Software Engineer

Location

These role will be based in Blackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield. Please find further information on the Corporate hub locations here.

About the job

Summary

Would you love the opportunity to contribute to demanding and exciting digital services for the UK Government?

Would you enjoy transforming how people experience our digital services through Jobcentres, through regular releases of new functions and maintenance?

Do you have a good understanding of Test Driven Development and cloud based environments like AWS and Azure?

If so, come just as a Software Engineer.

Here you will be part of changing the face of public services with the potential to dramatically transform the future of millions of people.

You'll build and run applications as part of a multi-functional agile delivery teams. You'll have the opportunity to deliver innovative technology that carries real value for users.

You'll be an excellent problem solver and will be able to draw value from collaboration with others, actively seek input from colleagues and value a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.

Job description

As a Software Engineer you will:

• Develop and maintain software products that make up citizen and organisation facing services and contribute towards their design.
• Be responsible for the operational stability of the products you build, and be in a position to affect change in the on-going robustness and resilience of those products.
• Work within, and contribute to, the overall Software Development Lifecycle Process as part of a multi-functional Agile delivery team focused on one or more products.
• Deliver software products which make up services for our citizens to consume.
• Ensure system robustness, resilience and stability.
• Design and develop reusable libraries and services and promote reuse across the department.
• Produce comprehensive suites of automated unit and integration tests to ensure code quality.
• Identify and resolve issues preventing delivery or continuation of software engineering activities.

As an Engineering Practice member you will benefit from a varied L&D offer that will support you in your role and development.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities are outlined in the job description above.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please caicy.sandford@dwp.gov.uk

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.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• An employer pension contribution of up to 27%
• A generous annual leave allowance

Salary Information

Salary for this role is from £35,310 (Band min) to £40,666 (Band max).

Where the maximum salary of £40,666 is offered, 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

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

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 CV you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Knowledge and experience of open source technologies like Java, JavaScript and Node.
• Knowledge and experience of developing on cloud based environments like AWS and Azure.
• Have a good understanding of Test Driven Development.
• Knowledge and experience of SQL and noSQL database applications such as Postgres, MySQL, and MongoDB.
• Knowledge and experience of Containerisation – tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Have 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 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 CV as a separate additional document in either PDF or word format.
• Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.
• Please do not include any personal details in your document title.
• If your CV contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.

Stage 2: Technical Test

Candidates who are successful at sift will be sent a technical exercise to complete remotely. The exercise will focus on the experience of Programming and Build. 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.

Stage 3: Interview

If you’re successful at Stage 2 you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the following experiences:

• Use of Test Driven Development to develop clear and readable code that meets a set of specified requirements. Understanding and choice of the right tool for a problem you are solving.
• Knowledge of how to integrate different parts of a service and the role that CI/CD can play in this, as well as your knowledge of different testing strategies.
• Understanding and experiences of using qualitative and quantitative data about users and their experiences to turn user focus into outcomes.
• Understanding and knowledge of different approaches to development to build quality into services.

Other information:

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.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

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 here

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

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 “Assistance required” 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 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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.