At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement robust Back End services while mentoring junior developers.
- Company: Join a leading public sector tech team focused on impactful solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive PAYE salary, flexible work arrangements, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with agile practices and excellent career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Tackle complex challenges and make a difference in public sector technology.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering skills in C, experience with legacy systems, and database fluency.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Clearance Required: SC-eligible
Duration: 6 months
Location: Telford with 2 days/week in office
IR35 Status: Mandated PAYE only
You will work closely with architects and delivery leads to design and implement robust Back End services, lead engineering best practices, and mentor junior developers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and is passionate about delivering impactful public sector solutions.
Role Purpose
As a Senior Engineer, you will remediate, stabilise, and modernise applications participating in the Ingres-only Pathway-decoupling data from Ingres to target relational platforms (eg, Oracle/SQL Server) and implementing secure, supportable fixes that reduce risk ahead of March 2027. You'll collaborate with architects, DB specialists, testers, and delivery leads to plan and execute safe change in line with HMRC standards.
Key Outcomes
- Risk reduction & compliance: Identify and remediate vulnerabilities, unsupported dependencies, and non-compliant patterns to meet HMRC security and data-protection expectations.
- Decoupling from Ingres: Refactor data access; support migration from Ingres to the agreed target RDBMS while retaining UI where required.
- Quality & Release readiness: Deliver thoroughly tested fixes and enhancements that are verifiable in SIT, E2E/UAT and OAT/NFR phases, supporting traceability and sign-off.
- Knowledge transfer: Produce clear documentation and handover notes to HMRC live support teams.
Responsibilities
- Analyse applications (forms, modules, class libraries, COM components) to map dependencies (ADO, ODBC, custom DLLs/OCXs) and Ingres touchpoints.
- Design and implement low-risk remediation: data access abstraction, connection-string/driver changes, error-handling hardening, and performance fixes aligned to target databases.
- Collaborate with DB engineers to plan and validate schema/data migration and to optimise SQL (procs/queries) post-migration.
- Build and execute test plans with QA: unit/functional/regression, non-functional (reliability, performance), and defect life cycle management across SIT, E2E/UAT and OAT.
- Contribute to release documentation and change approvals; support rehearsals and cutovers where needed.
- Work within HMRC MU governance for security, data protection, and auditability; keep artefacts current (design notes, runbooks, KT packs).
- Participate in agile ceremonies; coordinate with the Actian Exit streams (ETMP, Data Retention, Low-Code, Ingres-only) and Model Office activities.
- Coach junior engineers and contribute to HMRC MU engineering community initiatives.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong Engineering skills: VB6, Tuxedo, C, AWS preferred.
- Legacy remediation in regulated environments: diagnosing runtime faults, dependency drift, and security gaps; implementing safe, minimal-change fixes.
- Database fluency: experience moving away from Ingres or similar RDBMS; comfort working with DBAs on schema, queries, and performance while preserving behaviour.
- Quality engineering: practical test design, defect triage, and readiness for multi-phase test models (SIT/E2E/UAT/OAT).
- Delivery habits: version control (Git/TFS), lightweight design documentation, and effective stakeholder communication.
Desirable
- Familiarity with AI-assisted upgrade accelerators (eg, Retrofit/GitHub Copilot) and technical proving approaches used in the programme.
- Experience with HMRC MU governance, SD&T/implementation forums, or Model Office validation.
Senior C Engineer employer: Fortice
As a Senior C Engineer in Telford, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering impactful public sector solutions while enjoying a collaborative work culture that fosters innovation and professional growth. The company prioritises employee development through mentorship opportunities and encourages a strong focus on engineering best practices, all within a supportive environment that values compliance and quality. With a commitment to modernising applications and reducing risk, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference in the public sector while working alongside experienced professionals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior C Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who work with C or have experience in public sector projects. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or a GitHub repository showcasing your best projects, especially those related to legacy systems and database migrations. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do before they even meet you.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get ready for interviews by rehearsing common technical questions and scenarios related to C programming and database management. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find roles that match your skills. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team. Don't miss out on the chance to land that Senior C Engineer role!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior C Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior C Engineer role. Highlight your experience with VB6, Tuxedo, and C, as well as any legacy remediation work you've done. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Projects:Include specific examples of projects where you've tackled complex technical challenges. Describe your role in decoupling data from Ingres or similar RDBMS, and how you ensured compliance with security standards. This helps us see your hands-on experience!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points for key achievements and responsibilities. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets right to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fortice
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your C programming skills and any relevant technologies mentioned in the job description, like VB6 and AWS. Be ready to discuss your experience with legacy systems and how you've tackled similar challenges in the past.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role emphasises teamwork, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked with architects, DB specialists, and junior developers. Highlight any mentoring experiences and how you’ve contributed to a collaborative environment.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face some technical questions or scenarios during the interview. Practice explaining your thought process when solving complex problems, especially those related to database migration and security compliance.
✨Understand HMRC Standards
Familiarise yourself with HMRC's security and data protection expectations. Being able to discuss how you would ensure compliance and risk reduction in your work will show that you're serious about the role and understand its importance.
