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- Tasks: Lead the design and development of modern digital services with a focus on innovation.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking government agency committed to public value and service excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, remote work options, and flexible hours.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping the future of digital services in the public sector.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior engineering roles and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 62700 - 71800 £ per year.
We are seeking a highly experienced and inspiring Head of Software Engineering to lead our technical capability and drive the design, development, and operation of modern digital services. This role is central to the department's mission, requiring a leader who can blend exceptional technical expertise with a commitment to service led model and public value.
The Head of Software Engineering will provide strategic leadership and professional direction to our engineering community. You will be responsible for defining the technical standards, architectural principles, and engineering culture required to deliver world-class digital services. You will move the department away from legacy "point solutions" toward a unified, API-first, and cloud-native digital estate, ensuring our services are secure, scalable, and meet the GDS Service Standard.
Key Accountabilities:- Technical Leadership & Strategy (Driving Excellence)
- Co-Define with Strategy and Architecture team and champion the long-term technical vision and technology strategy for the department's services and platforms, ensuring alignment with central government technology policies (e.g., cloud-first, open standards).
- Establish and enforce best practices in CI/CD, SRE, TDD, and secure coding (OWASP).
- Drive the roadmap for retiring legacy systems while managing technical debt.
- Ensure all software is "Open by Default," promoting re-use across the Civil Service and alignment with the Technology Code of Practice.
- Lead the development and modernisation of complex, large-scale systems, including integrating with legacy government systems.
- Ensure all software development meets the high standards of the Government Service Manual and passes all relevant Digital Service Assessments (Alpha, Beta, Live).
- People & Capability Leadership (Growing Talent)
- Act as the "Head of Profession" for software engineering, fostering a culture of continuous learning, psychological safety, and radical collaboration.
- Lead recruitment, retention, and career development strategies.
- Coach Lead Developers and Senior Engineers, helping them grow into strategic technical leaders.
- Manage the development team of permanent staff and a balanced mix of civil service and third party resources.
- Delivery, Governance & Stakeholder Management (Delivering Public Value)
- Partner with Delivery Managers and Product Managers to ensure engineering capacity is aligned with the departmental roadmap.
- Lead technical assessments and peer reviews to ensure services meet WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards and high-performance benchmarks.
- Oversee the transition from "Build" to "Run," championing Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and DevOps mindsets to ensure 24/7 service availability.
- Represent the engineering function to senior internal and cross-government stakeholders.
- Promote a culture of working in the open and sharing reusable components and best practices with the wider Civil Service DDaT community.
- Proven experience in a senior engineering role building large-scale, distributed systems using modern languages and cloud infrastructure in UK Civil service or similar public sector environment.
- Experience managing "managers of managers" and leading large multidisciplinary engineering functions.
- Ability to translate complex policy requirements into sustainable technical roadmaps.
- Experience in communicating technical risks and trade-offs to non-technical senior leaders.
- Deep expertise in DevOps, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and building "Security-In" rather than "Security-On."
- Competitive salary
- Generous pension scheme
- A discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus
- Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office location
- Flexi time scheme
- Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidays
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you, please contact us.
Head of Software Engineering in Liverpool employer: Crown Commercial Service
Contact Detail:
Crown Commercial Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Before your interview, check out their website and any recent news. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of a mirror. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently during the actual interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to prepare your own questions! Asking insightful questions shows that you’re engaged and helps you determine if the company is the right fit for you.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it gives you access to all the latest job openings and updates directly from us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Software Engineering. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role is all about leading teams and driving technical excellence, don’t forget to share examples of your leadership experience. We want to see how you've built and nurtured engineering communities in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly and gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Crown Commercial Service
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Software Engineering, you’ll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of modern development standards and cloud infrastructure. Brush up on your knowledge of languages like Java and Python, and be ready to discuss how you've implemented CI/CD and SRE practices in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires managing large teams and influencing stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams, mentored junior engineers, and communicated complex technical concepts to non-technical leaders. Highlight your ability to foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.
✨Align with the Department's Vision
Familiarise yourself with the Crown Commercial Service’s mission and values. Be prepared to discuss how your strategic vision aligns with their goals, especially regarding moving towards a unified, API-first, and cloud-native digital estate. Show that you understand the importance of public value in technology.
✨Prepare for Psychometric Testing
Don’t forget about the psychometric testing scheduled before your interview! These assessments are designed to provide insights into your leadership style and decision-making abilities. Practice similar tests online to get comfortable with the format and types of questions you might encounter.