Technology Graduate – Lisbon

The Technology Function at a Glance:

The collective goal of Hiscox’s Technology function is to drive competitive advantage through the use of tech.  We design, build, and maintain top-tier, innovation solutions that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive.  We do this by understanding the current and future needs of our customers to create market-leading propositions, as well as ensuring every department in the business is fully tech-enabled.  Our tech function is full of talented and motivated individuals and we have a key focus on the growth and development of our people.

Whilst we are continually innovating and driving new initiatives into our product teams, some of the larger efforts that we are currently working on include:

• The deployment of new security and threat management software alongside the creation of a cyber fusion centre.
• A number of different Artificial Intelligence initiatives working in partnership with both Google and Microsoft.
• The build out of a global portal framework to replace our customer facing digital interfaces.
• The enhancement of our Databricks footprint to modernise our data stack.
• The delivery of a new virtual desktop solution.

As a Technology Graduate you can expect to:

• Make a real contribution to the team you’re in, working on challenging projects and doing meaningful work that contributes towards our business strategy
• Build an understanding of how a modern technology function works, what the different roles are, and how to map out a career path for future
• Gain a solid grounding in all the soft and hard skills needed to transition into a more senior role at the end of the graduate scheme
• Partner with key stakeholders across the business, building professional relationships and an understanding of the whole business
• Build on the skills and technical knowledge you have gained from university, with full support for relevant qualifications and accreditations and LinkedIn Learning subscription so you can take ownership of your development
• Receive on-the-job training as well as a structured learning programme (in-person and virtual) ranging from technical knowledge to leadership skills
• Be part of an international graduate cohort, gaining a global network of peers across the business
• Receive support and guidance from your local team, our Early Careers team, and your Grad Buddy

Your Rotations Explained:

On our Technology Graduate Programme, you will spend time in three different areas within our Technology function. This will enable you to develop a fundamental understanding of how our Technology function operates, and the different roles each team has to play.

We anticipate your rotations will take place in the following areas:

QA/Test (Europe)

By joining the Europe's QA automation team, the candidate should be able to implement, execute, and maintain automated test scripts that allow testing the reliability of the applications. The candidate will learn best practices in test automation, code version control, and CI/CD pipelines. Additionally, the Europe Technology team, based in Lisbon, is currently spearheading a major technology transformation across all our regions. By joining this dynamic software engineering environment, you will work with leading technologies and systems that align with our strategic goals. This role offers the opportunity to develop hands-on expertise in software testing, contribute to key projects, and collaborate with cross-functional teams across European regions, including Germany, France, Benelux, Iberia, and Ireland.

What you will be involved in:

• Executing existing automated test scripts.
• Analysing test results and reporting defects.
• Integrate with the team and participate in team meetings.
• Implementing new automation scripts.

QA/Test (UK)

Our QA function is responsible for assessing the quality of IT changes, using various tools and techniques to test the code and ensure defects are being identified and fixed prior to deploying into production. We assess the functional and non-functional aspects of various applications and test a variety of technologies.

What you will be involved in:

• Analysis of business requirements and technical solutions to identify the scope of testing
• Planning and preparation of test scripts using various tools
• Test execution and defect management activities
• Test closure activities and status reporting

Agile Delivery (Europe)

Hiscox Europe, which includes Germany, France, Benelux, Iberia and Ireland, is transforming, including the transition to agile ways of working.  The Agile Lead and Scrum Masters are pivotal to establish and embed the agile mindset, values, principles and best practices to build a cohesive business and technology change and delivery capability. By joining this team, you will be working closely with the teams to improve and adapt a blended delivery approach that works for Hiscox.

What you will be involved in:

• Collaborate closely with the wider Europe technology and business change teams to embed new ways of working, driving a shift in culture to focus on user-centric design and delivery practices.
• Guide and support cross-disciplined squads employing agile values, principles and practices to deliver value to our business.
• Facilitate Scrum events in the teams, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, so that they can become more effective and autonomous.
• Promote effective collaboration and communication within the team and across other areas or teams.
• Support teams to improve and adapt to a blended delivery approach.
• Define and improve the adoption of the agile tools and techniques.

Is This Opportunity For You?

Working as a Technology graduate does not mean you have to write code – we are specifically looking for people who have a broader set of skills and can bring diverse thinking into the team.

• Are you someone who is curious about how a business works and how technology is changing the world we live in?
• Are you eager to learn and try new things?
• Are you able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of individuals, with the drive to partner with key stakeholders across the business?
• Do you have an analytical mindset and enjoy solving problems?
• Do our core values (Courage, Ownership, Human, Connected, Integrity) resonate with you?
• Do you have the courage to ask questions, challenge the way things are done and put your own ideas forward?
• Do you have Fluent business English and Portuguese speaking skills, strong numerate skills, and interpersonal skills?
• You must have a 2:1 obtained or predicted in any degree.
• Permission to work in Portugal is required.

Why Hiscox?

We believe that it is our humanity that sets us apart from other insurers. We take pride in understanding people and their lives at real depth. We look at what makes them different, not what makes them the same.

Our world-class underwriting enables us to be a specialist that properly gets under the skin of the people it protects instead of an insurance generalist who never goes more than skin deep.  When it comes to claims, our reputation for claims handling is second to none. We see the human pain that comes with a claim and we go above and beyond to make things right.

We forge deep and trusted relationships with our broker partners. We speak to our customers like people, not like robots. And we take real care of our staff. It all adds up to a business that truly sees the people behind the policy: a business with strongly held values and a unique ‘soul’ that makes Hiscox a place to work like no other.

We want to invest in your long-term future at Hiscox, from the start. You will join on a permanent contract and at the end of the programme (April 2027), you will have the opportunity to move into a Technology role within either our Group Technology function or one of our business units at Hiscox.