At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead application development on defence projects and mentor a growing team.
- Company: Neptune North, a dynamic tech consultancy in Newcastle upon Tyne.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, private health insurance, and matching pension contributions.
- Other info: Rigorous interview process ensures high standards and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape software for UK defence while collaborating with top-notch engineers.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software development with strong programming skills.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Security clearance: must be eligible for UK SC-level security clearance (UK national)
Visa sponsorship: we are not able to sponsor visas for this role
Closing date: applications reviewed on a rolling basis
About Neptune North
Neptune North is a high-performing technical consultancy. We build data, AI and software solutions for clients in defence, financial services and private capital, working on demanding problems in challenging environments. We were founded in 2024 as a joint venture between Oliver Wyman and Rokos Capital Management. We’re headquartered in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, with a growing international footprint, and we’re recruiting exceptional engineers across every level.
The role
We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer to lead application development on demanding defence projects and to help provide technical oversight to a new and rapidly growing team. You will help define and strengthen the application engineering capabilities that differentiate Neptune North and build a trusted reputation across defence clients. Responsibilities also include contributing to business development, providing technical expertise and mentoring, overseeing the quality of deliverables, and hands-on involvement in projects. This is a technical leadership role for an engineer who wants to stay close to the code. Potential projects span fully engineered solutions, developing Proof of Concepts (POCs), and modernising systems our clients depend on every day.
Responsibilities
- Influence the technical direction and play a key role in strengthening Neptune North’s application engineering capabilities
- Provide leadership and hands-on delivery in a wide range of software projects
- Set and maintain technical direction, architecture and standards, and make pragmatic trade-offs between speed, quality and long-term maintainability
- Run code and design reviews, set the bar for quality, and hold the team to it
- Work directly with clients to shape requirements, manage expectations, and to build trust
- Contribute to winning work by helping to write compelling bids and high-quality technical proposals
- Demonstrate flexibility in taking on work aligned to evolving company priorities
- Advocate knowledge sharing across the team and identify opportunities for reuse of capabilities
- Regularly provide career and technical mentorship to other engineers to build a high calibre engineering team
What makes a great candidate
- Minimum 5 years employment experience delivering and/or overseeing production web applications
- Excellent programming skills in one or more modern backend languages, such as C#/.NET, Java or Python
- Experience of web application development, including SQL databases, web frameworks and RESTful API design
- Frontend development in React and TypeScript, with experience using WebSockets, SignalR or similar real-time transport technologies
- Experience of modern end-to-end software engineering workflows, including requirements management, design, development, testing, deployment and maintenance
- Experience of cloud deployment and configuration, ideally on Azure or AWS
- Experience integrating AI-assisted tools into development workflows without compromising on quality, security or compliance
- A solid understanding of software engineering processes, and a drive to embed best practices in teams
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to adapt communication according to the audience
- Experience working effectively in a team and a commitment to knowledge-sharing and collaboration
- Strong academic foundations, typically a first-class or 2:1 degree from a leading university in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or Mathematics, or a related discipline
- Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, while maintaining a disciplined, outcome-focussed approach
- Experience in defence or national security is a strong plus
- Experience writing technical proposals or bids is a plus
What you can achieve
- Shape software that strengthens UK defence and national security
- Play a critical role in building and nurturing a rapidly expanding world-class engineering team
- Gain broad experience across interesting software projects applied to challenging environments
- Be part of a collaborative, low-ego team
Why join us
- Work on a wide variety of interesting problems alongside high-calibre colleagues. Our culture is collaborative and supportive. Neptune North is a place where people help each other grow and feel a real sense of belonging
- 25 days’ holiday allowance plus bank holidays
- Matching pension contributions up to 6%
- Private health insurance through Bupa
- Discretionary bonus
Travel
Neptune North works with clients across the UK’s defence sector. Many engagements involve regular travel and time on client site. This could mean two to three days per week over an entire assignment, or shorter periods of full-time on-site working anywhere in the UK, at sites including Cheltenham, Bristol, Glasgow, Portsmouth or other defence hubs. We support travelling staff with full expenses and hotel arrangements, and we discuss client placements with you in advance. We are looking for engineers who see this variety as part of the appeal of consultancy work rather than a downside.
Interview process
Our interview process is rigorous because the standard internally is high. For this role, it has three stages:
- Written questions, which you complete at a time that suits you
- A first interview covering your CV, experience and career aspirations
- A technical interview with members of our engineering team
Equity, diversity and inclusion
At Neptune North we are committed to a work environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences help us attract, develop and retain the best talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, race or ethnicity, identification as an LGBTQIA+ individual, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by relevant local law.
Senior Software Developer- Application Development (Defence) in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Neptune North
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Developer- Application Development (Defence) in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨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 Neptune North 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 Neptune North.
✨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 Neptune North.
✨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 Neptune North 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 Software Developer- Application Development (Defence) in Newcastle upon Tyne
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 Neptune North.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Neptune North 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 Neptune North
✨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 Neptune North 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.
