At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a team to maintain and modernise vital payment systems using COBOL.
- Company: DWP Digital, a leader in public service technology.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on services relied upon by millions while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with Microfocus COBOL and a passion for mentoring junior engineers.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 60000 £ per year.
DWP. Digital with Purpose. We need software engineers with skills in COBOL. As a COBOL Software Engineer, you'll join one of DWP Digital's specialist engineering teams responsible for maintaining, modernising and transforming the core platforms that keep vital payments flowing to over 15 million people every year. These systems - built using Microfocus COBOL - are at the heart of DWP's operational stability, and your work will directly impact the availability, accuracy and resilience of services relied upon by millions.
This is a hands-on engineering role with real leadership impact. You'll guide and develop a team of 5 engineers, drive technical direction across multiple applications and lead the modernisation of some of the most significant legacy services in government. Over time, you'll play a role in helping DWP transition these core systems into Java-based services, giving you continued exposure to new and emerging technologies.
The scale of what we do is extraordinary, and our purpose is unique. We’d love you to join us.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
- Strong, hands-on experience working with Microfocus COBOL, especially building or maintaining large-scale systems.
- Awareness of additional technologies such as Tuxedo, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and scripting languages.
- Understanding of tools or languages like Python, Java, Ansible, Jira, and cloud platforms such as AWS.
- Knowledge of SQL and the fundamentals of object-oriented principles.
- Awareness of test-driven development and approaches like business-driven development.
- Understanding of automated testing and how it fits into continuous deployment environments.
You and your role
As a COBOL Software Engineer, you'll be central to maintaining and modernising the platforms that deliver over £150bn in payments every year. These services are some of the largest and most important in the UK, and you'll be responsible for ensuring they remain stable, secure and resilient. You'll work within our delivery teams, helping to lead refactoring work across some of our major COBOL applications, modernising how they operate today and preparing them for the strategic technology shift DWP is undertaking over the next decade.
This role has a strong leadership and development focus. You'll coach and mentor junior engineers, support those progressing through our Engineering Academy, and help grow the next generation of specialist COBOL talent. You'll also provide 3rd-line support when needed, resolving complex technical issues that require deep system understanding.
We can promise challenge and variety. One day you might be leading technical improvements to legacy codebases; the next, planning infrastructure maintenance, resolving live service challenges, or influencing how we deliver future modernisation programmes. If you enjoy solving complex engineering problems and developing the next generation of engineering talent, then this is an opportunity to make a real impact and leave a long-lasting legacy on the future of public services.
Details
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield, whichever is most convenient for you.
Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.
Pay: We offer pay up to £59,813. That’s £46,547 salary plus a Digital Allowance of up to £13,266 subject to our assessment of your capability at interview.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £13,485 per year.
Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 24 days and rising to 26 days after one year. You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.
We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies.
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving.
- Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
- Sports and social activities.
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
And we have an award-winning environment and culture:
- DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards.
- Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024.
- Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025.
- Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Process
We know your time is valuable so our application and selection process is just two stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There'll be full instructions when you click through.
- Interview: a single stage interview online. Click APPLY for more information and to start your application.
COBOL Software Engineer employer: DWP Digital
DWP Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of Leeds. With a competitive starting salary of £70,000 and a comprehensive benefits package, including a civil service pension, employees enjoy flexibility through a hybrid working model, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. The company prioritises employee growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development while working with cutting-edge technologies like VXLAN and next-generation firewalls.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land COBOL Software Engineer
✨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 DWP Digital 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 DWP Digital.
✨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 DWP Digital.
✨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 DWP Digital 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 COBOL Software Engineer
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 DWP Digital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at DWP Digital 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 DWP Digital
✨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 DWP Digital 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.
