Software Developer (Senior) - Birmingham

Software Developer (Senior) - Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
HMRC

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and development of innovative software solutions for public service.
  • Company: Join HMRC's dynamic IT team making a real difference in people's lives.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
  • Other info: Opportunities for career growth in a supportive and inclusive environment.
  • Why this job: Be part of a transformative journey in tech while supporting a vital public service.
  • Qualifications: Strong experience in C# and .NET, with a passion for mentoring and collaboration.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.

Are you a software developer looking for a new opportunity? Now is a fantastic time to start building your career in our exciting, creative and world-class IT team. If you want to learn a lot, help others do the same and be part of delivering public service that makes a real difference, HMRC is a great place to do that.

The Senior Software Developer role sits within HMRC's Chief Digital Product Office (CDPO), in the Business Developed Applications (BDApp) team. This team designs, builds and maintains software solutions that support HMRC's customer-focused strategy with a portfolio that includes around 140 products, ranging from new applications to legacy systems.

The role is central to delivering technological change while ensuring operational stability. It involves leading the design and delivery of BDApps, maintaining and enhancing existing applications, and driving improvements to reduce technical debt and ensure compliance with legislation and HMRC standards.

Key responsibilities include:
  • Leading the design and development of software products within the BDApp portfolio.
  • Ensuring operational stability and performance of existing applications.
  • Implementing changes to maintain compliance and improve efficiency.
  • Working with stakeholders to deliver secure, effective and sustainable solutions.
  • Supporting HMRC's strategic direction by adopting cloud technologies and modern development practices.

This position requires a strong understanding of the software development lifecycle and HMRC's IT infrastructure. It also involves applying knowledge of cloud platforms and enterprise architecture to deliver solutions that meet our organisational goals. The role combines technical leadership with hands-on development and collaboration across teams.

This is a challenging role for those looking to deliver technological change during a period of organisational transformation. It offers the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives by delivering high-quality digital products. As a Senior Developer, you will take responsibility for the operational stability of our portfolio of BDApps and ensure changes are implemented with ongoing robustness and reliability.

Person specification:

As a Senior Developer you will take the technical direction and designs set by the Lead Developer and Technical Architect and turn them into well built secure and accessible software that meets HMRC standards. You will play a key role in delivery across the software development lifecycle by contributing high quality code and supporting the team to meet agreed outcomes. You will work closely with the Lead Developer to surface risks early and help keep delivery aligned to the agreed technical blueprint.

You will provide strong technical contribution by writing and reviewing high quality software, supporting less experienced developers through complex work, and applying consistent engineering practices. You will invest in your own learning and actively support the development of others. You will contribute to HMRC's move from legacy systems to modern web, microservice and cloud based solutions. You will apply a solid understanding of Business Developed Applications and their place in HMRC's technology landscape to help ensure solutions are stable, maintainable and aligned with organisational needs.

Key responsibilities:
  • Contribute to the design, development and delivery of BDApp products in line with the blueprint set by the Technical Architect and Lead Developer.
  • Deliver hands on development and ensure solutions meet security, accessibility and coding standards.
  • Support day to day technical delivery within the team and demonstrate effective leadership behaviours through example.
  • Work with the Lead Developer to clarify scope, highlight risks and maintain a sustainable delivery pace.
  • Support and mentor developers to build capability and confidence in line with Developing Self and Others.
  • Identify technical risks or deviations from design principles and raise them early.
  • Produce clear technical documentation and support teams to resolve complex issues.
Illustrative technical skills:
  • Strong experience of delivering software across the full software development lifecycle.
  • Proficient in C# or another high level programming language.
  • Experience of web, API, microservice or cloud based development.
  • Understanding of Business Developed Applications and how they fit within HMRC's technology stack.
  • Ability to design, maintain and execute test scripts and support technical and user acceptance testing.
  • Experience of modern development tooling including automation, robotics or low or no code where appropriate.
  • Ability to produce clear technical documentation and support the transition of products into live operations.
Essential Criteria:
  • Strong experience in C# and .NET development, including WPF, HTML, CSS.
  • Experience with low-code solutions is beneficial.
  • Strong understanding of SOLID principles, test-driven development and design patterns such as MVVM and MVC.
  • Experience with Entity Framework or other ORM tools, SQL or NoSQL databases, and relational database architecture including integrity constraints.
  • Good knowledge of web technologies and protocols, including microservice architecture, APIs and containerised solutions.
  • Awareness of software accessibility challenges and how to address them.
  • Ability to communicate system changes, issues and risks effectively to project leads and stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience of sharing knowledge and best practice and critically evaluating own and others' work to successfully implement software development best practices.
Desirable Criteria:
  • Experience of mentoring and technically leading a team in an Agile environment.
  • In-depth knowledge of exploiting an AWS platform.

This role requires the successful candidates to hold or be willing to hold Security check (SC) clearance.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC, hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.

Software Developer (Senior) - Birmingham employer: HMRC

HMRC is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a supportive work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. With flexible and hybrid working policies, generous leave allowances, and a commitment to continuous improvement, employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful public service. Located in Birmingham's vibrant Arena Central, this role as an Operating Model Manager provides the opportunity to lead impactful change within a large organisation, making a real difference in how technology services are delivered.

HMRC

Contact Details:

HMRC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Software Developer (Senior) - Birmingham

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 HMRC 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 HMRC.

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 HMRC.

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 HMRC 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 Software Developer (Senior) - Birmingham

C#
.NET
WPF
HTML
CSS
API Development
Microservices

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 HMRC.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at HMRC 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 HMRC

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 HMRC 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.