Skip to main contentSenior Software Engineer
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 24th September 2023
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Salary
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Engineering
Information Technology
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About the job
Job summary
Are you a Senior Software Engineer looking to utilise cutting edge technologies to develop and deliver products?
Do you want to use your skills and experience to help deliver high value applications and processes to a wide variety of stakeholders, supporting DWP’s digital transformation?
If so, this is a fantastic opportunity to join an exciting, high profile team delivering real business value and improving the experience and outcomes for our many customers!
We’re looking for outstanding Senior Software Engineers, who want to contribute to demanding and exciting digital services for the UK Government. Be part of changing the face of public services with the potential to dramatically transform the future of millions of people.
Our Engineers build and run applications as part of a multi-functional agile delivery teams. What really excites the successful candidate is problem-solving and the opportunity to deliver innovative technology that carries real value for users. The candidate will be expected to draw value from collaboration with others, actively seek input from colleagues and value a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.
Job description
Our Senior Software Engineers are skilled practitioners and role models for software craft within DWP.
You’ll help make sure we follow best practice and will guide our teams on how to deliver quality software products.
You’ll work as part of multidisciplinary teams, in collaboration with architects and engineers, to design software products that make up services used by millions of people.
You will focus on operational stability, robustness, resilience, availability and quality, and be accountable for the code you and your teams produce.
Check out these blogs about careers in DWP Digital.
Person specification
If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact sam.hackett@dwp.gov.uk.
Benefits
• An employer pension contribution of up to 27% For further information please click here.
• Annual leave rising up to 30 days, (based on your working pattern).
• Family friendly flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Learning and development tailored to your role this could include industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including: Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Salary Information
Salary for this role is from £50,155 (Band min) to £60,781 (Band max).
The maximum salary for the grade is £60,781, however a Digital Allowance of up to £15,000 per annum is available for exceptional candidates, based on our assessment of your skills and experience.
Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.
Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.
Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the next grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1: Application
Applications must include:
1. A completed Personal Details application form.
2. A curriculum vitae including education, professional qualifications and full employment history, giving details of key achievements.
When giving details in your redacted CV you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:
• Recent experience of an open source-programming language such as Java, JavaScript, etc.
• Developing on cloud-based environments like AWS and Azure.
• A good understanding of TDD and BDD.
• SQL and noSQL database applications such as Postgres, MySQL, and MongoDB.
• The skills to build up a useful, robust automated test suite to support a continuous deployment environment.
• Knowledge and experience of APIs, RESTful services and Microservice Architectures.
When giving details of your redacted CV, you should therefore include details of the work and projects that you have been involved in, and your role therein.
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit our blog Getting Hired at DWP Digital.
Applications will be sifted at regular intervals from the date the posts are advertised. Please apply as soon as you can, do not wait until the end of the campaign.
Important information
• Please attach your redacted CV as a separate additional document in either PDF or word format.
• If your CV contains any personal details your application may be withdrawn.
Stage 2: Coding Test
Candidates who are successful at sift will be sent a coding test to complete remotely. The exercise will focus on the technical skills listed in the essential criteria of this advert. Full details will be sent to candidates when the exercise is issued. Candidates will have 7 days to complete the test from the date of receipt.
Candidates that are not successful in the technical exercise will not progress to the interview stage.
Stage 3: Interview
If you’re successful after the Coding Test you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria above.
Interviews will be held on an ongoing basis throughout the campaign.
Offers of employment
Following the interview stage, should you not reach the required standard for the advertised (Senior Software Engineer, Grade 7) role, we may be able to offer you a role which would be a grade below the advertised post under our “Near Miss” process. Any candidates falling into this category will be contacted once the interview results have been released.
Important Information
A number of these roles will require you to have an additional security level- Security Clearance (SC). The remaining posts require you to have Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS).
As part of our process, you may be asked to indicate whether you wish to be considered for a Security Clearance (SC) role.
For more information regarding clearance please see National security vetting: clearance levels.
Please note - Failure to pass either check (whichever is applicable) may affect you taking up employment within DWP.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sam Hackett
- Email : Sam.hackett@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
