At a Glance
- Tasks: Collaborate on innovative software solutions and drive technical excellence.
- Company: Opencast, a forward-thinking consultancy that values quality over speed.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working arrangements, and a focus on professional growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by delivering high-quality software in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in Java/Scala and a passion for clean code and agile methodologies.
Ready to work somewhere that cares more about how you build software than how fast you can ship it? At Opencast, we don’t measure developers by the number of tickets you complete. We care about engineering craft, clean design and thoughtful problem-solving. Opencast consultants deliver in complex environments, pairing often and working with others who take pride in doing things properly: TDD, emerging design, refactoring and leaving code better than they found it. We build software we are proud of, and our clients trust us not just to code but to think, challenge and guide. If you value simple and robust solutions and want a role where your judgment matters as much as your keyboard, you will fit right in.
The role involves Contractors in Software Development (Senior level or Technical Lead) to help our major clients transform. Software developers at Opencast care about building products right and combine their own experience and approach with our company values. They are tech agnostic, have expertise in agile methodologies, extreme programming practices and use industry-leading programming languages to deliver agile transformation. Our approach to software development is collaborative, focused on keeping things simple, and we use test driven development and pair programming as best practice.
Working with clients and key stakeholders is a crucial part of a consultancy role. Our developers are inclusive team players that listen, collaborate, can positively challenge and manage expectations when needed but most of all are always willing to teach and help others. Leaving a client with improved ways of working, working technology and a good experience from discovery through to live is the priority. Contractors at Opencast follow the same principles as permanent consultants. The roles are varied, technical, and never confined to any one provider or solution.
Requirements
Due to the nature of this role, applicants must either currently hold active Security Check (SC) Clearance or be eligible to obtain it. Eligibility typically requires UK citizenship and continuous residence in the UK for the past five years, with no single absence exceeding 28 consecutive days. As attendance at client sites is a routine part of the role’s working pattern and involves occasional travel, travel expenses are not covered. Experience in delivering digital services for the UK government is highly valuable for many of our projects. Therefore, familiarity with the GDS toolkit will be beneficial.
Technical Skills
- Expertise in Java and/or Scala is required
- Experience in other languages such as Javascript, Typescript, Kotlin, Python or Ruby is also valuable
- Experience in a technical leadership role
- Deep understanding of programming paradigm, code design, testing, accessibility, performance and security
- Proven ability to apply different testing tools and methods in practice
- Knowledge or experience of delivering complex services to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards
- Being comfortable with new technology, t-shaped and comfortable with ongoing learning and development is key to success
- Experience with agile methodology
A contractor in software development at Opencast is responsible for:
- Driving the elaboration of their team’s backlog
- Setting testing strategies to match industry standards
- Being a technical expert in their team (or acting as the team lead)
- Leading the technical representation in a project discovery
- Acting as a technical lead in the team, enabling them to achieve their full potential
Salary
£450 - £600 per day (working inside IR35)
Where you’ll work
This role requires regular on-site attendance across our HQ, hub offices, client sites and home. Applicants must be able to commute to offices and client sites as part of their normal working arrangements, as travel is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.
We include you
We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.
Interview
Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We’re happy to make adjustments to support your needs.
Software Developer - Senior Consultant (Contract) employer: Opencast
As a growing tech consultancy, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With a competitive benefits package, including generous holiday allowances and professional development opportunities, we ensure our team members are supported both personally and professionally. Working at our HQ offers the unique advantage of being at the heart of innovation, where you can directly contribute to impactful solutions for the public sector while building meaningful relationships with clients and partners.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Developer - Senior Consultant (Contract)
✨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 Opencast 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 Opencast.
✨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 Opencast.
✨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 Opencast 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 Consultant (Contract)
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 Opencast.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Opencast 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 Opencast
✨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 Opencast 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.
