At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and enhance digital archiving services that promote transparency and open justice.
- Company: Join The National Archives, a leader in digital preservation and access.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with flexible working options and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by improving access to vital government records.
- Qualifications: Strong frontend development skills and experience with accessible web interfaces.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Help people find the evidence they need. Join The National Archives’ Digital Archiving team to build and run services that open government and court records for everyone. Our Access to Digital Records products increase transparency and support open justice, while setting best practice for access to digital records.
What you’ll work on:
- Access Your Records (AYR) – secure, self service access for government departments to born digital records transferred to The National Archives (currently in private Beta).
- Find Case Law (FCL) – the public site for judgments and tribunal decisions, including data feeds under an innovative licensing approach—an important step towards open justice.
What you’ll do:
- Own and deliver frontend features across AYR and FCL—set technical direction, write high quality code, and work with external suppliers when needed.
- Operate production services—monitor, troubleshoot, and improve resilience, robustness and stability.
- Coach and mentor developers; line manage a junior colleague.
- Champion secure engineering and consistent standards; contribute to code reviews and quality practices.
- Stay curious and share—engage with the wider dev community, evaluate new technologies, and help colleagues keep up with digital preservation developments.
What you’ll bring:
- Strong experience delivering server side rendered accessible interfaces (WCAG 2.2 AA).
- Strong web fundamentals (HTML, CSS/SASS, JavaScript) with an “open by default” mindset that makes reuse easy through components, design systems etc.
- Comprehensive approach to testing new features and bug fixes and delivering in an AGILE team.
- Good knowledge of common frontend security vulnerabilities and how to mitigate them.
- Experience operating live services and explaining complex systems clearly to others.
Nice to have:
- Working to the Government Digital Service Standard.
- Understanding of python web frameworks such as Django and Flask.
Working here:
- Hybrid working: We typically ask colleagues to be on site around 60% of the time—especially early on—so you can meet users and teammates.
- Security: SC clearance (or willingness to obtain) is required. This requires candidates to have been resident in the UK for at least the past three years. (Please do not apply if you have been resident in the UK for less than three years as your application will be rejected).
- Inclusive culture: We’re committed to improving the diversity of our workforce and warmly encourage applications from under represented groups.
- This is a full time post. However, requests for part‑time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.
Senior Frontend Developer – Digital Archiving Access Team employer: National Museums
As a Building Services Engineer with our client-side Estates team, you will thrive in a dynamic and rewarding environment dedicated to preserving one of the world's finest art collections. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and professional growth, offering you the chance to manage complex projects that directly impact the visitor experience and sustainability goals. Located in Liverpool, you will enjoy the unique advantage of working within nationally significant gallery buildings, contributing to the care and conservation of invaluable art while developing your expertise in a supportive setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Frontend Developer – Digital Archiving Access Team
✨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 National Museums 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 National Museums.
✨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 National Museums.
✨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 National Museums 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 Senior Frontend Developer – Digital Archiving Access Team
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 National Museums.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at National Museums 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 National Museums
✨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 National Museums 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.
