The Acorn Group

We're looking for a highly skilled Senior Database Developer to join our dynamic Database team. This opportunity offers the chance to be be part of a forward-thinking team where their expertise will directly impact our data strategy and business success. We value innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The key part of this role is to support our strategic data goals, ensuring system resilience and performance, and building secure, scalable database architectures. Job Title: Senior Database Developer Location: Liverpool City Centre on a hybrid working basis Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm What you will be doing: Design and maintain robust database solutions across Azure VM and cloud environments Develop and support MI and DWH systems using Azure Synapse/Sharedo and related tools Enforce best practices in SQL development and source control Ensure data security, access control, and audit compliance Collaborate across departments to deliver and support production systems What we are looking for: Strong expertise in SQL Server Management Studio, SSIS, Azure Data Factory, Visual Studio Solid experience with DWH, SSRS, Power BI, Git repositories Proven ability to manage secure, high-performance database environments Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills A passion for continuous learning and innovation Why Join Us? Modern tech stack and a strong culture of engineering excellence Career progression into senior leadership or architecture Supportive environment with clear standards and plenty of opportunity to innovate About Acorn Insurance With over 40 years of experience, Acorn Insurance is a specialist provider dedicated to helping individuals secure motor insurance across the UK. We proudly serve more than 50,000 customers, ensuring they find policies that meet their needs and provide the peace of mind that comes with high-quality cover. At Acorn Insurance, we offer comprehensive training and continuous in-house coaching. You'll receive in-depth, FCA-regulated industry knowledge and all the tools necessary to grow your career with us. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels respected and valued. As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure our workplace is accessible and inclusive, encouraging our people to bring their best selves to work every day. The Acorn Group has been recognised as a Great Place to Work for 2024/5. Why Acorn Insurance? Acorn Insurance want to give you more than a job, we want to give you a purpose and a career. So, what can we offer you as an employer? Some of the "your tomorrow" benefits you will receive include: Enhanced Annual Leave entitlement starting at 31 days and potentially increasing to 35 days per year depending on grade & length of service (including bank holidays) Enhanced paternity pay and 16 weeks full maternity pay. Colleague Assistance programme offers a suite of wellbeing services such as: 6 Free Counselling sessions per year Unlimited access to a telephone councillor 24/7 Access to a free 4-week programme of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with a trained therapist mentor. Network of internal qualified mental health first aiders are available to provide support to colleagues. A core level of life assurance with the option to increase cover via salary sacrifice and add your spouse/partner Ability to access your earnings before payday via Dayforce Wallet. Refer a friend scheme with a £250 bonus for every colleague recommended on passing their probation period. Access to a flexible benefits platform including an annual flex pot allowance to spend on over 15 benefits of your choice. Ability to give back. You can opt into donating money to charity to climate positive organisations directly from your salary. Reward, Recognition and Culture: Long Service Award paid on 5,10- and 15-years' service A reward and recognition hub to celebrate and reward colleagues and peers. Consistent and engaging company events including company awards, competitions and charity fundraisers. Budgets for department leaders to use for social and engagement events. Visit our website to view more of our excellent work benefits! All roles are subject to DBS and Financial checks, any offer made will be conditional until checks are completed to a satisfactory standard. Due to the length of training and complexity of the role, we can only accept applications from candidates who have at least one year remaining on their (Graduate/ Post study work) visa. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorships. At Acorn, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. Whether it's modifying equipment, adjusting working hours, or providing additional support, we aim to ensure all employees can perform at their best. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know during the application or interview process, and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

