Finds interesting looking "graduate' software development role...

"PhD desirable, leading university, straight As at A level"

Wow.

I think there are close to zero software development positions where a PhD is necessary. Unless it's development of some incredibly specific application involving a very exotic topic most BsC / MsC graduates aren't aware of, a PhD isn't too significant. When doing a PhD, you usually specialize in a specific subject, and therefore a PhD graduate may not know much more about e.g. machine learning than a MsC graduate if he did his PhD in information security.

"wonder if mcdonald's is hiring" - nice tag btw.

Or maybe they already have their candidate, but regulations force them to a fake open ad. Leading university also means expensive university that is more about rich people nepotism than anything else.

So the job involves 0 actual coding and is mostly just writing papers