At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software design and development for defence technology, ensuring robust and secure solutions.
- Company: Join the UK Hydrographic Office, a key player in national security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and mentoring.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while shaping the future of defence technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in .NET, leadership skills, and knowledge of modern engineering practices.
The predicted salary is between 61605 - 61605 € per year.
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible Working
As a Principal Developer, you will be a senior technical authority within our defence technology community, shaping how software is designed, built, and sustained across defence services. You will provide strategic technical leadership, influencing engineering direction and ensuring that modern, secure, and sustainable development practices are embedded. You will play a key role in setting the technical vision for software engineering within defence, helping to establish a strong and consistent engineering culture.
Working across delivery teams and stakeholders, you will help ensure that solutions are robust, scalable, and aligned to both user needs and the wider defence technology landscape. This role requires deep technical expertise alongside the ability to influence at scale. As a Principal Developer, you will contribute to decisions that shape platforms, patterns, and approaches, supporting the delivery of applications and services that are critical to national security.
In a rapidly changing landscape, we require experienced and flexible individuals who can work in a close-knit team to use their multi-disciplinary skills to collaborate, problem-solve, and deliver within a highly assured private cloud infrastructure environment. This is a capability-focused team, working on unique and highly specialised data and insight solutions within a modern secure facility, contributing to capabilities of national significance.
Responsibilities:
- Supporting the defence development team in solving technical issues.
- Provide expert technical guidance to defence related development teams, resolving complex or high risk technical issues, act as the escalation point and ensure that solutions are effective, sustainable and in line with our technical direction.
- Lead the definition and adoption of engineering standards across the defence teams, ensuring consistency, quality and security in software delivery.
- Work with business users and stakeholders to understand user needs and operational requirements. Translate these into clear, high-level technical designs that balance user outcomes, technical constraints, and defence requirements.
- Work with peers to assess and agree technology choices across defence services. Ensure decisions are aligned with wider technical strategy and support long-term sustainability.
- Review software code and technical designs to ensure they meet quality, security, and engineering standards. Provide constructive feedback to improve consistency, reduce risk, and support continuous improvement.
- Mentor and coach development teams on modern engineering best practices. Support capability growth across defence by sharing knowledge, encouraging effective ways of working, and fostering a strong engineering culture.
Person specification:
- Practical coding experience in .NET and awareness of Python.
- Wide range of development experience.
- Practical experience of leadership of technical teams.
- Up to date knowledge of modern engineering technology and tools.
Benefits:
Alongside your salary of £61,605, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £17,846 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Principal Software Developer in Somerset employer: Admiralty
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets national security. With flexible working patterns and a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of defence technology while collaborating with a close-knit team of experts. Our commitment to modern engineering practices and a supportive culture ensures that you can thrive both personally and professionally in this unique role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Developer in Somerset
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the defence tech community! Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those relevant to defence technology. This will give potential employers a clear view of what you can bring to the table.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs, especially in terms of modern engineering practices. Confidence and clarity can make a huge difference!
✨Apply Through Us!
We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Principal Software Developer role. It’s a great way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Developer in Somerset
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Software Developer role. Highlight your experience with .NET and Python, and showcase how your skills align with our defence technology community.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior technical authority, we want to see your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've influenced engineering direction and mentored teams in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your technical expertise and how you can contribute to our mission-critical projects.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and helps us get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at Admiralty
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Principal Software Developer, you’ll need to showcase your deep technical expertise. Brush up on your .NET and Python skills, and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past projects. Prepare examples that highlight your problem-solving abilities and how you've influenced engineering direction.
✨Understand the Defence Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the defence technology community and its unique challenges. Research current trends and issues within the sector, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to contribute to national security.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience leading technical teams. Think of specific instances where you’ve defined engineering standards or mentored others. Highlight how you fostered a strong engineering culture and ensured quality and security in software delivery.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves working closely with business users and stakeholders, practice articulating how you translate user needs into technical designs. Be ready to discuss your approach to balancing user outcomes with technical constraints, and how you ensure alignment with wider technical strategies.
