ION Group
Graduate Software Developer, 2026 Leadership Development Program, Woking
Be an Early Applicant
As a Software Developer in the Leadership Development Program, you will partake in agile product development, analyze business requirements, and architect innovative financial solutions for global customers.
Our Company
ION is the world’s most progressive FinTech company providing pioneering software and consultancy services to customers around the globe. We serve large financial institutions, trading firms, central banks, and corporations. We are committed to automating processes that positively impact our customer’s work and provide insights to enable more informed decision making. We provide software and data to our customers to simplify complex processes and digitize their businesses. Our products and services help the world's leading organizations do more, in a better and simpler way, than ever before.
ION software underpins the global fixed income, foreign exchange, and derivatives markets, powers the world’s central banks, and enables the automation of workflows across critical treasury and commodities operations for thousands of companies worldwide. ION data and analytics are the golden source for M&A, equity, and leverage finance bankers worldwide. With a dynamic team of 12,000+ employees, 40+ global offices, and 5,000+ customers worldwide, ION provides an unparalleled career experience for those who share our passion for growth and technology evolution.
ION Group consists of the following divisions:
• ION Analytics: Provider of investment banking M&A, equity and debt data, analytics, and content.
• ION Corporates: Provider for the digital corporation, enabling automation of workflows across critical treasury and commodities operations.
• ION Markets: Provider of trading automation, analytics, and infrastructure to the global financial markets.
• ION Core Banking: Provider of core banking and financial software for financial institutions in Italy and internationally.
• ION InsightScore: Provider of credit information and credit management in Italy.
• ION Risk Metrics: Provider of credit servicing and asset management in Italy.
Our Programme
Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a foundational global initiative focused on developing talent for ION’s growing operations around the world. The program provides an opportunity for outstanding university graduates to start a career in a dynamic and fast paced global FinTech firm.
Analysts will spend the first 3 years of their career in 3 unique, 12-month rotations gaining experience across the product lifecycle. At the end of their 3 rotations analysts will transition to a deeper dive in one area of ION.
What you'll do
In the role of Software Developer, you will develop products for our global customers including Tier 1 banks and Fortune 100 corporations. You will be part of an Agile team, who is responsible for end-to-end product development, including:
• Analyzing business requirements and product solutioning.
• Architecture and designs using the latest principles and patterns in software engineering.
• Coding, testing, and continuous integration of solutions using the latest and upcoming technologies.
Your Contribution
• Build innovative products and solutions that:
o Reduce business process complexity.
o Increase organizational efficiency through automation.
o Liberate people from performing repetitive manual tasks.
o Help ION’s clients gain a competitive advantage by using our products.
• Resolve complex technical and business issues and communicate effectively to Internal teams and ION clients.
• Automate complex business workflows and processes and make a positive impact to client businesses.
Basic Qualifications
• 2026 graduation.
• 2:1 or above.
• Bachelor’s, or Master’s, in Computer Science or related STEM disciplines, such as Data Science, or Quantitative Finance, with experience in hands-on programming required.
• Authorization to work in selected country without restriction or need for sponsorship.
• Demonstrated interest in finance and/or technology, ideally including work experience.
• Passion for learning, self-improvement, and a questioning and challenging mindset.
• Motivated self-starter who is proactive, enthusiastic, and passionate about what they do.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities and the desire to understand the “why” behind each problem.
How you'll grow
Our 36-month Leadership Development Program (LDP) allows you to rotate through different areas of the product lifecycle. You will work closely with ION product teams, and clients, and grow, gaining:
• Deep knowledge in:
o Diverse set of technologies, development methodologies, and processes required to build complex mission-critical systems using distributed architectures.
o Financial domain to build world class products.
o E2E Software Product Development Lifecycle.
• A mastery of foundational technologies, keeping on top of constant technological evolution through your work with subject matter experts.
• Personality traits in an Imaginative and Positive culture:
o Passionate.
o Expressive.
o Intelligent.
• Exposure to:
o Product Management.
o Client Services.
o Support.
o Deployment.
Application process & deadline
Applications for 2026 open 17 November 2025.
Applicants that submit successful online applications will be required to complete an assessment within 4 days of receiving the test link.
Successful applicants will subsequently be invited to a video interview.
The final part of the process is an assessment day at our London office, consisting of interviews, a case study and a group exercise.
We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply as soon as you are ready because initial video interviews can occur prior to the application period closing.
We aim to notify you of your application status approximately one month after we receive your application.
Application deadline is 25 January 2026.
Final assessment day will be in early March 2026, date to be confirmed.
Top Skills
Agile Methodology
Programming
Software Engineering
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