Associate Software Engineer

Job title: Associate Software Engineer

Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis.

Salary: Up to £35,000 plus an excellent benefits package

Location: Warminster, hybrid with 3 days in the office a week with flexible hours

Help shape the future of software delivery at Zurich Nova

Originally founded in 2023 as a high-tech AI start-up, we were recently acquired by Zurich with a clear mission: keep the best parts of start-up culture alive within an arm’s-length team focused on transformation and innovation, which culminated in the creation of Zurich Nova.

We sit at the cutting edge of AI. When you come in each morning, you can expect someone to already be talking about a new model released overnight, a breakthrough paper from the previous evening, or a fresh way to apply AI to real operational challenges. Staying on top of the latest developments isn’t a nice-to-have it’s how we work.

Our team brings together a wealth of experience in artificial intelligence, enterprise technology, cloud infrastructure and process optimisation. We’re here to bridge the gap between rapid AI innovation and practical business outcomes, turning new capabilities into solutions that genuinely improve efficiency, productivity and operational performance.

To make that possible, we protect time for research and experimentation. Everyone in the team has guaranteed space for R&D projects including exploring new models, testing emerging tools and working together to discover better ways of doing things. We’re building intuitive, often no-code solutions that can be adopted quickly but are powered by genuinely advanced AI techniques such as Reinforcement Learning, Generative AI and collaborative AI agents.

Today, Zurich Nova as Zurich’s high-tech AI venture, we’re helping shape the future of AI-driven process optimisation across the organisation. Joining this team means becoming part of an ongoing journey where curiosity, innovation and ambition are not just encouraged, but expected and where pushing the boundaries of what’s possible is part of the job description.

The opportunity

This role sits in Zurich Nova within Life, Health and Bank Distribution a growing part of Zurich, focused on using AI to create a more revolutionary approach to software delivery. You will work with emerging technologies, language models and engineering platforms, helping to translate ideas into real-world software solutions. This will require more than technical ability. It will require judgement, patience, resilience, emotional intelligence and the ability to communicate clearly with both humans and AI systems.

What you’ll be doing

• Collaborate with technical and non-technical colleagues to solve real business problems.
• Build, test and improve AI-enabled software solutions. 
• Work across layers of engineering, from product concept through to technical implementation. 
• Use prompting, model interaction and software engineering skills to shape better outcomes. 
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, practical language. 
• Help design new ways of working that use AI to improve software delivery. 
• Explore how emerging technologies can be applied safely, effectively and commercially. 
• Challenge assumptions and improve existing interfaces, workflows and systems. 
• Bring a maker mindset, i.e. someone who enjoys building, refining and understanding how things fit together. 
• Stay curious about the deeper layers of technology, including models, data, infrastructure and software architecture.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical foundations with curiosity, resilience and emotional intelligence. An exceptional builder and problem-solver to join a team working at the edge of AI-enabled software delivery. This is not a role for someone who simply wants to write code, move on and climb the next ladder. We are looking for someone who cares deeply about the product, the craft and the impact of what they are building.

What matters most is that you have a strong foundation in engineering discipline, a curious mindset and a genuine appetite to understand how things work at a deeper level.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Have a background in software engineering, computer science, physics, engineering, data science or a related discipline.
• Have achieved meaningful outcomes in engineering, coding, software delivery or technical product development.
• Understand the principles of good engineering and can explain technical concepts clearly.
• Are naturally curious and enjoy working out how systems, products and technologies fit together.
• Have a genuine interest in AI, emerging technology, software delivery and product development.
• Are articulate, thoughtful and able to communicate complex ideas in simple terms.
• Enjoy building things whether that is software, systems, products or physical projects.
• Are resilient and comfortable with ambiguity, experimentation and iteration.
• Have the emotional intelligence to work patiently with AI tools, prompts, models and people.
• Can handle challenge, feedback and setbacks without becoming overly frustrated.
• Care about the quality and usefulness of what you build, not just the technical solution.
• Have ambition, but are motivated by mastery, impact and contribution rather than title progression alone.
  
  

The mindset we value

We're less interested in ticking every box today and more interested in finding someone with the curiosity, attitude and potential to grow. The people who thrive in this team tend to share the following qualities:

• A creator at heart – you enjoy building, experimenting and continuously improving the things around you.
• Naturally curious – you're driven to understand how technology works beneath the surface and aren't afraid to ask questions.
• Resilient and adaptable – you embrace challenges, learn from setbacks and stay focused when navigating uncertainty.
• A clear communicator – you can explain complex ideas in a way that is engaging, practical and easy to understand.
• Empathetic – you recognise the human side of technology and value collaboration, inclusion and user experience.
• Outcome-focused – you care about delivering meaningful results and creating solutions that make a difference.
• Committed to growth – you're excited by emerging technologies and motivated to keep learning, developing and expanding your expertise.
  
  

What we are not looking for:

We're not looking for someone who simply points out why something won't work. We're looking for someone who can identify challenges, communicate them clearly and help shape practical solutions.

You'll be naturally curious, collaborative and motivated by making things better. Rather than being tied to a single technology or discipline, you'll enjoy learning, experimenting and adapting as technology evolves.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who wants to make a genuine impact, continuously develop your skills and grow through the value you create for others. 

Our culture:

Our culture here at Zurich Nova is different. We believe working together makes us stronger.

Our offices are based in Warminster and we meet a minimum of three days a week in the office. We don’t watch the clock, as we know some of the best coders work to the hours that suit them.

We do, however, respect the value of collaboration and working together, whether that's solving a problem, taking some time to go for a hike, or being creative in something completely different. We are investing in a maker space where team members can learn new skills.

Assessment approach

This role suits a genuine maker: someone who is curious, resilient and articulate. Language, and how you use it, is key to how you interact with AI. The first stage of the process will be assessing these skills. If successful, you will then have a telephone screen with one of our recruiters.

Following this step, you will meet the team on site for an interview and complete a practical or work-based exercise. This could include reviewing an interface, explaining how you would improve a system, or describing how you would guide an AI tool to solve a problem. This is designed to understand how you think, communicate, solve problems and engage with emerging technology, not just what you know technically.

If successful, we are looking at a September start date, where you will undergo three months of intensive onboarding, coaching and training.

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