Senior Software Developer

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Developer to lead the development of integrated digital services, which are crucial to realising our overall departmental aim of supporting and developing UK trade.

As a Senior Software Developer in the Department for International Trade, you will be working with modern technologies in a cloud-based environment and developing software and services to meet user needs, collaborating with colleagues in a multidisciplinary and agile product team. We code in the open, using Python (Django) and React – see our code here: http://github.com/uktrade.

We create digital services, data tools and technology for businesses to prosper around the world. Have a look at our video!

Our Digital, Data and Technology team develops and operates tools, services, and platforms that enable the UK government to provide world leading support to businesses in the UK and overseas.

You will get to constantly push boundaries in an environment free of heavy legacy, driven by curiosity, social purpose, diversity of thought, entrepreneurship, and the aspiration to offer an incredible experience to all our users. Find out more on our blog, Digital Trade.

This role is available in three UK locations, including central London, Cardiff, and Darlington’s new economic hub. This role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DIT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

Find out about our benefits and practical details like our office locations on the things you need to know page.

Responsibilities

Your day-to-day role will involve:

• Being involved with every part of the life cycle of a service, from user research to deploying code, to production. Writing secure and reusable code, following a test-driven approach (TDD).
• Providing technical expertise and leadership in the development of strategic IT services and systems, typically through being the senior technical lead in a delivery team.
• Identifying and fixing issues with production services, finding ways to improve system robustness, resilience, and stability.
• Coaching and mentoring developers in the department.
• Being an active member of the departmental developers’ community, sharing good practice.
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement in the design and delivery of applications and integrations, taking responsibility for a programme of peer led support and professional development.
• Researching, evaluating, and recommending new tools and techniques that will contribute to increased quality and productivity for our development teams.
• Defining, agreeing, and implementing appropriate tools and processes for the effective development and maintenance of services.

Essential Skills and Experience

You should be able to demonstrate essential skills and experience of:

• Modern web application and software development practices and architectures (microservices vs monoliths etc.).
• Software development with Python, JavaScript (Node.js, REACT) or similar (all backgrounds considered).
• An awareness of working practices such as test-driven development (focusing on automation), continuous integration and continuous delivery.
• Involvement in complex digital projects from initiation to live, demonstrating technical leadership, innovation, and problem resolution.
• Understanding of common web security risks (e.g., OWASP Top 10).
• Knowledge of agile frameworks and how to support teams in their adoption.

Desirable Skills and Experience

While not essential, it would be ideal if you have demonstrable experience of:

• Cloud-based development and writing infrastructure as code to integrate them, such as AWS serverless.
• SQL and the design of relational and NoSQL databases.
• Introducing new development practices into teams (e.g., continuous integration, serverless).

How to Apply 

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Technical Skills and Behaviours.

Unless otherwise specified, all interviews are currently being held online. Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing: 2nd January 2023

Technical test will take place week commencing: 9th January

Interviews will take place week commencing: 16th January

Please note these dates are indicative and may be subject to change. This campaign will run from mid-October to the end of 2022. Please be aware that if you apply at the beginning of the campaign, you will be waiting for results for longer than usual.

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV and complete a personal statement outlining your experience, skills and fit for the role.

At the sift stage for this role, we will assess you against the essential skills and experience listed above. We will score each essential criteria out of 3 using the evidence provided in your personal statement and CV. Your personal statement must be a maximum of 500 words. You can use bullet points and subheadings if you prefer. As well as evidencing the criteria you should also touch upon why you’re interested in DIT, and in this particular role.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct a ‘short sift’ and readoneelement of your application. For this campaign a short sift would be conducted based on CVs only.

How you’ll be assessed  

At the interview stage for this role, you will be asked to demonstrate relevant technical skills and behaviours from the Success Profiles framework. A role-specific list of these can be found below.

Salary is determined by performance at interview, within the range advertised. Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current salary.

Applicants successful to interview stage will be asked to complete a technical exercise and will be informed on the topic following the sift. Completion of this exercise will then lead to an interview invitation. If the exercise is not completed by the timeline specified, that will be taken as withdrawal of your application, and you will not be invited to interview.

The technical element within the interview, where you will be asked a series of questions to demonstrate your specific professional skills and knowledge related directly to the job role and context, will assess against these Technical Skills:

• Modern standards approach
• Systems integration
• Systems design
• Information security
• Development process optimisation
• Programming and build (software engineering)

You will also be assessed against the Behaviour of:

• Leadership

Detailed explanations of each technical skill can be found on the DDaT Framework.

Reserve list

Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences. Candidates who pass the bar at interview but are not the highest scoring will be held on a 12-month reserve list for future appointments. Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

Security Clearance Details 

This role requires you to undergo Security Clearance. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. You will be asked to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records).
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
• Security Services record.
• Location Details.

Further Information 

The Department for International Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Click through to apply and find out more.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DIT by email: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Click here to download a PDF about the Civil Service Commission/Complaints.