Lead Java Engineer

The Lead Engineer will drive the technical delivery of their team, managing their workload and ensuring the right skills are available. You will be responsible for the work undertaken by your Developers and DevOps staff and will be expected to work with Seniors and Principals to ensure that services produced are best practice. You should have a solid technical background and will be able to apply these skills if required to provide guidance to your team. You will also maintain a broad perspective, monitoring technology developments such that you can support strategy formation.    

Along with the other Senior, Lead and Principal Engineers in your area you will be responsible for ensuring that all technical approaches being used are appropriate and endorsed, and will take part in planning with senior stakeholders to make sure that product delivery and maintenance is on a firm basis. Your remit may be across the engineering function but working closely with Architects and other professions. 

Main Responsibilities 

Your main day to day responsibilities will be:  

• Leading the day to day activities of engineers in your team, ensuring everyone is working effectively and efficiently; reporting any impediments.
• Coaching your team as well as Supporting Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and encouraging formal professional qualifications.
• Supporting capability build in your team and in the organisation.
• Taking a hands-on role with engineering delivery when necessary, blending your leadership and technical tasks to achieve team objectives.
• Ensuring appropriate methods are being used, as well as leading efforts to identify improved tools/technologies.
• Leadership of the java and react software development in teams.

Tools and Technologies we use:  

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with strong experience in: 

• Backend: Java, Node.js, Kafka 
• Frontend: React, JavaScript,  
• Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server  
• DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Docker, Terraform
• AI: Github Copilot, OpenAI, Claude Code

UK residency and security requirements       

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers. 

Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. 

Candidates must also hold or be prepared to undergo NPPV3 clearance. 

However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.