At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead agile teams in designing and delivering innovative digital solutions.
- Company: Join the Department for Transport, a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, and 25+ days of annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while mentoring others and shaping the future of tech.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and a passion for leading teams.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Location: Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, Swansea (This role is suitable for hybrid working)
Salary: £57,515 (Plus an additional allowance up to £24,915)
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
As a Lead Developer, you'll provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary agile teams, leading the design, development and delivery of innovative digital solutions that support business, policy and operational outcomes. You'll balance hands‑on technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, helping teams adopt modern development practices, improve ways of working and deliver high‑quality services. You'll play a key role in mentoring and coaching developers, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. Working with a wide range of technologies, you'll help identify new tools and approaches, influence technical direction, and contribute to the growth of our developer community.
Top Responsibilities
- Guiding the ways in which the team works
- Being proficient in a wide range of technical systems
- Being involved in identifying appropriate technology and approaches, deciding when software should be written
- Contributing to the developer community
- Providing technical leadership, coaching and mentoring your team
- Promoting knowledge sharing and adoption of good practice
Benefits
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work‑life balance.
About You
- Experience of leading the development of complex software
- Be proficient in a wide range of technologies and capable of introducing new technologies into your team
- Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring your team
- Promote knowledge sharing and adoption of good practice
- Guide the ways in which the team works
- Learning mindset prepared to learn new technologies
- Willingness to work towards a Certification in Google and Microsoft Technologies and Agile practices
The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance. The base pay is £57,515. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £24,915. The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.
Lead Developer employer: Department for Transport
Join a dynamic and supportive work environment as a Principal Surveyor, where your expertise will be valued in managing diverse property assets and providing strategic advice on major projects. Our company fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous professional development, ensuring that you have ample opportunities to grow your skills while enjoying the flexibility of part-time work. Located in a vibrant area, we offer a unique blend of professional challenge and work-life balance, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Developer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Department for Transport or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Department for Transport.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Department for Transport.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Department for Transport that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Department for Transport.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Department for Transport and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Department for Transport
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Department for Transport uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
