Lead Full Stack Software Engineer - Public Sector Digital Transformation
Location: UK (Fully Remote)
Security Clearance: SC cleared/eligible
Lead engineering teams building modern, impactful digital services for the UK public sector.
We're supporting a purpose-driven digital consultancy in hiring a Lead Software Engineer to guide multidisciplinary teams on high-profile transformation programmes. You'll shape architectures, lead delivery, mentor engineers, and drive best-practice engineering - all while helping public sector organisations improve services for people and communities.
If you're an experienced engineer who enjoys leadership, hands-on problem solving and collaborating with non-technical stakeholders, this is an excellent next step.
The Role
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll set the technical direction for complex software systems, ensuring solutions are high-quality, secure and scalable. You'll manage and mentor engineers, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and work directly with product, UX, DevOps and delivery teams to deliver user-centred digital services.
You'll also help shape engineering culture through your craft - from code standards to CI/CD pipelines to architectural decision-making.
What You'll Be Doing
Leading the architecture, design and delivery of large-scale digital services
Managing, coaching and developing software engineers at multiple levels
Championing engineering best practice, secure design and high coding standards
Working with Product, UX, DevOps, QA and other teams to turn business needs into robust technical solutions
Driving continuous improvement across performance, reliability, security and development processes
Overseeing and improving CI/CD pipelines, automation and release processes
Conducting code reviews and providing actionable, constructive feedback
Troubleshooting complex technical challenges
Identifying and introducing new technologies or tools where beneficial
Managing scope, timelines and technical delivery across projects
Contributing to early-stage discovery, bids, and occasionally supporting hiring activity (e.g., technical assessments)
What We're Looking For
Essential
Extensive full-stack engineering experience across design, build, test and deployment
Strong hands-on skills in Java, Spring Boot, Python, microservices, and ideally a polyglot mindset
Deep understanding of Agile, TDD, DevOps and modern engineering practices
Real-world experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks
Solid experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure or GCP) and Infrastructure as Code
Knowledge of modern architecture patterns: microservices, event-driven, containerised (Docker/Kubernetes)
Experience leading engineering teams through successful delivery
Strong grounding in secure, scalable and well-architected system design
Excellent communication skills, including working with stakeholders at all levels
Desirable
Knowledge of emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML tools)
Previous senior/lead engineering experience
Experience running large multidisciplinary projects
Line management experience
Experience interviewing and supporting technical hiring
Experience contributing to bids/proposals
Who This Role Suits
This role is ideal for engineers who want to:
Lead teams delivering meaningful public sector services
Have a mix of hands-on engineering, leadership and stakeholder interaction
Influence engineering standards and culture
Shape long-term technical direction for major transformation programmes
Work in an environment that values empathy, collaboration and purpose
Why Join
This consultancy is committed to people-powered transformation, combining technology, design and data to help public sector organisations deliver outcomes that genuinely improve lives. You'll join a thoughtful, collaborative community that values diversity, learning and openness.
Benefits include:
30 days holiday + bank holidays
2 paid volunteer days
Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
5% employer pension contribution
Health cash plan & wellbeing support
Personal L&D budget
Share Incentive Plan
EV leasing, cycle-to-work and green benefits
and a supportive culture where your leadership can make a real impact.
?? Interested?
If you're a lead-level engineer who cares about high-quality software and wants to help shape better public services, we'd love to hear from you.
Reasonable Adjustments:
Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.
If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.
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