Posted Thursday 16 October 2025 at 01:00 We're looking for a Backend Developer who's passionate about building reliable, high-performing systems and wants to keep learning and growing. You'll join a tight-knit, cross-functional squad that owns its products from idea to delivery and works closely together to build great things. You'll have the chance to work with experienced engineers who'll help you level up your skills in software design, cloud development and modern engineering practices. You'll also get the opportunity to broaden your experience as a T-shaped developer, exploring areas like architecture, DevOps and product development. We work together in our Liverpool HQ three days a week because we believe collaboration, feedback and shared problem-solving help us build better software and stronger teams. Location: Liverpool City Centre HQ / Hybrid (3 days in office) Salary: £45,000-£55,000 depending on experience What You'll Do: Build and maintain backend services using .NET 8.0 and Azure Write clean, testable and maintainable code Help design and implement APIs and data solutions Deploy and manage applications with Docker and Azure Cloud Work with product owners and designers to turn ideas into features Learn from experienced developers and contribute to code reviews Share ideas and help improve how we build and deliver software Technical Overview Backend: C#, .NET 8.0, Docker Database: SQL Server, Entity Framework, MongoDb Infrastructure: Docker, Azure Monitoring: Grafana, Loki Stack Tooling: Git, CI/CD pipelines, Unit and Integration Testing, Agile methodologies If you're interested in learning about Clean Architecture or the Mediator pattern, we'll help you get there. We care deeply about building high-quality, maintainable systems. Automated testing and code reviews as standard Monitoring and observability with Grafana and Loki Continuous improvement through retrospectives and experimentation What We're Looking For: Experience building applications in C# and .NET A good understanding of APIs, SQL Server and Entity Framework Familiarity with cloud platforms like Azure and containerisation with Docker An interest in learning best practices around testing and CI/CD A collaborative mindset and eagerness to grow as a developer A problem-solving attitude and pride in writing clean, maintainable code Why Join Us: Modern tech stack and strong engineering standards Supportive environment where you can learn from experienced developers Clear opportunities for career progression and skill development A collaborative squad where your ideas are valued Top-tier tools and a workspace built for creativity and teamwork Team and Culture You'll be joining a squad that values curiosity, openness and craftsmanship. Everyone has a voice, and we help each other get better every day. We believe in ownership, curiosity and craftsmanship. Everyone has a voice, and we encourage ideas from across the squad. We share knowledge, celebrate success and support each other every step of the way. It's a place where you can challenge yourself, grow your skills and build a career you're proud of. Grow with Acorn At Acorn Insurance, we're proud of our Liverpool roots - and even prouder of how far we've come. As part of the Acorn Group, we bring over 40 years of specialist insurance expertise to the table. From humble beginnings, we've grown into a national leader, now employing 1,700+ people across the UK and reached a milestone £750 million in total value of insurance policies written in 2024. We're growing fast, with new opportunities emerging every week. That growth is largely due to the values we share: We run through walls for our customers and each other We challenge the status quo We succeed when we help those around us succeed We decide quickly when the smart thing to do is use our judgement 35 days' holiday (including bank holidays) with additional buy/sell options 24/7 mental health support & free counselling available Grow with us: Through career fairs, leadership programs, and learning on the go! Flexible benefits, including early access to salary via our internal platform Hybrid working options to support work life balance and individual needs Our Commitment to our colleague's These aren't just words - they're the principles we live by. And we're proud to back them up with real action, earning recognition and accreditation from leading organisations that share our commitment to people and growth: Mindful Employer - championing mental health and wellbeing Disability Confident Level 1 & 2 - creating accessible, inclusive opportunities Menopause Friendly accredited - supporting every stage of life ️ Armed Forces Covenant signatory - honouring those who serve Great Places to Work 2024/25 - fostering an engaging and positive workplace culture Best Place to Work for Development - proud to be investing in people's future Best Place to Work for Women - breaking down barriers to women's career progression If you're looking for a company with a strong culture, real career progression, and a people-first approach - all rooted in the heart of Liverpool - Grow with Acorn. A Few Things to Know Before You Apply We're really excited that you're considering joining Acorn! To help everything go smoothly, here are a couple of things to keep in mind: Checks & Clearances All roles at Acorn are subject to DBS and financial checks. Any offer we make will be conditional until these are completed to a satisfactory standard. Visa Requirements Because our training is quite comprehensive, we can only consider applicants who have at least one year remaining on their Graduate or Post-Study Work visa. At the moment, we're not able to offer visa sponsorship. We're Here to Support You We're committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can flourish. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process-or once you're part of the team-just let us know. Whether it's flexible hours, adapted equipment, or a bit of extra support, we'll work with you to make sure you can do your best work.