Backend Development Specialist (Hybrid)

Lead Software Developer Lead Software Developer (SFIA 5) (Contract) Newcastle (Hybrid) Company A digital transformation and technology services consulting company serving public sector end-clients in regulated, security-conscious environments, with emphasis on auditability, compliance-aligned controls, and traceable, secure, production-ready changes. Role Summary As a Lead Software Developer (SFIA 5), you will lead the delivery of secure, auditable, production-ready software across a modern cloud and data platform. You will guide engineering teams through design and implementation, drive high-quality delivery practices, and ensure solutions integrate effectively with DWP Integration Team products including the Data Access Layer and SFT. Key Responsibilities • Lead end-to-end delivery of software and data solutions in a regulated, security-conscious environment with a focus on auditability and traceable change. • Provide technical leadership across architecture, implementation, code quality, and delivery governance for cloud-hosted services and data platforms. • Design and build AWS-based services provisioned via Terraform, ensuring reliable, repeatable environments and compliance-aligned controls. • Deliver and support microservices using Spring Boot, integrating via REST / HTTP APIs and maintaining clear API contracts using Swagger / OpenAPI. • Support front-end delivery across Node.js and React-style applications, partnering with engineers to ensure usability, resilience, and testability. • Build and operate scalable data processing pipelines using Apache Spark, Python, and Apache Airflow, using Jupyter Notebooks where appropriate for development and analysis. • Implement containerized delivery using Docker and maintain robust CI / CD pipelines using GitLab CI / CD, with exposure to tools such as Jenkins and Concourse as needed. • Embed security into delivery by integrating scanning and assurance tooling such as Trivy, Trend Micro, and Wiz, and by addressing findings pragmatically. • Champion Agile delivery with strong engineering discipline, including TDD / BDD and automated testing across UI and APIs using Playwright, Selenium / Cucumber, Mockito, and related tooling. • Ensure accessibility is built-in, validating against WCAG 2.2 and working with assistive technologies such as JAWS and Dragon to support inclusive user experiences. • Collaborate effectively with distributed teams and stakeholders, balancing delivery pace with quality, security, and compliance expectations. • Drive integration with Integration Team products, specifically the Data Access Layer and SFT, ensuring reliable and secure data movement and access patterns. Essential Skills & Experience • SFIA Level 5 capability, demonstrating leadership in delivery, technical decision-making, and accountability for outcomes. • Strong AWS experience, including building and operating cloud services with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform. • Proven experience delivering Spring Boot microservices and REST / HTTP APIs, including API documentation and contract clarity using Swagger / OpenAPI. • Experience with CI / CD using GitLab and modern Git-based workflows; familiarity with Jenkins and / or Concourse is beneficial. • Strong containerization experience with Docker and an understanding of production deployment concerns. • Experience with data engineering components including Apache Spark, Python, and orchestration using Apache Airflow; comfortable using Jupyter Notebooks for analysis and development workflows. • Familiarity with integration and data technologies such as Kafka and MongoDB. • Demonstrable practice of Agile delivery with TDD / BDD and automated testing across UI and API layers using Playwright, Selenium / Cucumber, Mockito, and related tools. • Strong understanding of security scanning and secure delivery practices, ideally using tools such as Trivy, Trend Micro, and Wiz. • Practical accessibility testing capability aligned to WCAG 2.2, including awareness of assistive technologies such as JAWS and Dragon. • Ability to work effectively in distributed teams and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Desirable Experience • Prior experience integrating with Integration products, particularly Data Access Layer and SFT. • Exposure to Azure in addition to AWS. • Experience designing delivery controls and evidence suitable for audits in regulated environments. What Success Looks Like • Delivery is predictable and high-quality, with secure, auditable, production-ready releases through automated pipelines. • Engineering teams are aligned on standards and practices, with strong automated test coverage and clear API contracts. • Cloud infrastructure and data pipelines are reliable, repeatable, and compliant with security and governance expectations. • Integrations with Data Access Layer and SFT are robust, well-documented, and operationally sound. Get in touch on info@projectbrains.io Remote In-person Hybrid Location Reviews (0) About the listing author PB Community Hello, I'm PB Community. View profile • Edit profile £420.00 per day