remote, based around Cheltenham and London, and we don’t mandate office days: it depends on what we’re doing. The Academy can be done remotely, and some client work needs you on site.
When does it start, and how many places are there?
September 2027. We’re taking a small cohort of around six graduates, so everyone gets proper support.
How do you assess applications?
We read your CV alongside two short written answers, and we weigh the answers most. One asks how you explain things to other people, the other how you’d handle a tricky moment with a client. We look for people who listen, read the room and can talk clearly about their work, because our engineers are consultants too. If you need an adjustment at any stage, tell us on the form or by email.
Privacy notice
How we use your application.
This notice explains what we do with the information you give us when you apply for the Graduate Software Engineer programme. Last updated November 2026.
Who we are
Austin Elliot (company number 11784166), 5 Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QB, is the data controller for your application. Our data protection contact is Ben Norton, Technical Partner, at info@austinelliot.co.uk.
What we collect
- Your name, email address and phone number.
- Your university, degree subject, expected or actual result and graduation year.
- Whether you’re a British national, have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last ten years.
- Your preferred location, any link to your code or projects, and how you heard about us.
- Your CV, your written answers and anything else you choose to include.
- Any adjustments you ask for, which may include information about your health or a disability.
- If you go further in the process, notes from your interviews and assessment day.
Why we use it, and our legal basis
- To assess your application and run the process. This is a step you’ve asked us to take before a possible contract of employment, and it is in our legitimate interests to recruit the right people.
- To check eligibility. We must confirm your right to work in the UK, and the security clearance this role needs requires British nationality and UK residency.
- To make adjustments. We use any health or disability information only to support you through the process, as employment law requires.
- To tell you about future opportunities, only if you tick the box on the form. You can withdraw that consent at any time.
We don’t make decisions about you by automated means alone. A person reads every application.
Who sees it
Only the people running this recruitment at Austin Elliot, and the engineers who interview you. We use service providers to run this website and deliver the emails that carry your application. They act only on our instructions. Some may process data outside the UK; where they do, it is protected by safeguards approved under UK law. We never sell your information.
If we make you an offer, security vetting is carried out by the government vetting authority, which will give you its own privacy information.
How long we keep it
If you’re not successful, we delete your application six months after this hiring round closes. If you join us, your application becomes part of your employee record. If you asked to hear about future opportunities, we keep your contact details until you ask us to stop, and for no longer than two years.
On your device
The form saves your progress in your browser so you can come back to it. That stays on your device and isn’t sent to us until you submit. Choosing “Start a new application” clears it. This site doesn’t use cookies.
Your rights
You can ask to see the information we hold about you, have it corrected or deleted, restrict or object to how we use it, or receive a copy to take elsewhere. Email info@austinelliot.co.uk and we’ll reply within one month.
If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your information, please tell us first. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Apply · Graduate Software Engineer, 2027
Your application.
About 20 minutes. You’ll upload your CV and answer two short questions. Your progress saves on this device as you go, so you can come back. Closes December 2026.
Thanks, there. Your application is in.
We’ve sent your application to our recruitment team. Here’s what happens next.
- 01We’ll read every application after the closing date.
- 02If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to a telephone interview by email.
- 03Need an adjustment, or want to change something? Email recruitment@austinelliot.co.uk.
Graduate Software Engineer, 2027
Apply now
Start your application.
About 20 minutes. Upload your CV and answer two short questions. Applications close December 2026.