About the Company & Graduate Programme
The BBC is the world’s leading public service broadcaster, but behind the scenes, we are a digital-first technology powerhouse. Our Digital & Platform Engineering teams power the experiences for millions of users daily, from BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds to our extensive data infrastructure. As an organisation, we are committed to informing, educating, and entertaining the nation, and our technology is the engine that allows us to do this at scale across the globe.
Our Graduate Programme is designed to nurture the next generation of technical talent. We recognise that the media landscape is shifting rapidly, and we need forward-thinking engineers to lead this evolution. You will join a cohort of brilliant, curious minds who are passionate about open-source technologies, cloud infrastructure, and building robust, accessible software. This intake is pivotal as we transition toward a fully cloud-native, personalised content delivery model, giving you the opportunity to contribute to projects that literally shape the future of broadcasting.
What You'll Do & Key Responsibilities
- Participate in four 6-month rotational placements across diverse technical teams including Live Streaming, Data Insights, Personalisation, and Cloud Infrastructure.
- Write clean, maintainable, and test-driven code using modern languages such as Java, Python, Go, or JavaScript/TypeScript.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams of designers, product managers, and senior engineers to deliver user-centric features.
- Engage in the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from initial architectural discovery to continuous deployment (CI/CD) on AWS.
- Contribute to the maintenance and scaling of high-traffic APIs serving millions of concurrent users during live events.
- Participate in daily stand-ups, code reviews, and architectural deep-dives to foster continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
- Work with data engineering pipelines to improve search algorithms and content recommendation engines.
- Engage with senior stakeholders to translate complex business requirements into elegant technical solutions.
Who We Are Looking For & Candidate Eligibility
- A minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related STEM discipline (or equivalent experience).
- A genuine passion for technology, digital media, and the public service mission of the BBC.
- Proficiency in at least one modern programming language and a strong grasp of fundamental computer science concepts (data structures, algorithms).
- Excellent collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively within agile, diverse team structures.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a natural curiosity to investigate new technologies and methodologies.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Must have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship restrictions (or eligibility under the Graduate Route visa).
Graduate Training, Rotations & Mentorship
The programme spans 24 months of intensive learning and professional development. We provide a structured environment where you are encouraged to rotate across different departments, allowing you to find your niche whether it be in front-end development, site reliability engineering, or data science. Throughout this journey, you will have access to a wealth of internal training modules, workshops, and budget for external certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Kubernetes certifications).
Beyond formal training, we believe in the power of mentorship. Upon joining, you will be assigned a dedicated 'Buddy' from a previous graduate intake to help you settle in, and a senior engineering mentor who will provide long-term career guidance and technical support. You will be part of a supportive, inclusive community that celebrates different perspectives and encourages you to take ownership of your professional growth from day one.
Salary, Bonus & Benefits Package
- Starting base salary of £36,500 per annum, with reviews based on progression.
- Annual performance-based bonus scheme.
- Highly competitive pension scheme with generous employer contribution match.
- 26 days of annual leave, plus public holidays and an option to buy/sell additional leave.
- Private healthcare coverage and comprehensive mental health and wellbeing support programmes.
- Hybrid working allowance to support your home office setup.
- Relocation assistance for graduates moving to London for the programme.
- Cycle-to-work scheme and access to the BBC Club for social activities.
Recruitment Stages & How to Apply
- Online Application: Submit your CV and a cover letter detailing why you want to work at the BBC.
- Gamified Cognitive & Situational Judgement Tests: Assessing your logic, numerical reasoning, and cultural alignment.
- On-Demand Video Interview: A chance to tell us about your motivations and problem-solving approach.
- Virtual Assessment Centre: Participate in a technical case study, group exercise, and interview with senior engineers. We operate on a rolling basis and vacancies fill up quickly; we strongly encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible to ensure full consideration.