Principal Software Developer - Ministry of Justice - G6 in Manchester

Location: East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber.

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. We're recruiting for three Principal Software Developers here at Justice Digital, Data and Science, to be part of our warm and collaborative Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), Legal Aid Digital (LAA) and Prisons and Probation Digital (HMPPS) designing and delivering digital services that make a genuine difference to people's lives, alongside championing the adoption of emerging technologies.

The Principal Developer will work under the Chief Engineer and alongside the Head of Profession for Engineering and will drive the product teams within OCTO, LAA and HMPPS, as well as acting as a leader within the software development profession across the MOJ. This is a hands‑on technical role where you'll work directly with product teams across the department, bringing your expertise to help deliver solutions that reduce friction and improve engineering practices across Justice Digital, Data and Science. You'll guide the Chief Engineer's product teams while providing leadership to the wider software development profession at MOJ. Beyond delivery, you'll also be expected to horizon scan and experiment with new products and tools in an R&D capacity, identifying emerging technologies that could benefit the organisation. This role aligns against the Principal Developer role from the Government Digital and Data Framework.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the Chief Engineer to define, maintain and own CTO’s engineering strategy, aligning with its wider business objectives.
• Oversee and guide technical teams, influence technical choices and seek out opportunities for digital transformation.
• Lead the Developer Assurance team, comprised of Staff Engineers, to ensure that development standards are maintained across Justice Digital, Data and Science.
• Lead the Engineering Standards team to develop and deliver a world‑class development portal that documents Justice Digital, Data and Science engineering standards.
• Work alongside the Principal DevOps Engineer to work with the DevX team on R&D projects to scope out new and emerging technologies to adopt across the department.
• Mentor, coach, and line‑manage lead and senior developers.
• Look for opportunities to collaborate and reuse common components, communicating with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Build and maintain an inclusive culture across the software development community.
• Manage recruitment and allocation of developers to teams, identifying gaps in capability, ensuring a good balance of skills and seniority.
• Work with the engineering principals across other agencies to help break down silos and work on cross‑cutting initiatives.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Experience leading and growing software development teams and technical capability and fostering an inclusive, high‑performing team culture.
• Expertise designing, building and operating reliable, secure, and maintainable digital services.
• Experience coaching, mentoring and line‑managing senior developers or technical leads.
• Confidence working within agile environments to iteratively work software designed around the user’s need.
• Confidence working across teams and reaching out across organisational/team boundaries to understand common technical approaches and patterns.
• Experience supporting live services and managing technical risks.
• Code review.
• Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance.

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Salary Information:

Base salary for this role is from £71,381 to £80,419 (National) or from £75,674 to £85,257 (London). New entrants to the Civil Service joining the MoJ are expected to start at the minimum of the pay band. Existing Civil Servants moving on a level transfer will retain their current base salary or move to the minimum of the pay band for the role, whichever is higher. Existing Civil Servants who are promoted will either move to the bottom of the new grade’s pay band or receive a 10% uplift, whichever provides the greater increase. Candidates may also be eligible for a non‑pensionable Government Digital & Data Allowance of up to £12,201 per year (London) or £12,319 (National). This is a temporary allowance, reviewed annually and may be retained, amended, or withdrawn. The final offer will reflect the skills and experience you demonstrate during the assessment process.

Why JDDS?

Over the past year, we have strengthened our focus on attracting and retaining women and non‑binary people in technical roles across the Ministry of Justice. We have steadily been increasing representation through targeted activity, including community forums, support and mentoring, and visible senior allyship committed to sustained improvement. We’re proud to back this up with action. Our internal Women in Digital, Data and Science Forum builds community for women and non‑binary colleagues across all grades, creating space to share experiences, grow confidence, and shape practical changes. We also support cross‑government work to remove barriers for women and girls entering and progressing in tech, and we offer routes in through apprenticeships and structured development. We’re proud that this work is recognised externally too: Justice Digital, Data and Science (Ministry of Justice) was named Best Employer of the Year at the Women in Tech Excellence Awards 2025. Our values are Purpose, Humanity, Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive culture in our workplace.