Job Description

Role: Lead Software Engineer Salary/Rate: £650-750 per day inside IR35 Location: Hybrid, 2 days per week - multiple locations available Contract Duration: 12 months

We are currently looking for a Lead Software Engineer for our government client.

This Lead Software Engineer role is hybrid, based between 2 days per week on site and the remainder of the week working from home. Office locations include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff or Darlington, as preferred. There is no further flexibility with expected time on site, or the office locations.

The contract for this Senior Planner position is for 12 months, with potential to extend, operating inside IR35.

Security Clearance: Security Check (SC Clearance)

This role is inside IR35 - Due to the service of the role, it will now be based on an Umbrella solution.

Essential Skills / Experience required:

• Strong Python and Django experience
• Proven system design and architecture capability (end-to-end)
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Experience working in agile, multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to contribute to secure, structured environments
• Minimum 5+ years' experience (ideally 8-10 years)
• T-shaped skillset (deep technical + broad system awareness)
• Strong delivery focus and efficiency
• Comfortable taking ownership and leading within squads
• Experience working in structured, governance-heavy environments

Desirable Skills

• Experience with GDS standards
• Public sector or defence-related experience
• Exposure to secure or regulated environments

Role / Responsibilities:

This role is responsible for the design, development, delivery, and ongoing improvement of software solutions within a secure, government-focused environment. The successful candidate will contribute to building resilient, scalable, and user-centred services, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards relating to controlled goods and exports. The position requires strong technical leadership, collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, and ownership of both development and live service performance.

• Lead the design and delivery of scalable software solutions
• Translate user needs into technical outcomes
• Build secure, test-driven, high-quality code
• Support and maintain live services (performance & stability)
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (BA, UCD, Developers)
• Oversee development across multiple workstreams
• Drive continuous improvement of systems and processes
• Ensure integration across complex systems

If you are interested in the above role, please click Apply Nowand send a CV for quick review.

Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a better way for us to communicate, please do let us know.

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