At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor engineering teams to build critical public services.
- Company: Join one of the UK's largest tech organisations with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Up to £92,522 salary, generous holidays, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on services that support millions of citizens daily.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams, cloud systems, and TDD practices.
The predicted salary is between 80267 - 92522 € per year.
Pay up to £92,522, plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work life balance.
Are you ready to lead at scale - shaping how complex digital services are built, mentoring engineers and influencing senior leaders across one of the UK's largest technology organisations? As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll join our Engineering community, providing technical leadership across multiple agile teams delivering critical public services. You'll sit at the intersection of deep technical expertise and strategic leadership, helping define engineering direction while remaining close to the realities of delivery.
You'll work on high‐profile, business‐critical services that support millions of citizens every day - from core benefit systems like Universal Credit and Working Age Services, to Digital Payments Services, which process around £230bn in payments annually. This is a rare opportunity to influence how modern software engineering is done at true national scale, within a complex, safety‐critical environment where quality, resilience and trust really matter.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
- Experience leading and influencing multiple engineering teams, setting direction and supporting engineers to do their best work
- Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non‐technical stakeholders, including senior leaders, and influence decisions at that level
- Deep experience building and running systems in cloud environments (AWS or Azure), including APIs, RESTful services and microservice architectures
- Strong practical experience using Test‐Driven Development (TDD) to build reliable, maintainable software
- Experience working with SQL and NoSQL databases, such as Postgres, MySQL or MongoDB
You and your role
As our Lead Software Engineer, you'll provide technical leadership across a portfolio of teams and products, shaping how we design, build, test and run software across DWP Digital. You'll work closely with architects, product managers and delivery leaders to define medium‐ to long‐term strategies for our services, ensuring they are resilient, secure and fit for the future.
You will be working on either:
- Working Age Services Digital – supporting some of the UK government's most high‐profile citizen‐facing services, including Universal Credit and the green‐field Jobs and Careers Service.
- Digital Payments Services – responsible for payment platforms that support 22 million citizens and handle roughly a third of the UK's BACS traffic.
You'll guide teams through complex technical decisions, promote modern engineering practices, and help embed consistent standards across the wider engineering community. While this is a senior leadership role, it remains grounded in real delivery – you'll understand the systems, the trade‐offs and the day‐to‐day challenges facing engineering teams.
This role will suit someone who enjoys complexity, cares deeply about quality and engineering excellence, and is motivated by purposeful work. Your decisions will shape how critical public services are delivered, ensuring they remain reliable, scalable and trusted by the people who depend on them.
Location
You'll join us in one of our 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 £92,522: £80,267 salary plus a Digital Allowance of up to £12,255 subject to assessment of your capability at interview.
Pension
You'll get a civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%.
Holidays
A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time. You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi‐time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.
Benefits
- 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 easier to get to work and start making a difference
- Sports and social activities
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities
Lead Software Engineer in West Bromwich employer: DWP Digital
As a Lead Software Engineer at one of the UK's largest technology organisations, you'll thrive in a supportive and innovative work culture that prioritises work-life balance and employee well-being. With flexible working arrangements, generous leave packages, and a commitment to professional development, this role offers you the chance to lead impactful projects that serve millions of citizens while enjoying a collaborative environment that values your contributions and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in West Bromwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who work at DWP or similar organisations. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your best projects. When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, having tangible examples of your work can really set you apart.
✨Tip Number 3
Ace the interview by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to cloud environments and TDD. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at DWP.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer in West Bromwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership experience and technical expertise, especially in cloud environments and TDD, to show us you're the right fit for the Lead Software Engineer role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about this position. Share specific examples of how you've influenced engineering teams and made complex concepts accessible to non-technical stakeholders. This is your chance to showcase your personality!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don’t shy away from detailing your experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, as well as your work with APIs and microservices. We want to see how your technical background aligns with our needs for high-profile public services.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP Digital
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your deep technical expertise. Brush up on cloud environments like AWS or Azure, and be ready to discuss your experience with APIs, RESTful services, and microservices. Prepare to explain complex concepts in simple terms, especially for non-technical stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about influencing and mentoring teams. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led engineering teams, set direction, and supported engineers in their work. Highlight your ability to guide teams through complex decisions and promote modern engineering practices.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly around building reliable and maintainable software using Test-Driven Development (TDD). Be ready to discuss how you approached these challenges and the outcomes.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
This position involves shaping the future of public services. Familiarise yourself with the critical services you'll be working on, like Universal Credit and Digital Payments Services. Show your passion for quality and engineering excellence, and be ready to discuss how your decisions can impact millions of citizens.
