Lead Software Developer - Contract

Duration: 6 months+

Clearance: SC Eligible Location: Hybrid - 1 day per week in Manchester Contract Length: 6 months Rate: £570/day (Inside IR35) Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Lead Software Developer (SFIA 5) to join a cross-functional engineering team delivering high-quality, secure digital services. The role is primarily Back End-focused, with some light, straightforward Front End work adhering to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards. The successful candidate will lead development activity, provide technical direction, mentor engineers, and ensure the quality and reliability of services across the stack. Key Responsibilities Lead the design, development, and delivery of Back End services using Java and Spring Boot . Architect and build microservices , deploying them using Docker containers. Provide technical leadership and guidance to a multi-disciplinary engineering team. Contribute to coding standards, best practices, and continuous improvement. Build and maintain simple, standards-compliant web frontends using: Nunjucks JavaScript GDS Design System/GOV.UK Front End conventions Collaborate with architects, product managers, and delivery teams to define solutions and ensure alignment with business goals. Participate in code reviews, pair programming, and mentoring junior developers. Ensure code quality, performance, maintainability, and security requirements are met. Contribute to DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines where required. Essential Skills & Experience Backend Engineering Strong commercial experience with: Java Spring Boot Microservices architecture Docker Proven ability to design and implement scalable, secure Back End systems. Frontend (lightweight, straightforward) Working knowledge of: JavaScript Nunjucks GDS Design System/GOV.UK Front End standards (Note: This role does not require a dedicated Front End engineer; only basic, standards-based Front End construction using established patterns and tooling.) Additional Requirements Experience with Node.js is desirable for certain Back End components. Ability to work within agile, iterative delivery environments. Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills. Eligible for Security Clearance (SC) . Nice-to-Have Skills Experience working on UK government or public sector digital services. Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and DevOps tooling. Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or similar). Understanding of container orchestration (eg, Kubernetes). Candidate Profile We are seeking a senior Back End engineer with broad capabilities and the confidence to lead development activities. While Front End work is part of the role, it is minimal and supported by clear GDS patterns. Candidates who are primarily Back End-focused but comfortable creating simple, standards-compliant web interfaces will be a strong fit.