At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of scalable backend systems using cutting-edge Azure technologies.
- Company: Join Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency for Great Britain, passionate about innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, generous leave, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national data services while working with modern tech and talented teams.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in backend development with strong C# and Azure skills.
Salary £56,312 - £65,697 (dependent on experience) Southampton
About Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, providing world‑class geospatial data and services that power innovation, support national infrastructure, and help people make better decisions every day. We’re passionate about using cutting‑edge technology to solve real‑world problems—and we’re looking for talented people to join our mission.
About the Role
As a Senior Backend Developer, you’ll take a leading role in designing, building and delivering scalable, high-performance backend systems that power our geospatial data platforms and services. You’ll guide technical decision‑making, champion engineering best practices, and help shape robust data‑driven solutions in the cloud. This is a chance to work with modern Azure technologies, large‑scale geospatial datasets, and analytical platforms, while influencing how critical national data services are designed and delivered at Ordnance Survey.
What You Will Be Doing
- Leading the technical delivery of complex backend systems, working closely with architects, delivery managers, and stakeholders
- Designing and implementing scalable, secure, and high‑availability services using C# and Azure
- Building and optimising data pipelines and services that leverage OLAP and analytical data platforms
- Working with geospatial datasets and services, ensuring efficient storage, processing, and access
- Coaching, mentoring, and supporting engineers to continually enhance capability across the team
- Operating and improving production systems to ensure robustness, resilience, and reliability
- Sharing best practices and identifying training opportunities to upskill the wider engineering community
- Communicating goals, progress, and technical challenges clearly across teams
- Providing line management support for Engineers and Associate Engineers (as required)
What We Are Looking For
- Proven experience as a senior backend developer with strong expertise in C# / .NET or equivalent language
- Solid experience building cloud‑native applications and services on Microsoft Azure
- Hands‑on experience with Azure services such as Container Apps, Storage, Azure DevOps, CI/CD, and identity/access management
- Strong experience working with relational and analytical data platforms, including OLAP systems and large‑scale data processing
- Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs and distributed systems
- Familiarity with geospatial data concepts, formats, and processing (e.g. spatial databases, GIS tools, or spatial indexing)
- Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and modern engineering practices
- Experience working in agile delivery environments
- A passion for continuous improvement and delivering high‑quality, maintainable solutions
The Rewards
We want you to love what you do. That is why our benefits package rewards a job well done.
- Salary £56,312 - £65,697 (dependent on experience)
- Performance related bonus up to 10%
- A competitive pension scheme (OS contributes up to 12.07%)
- 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays on joining, (3 taken over Christmas) increasing by one day per year, to a maximum of 5 years
- Enhanced family leave, including up to 12 weeks paid partner (paternity) leave
- Free subscription to OS Maps
- Access to online learning platforms
- Coaching and Mentoring schemes
- Plus, a suite of excellent additional perks and benefits
At OS, we believe looking after your health and wellbeing means more than posters and events. We empower you to manage your work and life the way you need it by offering things like:
- An extra days’ leave for each year you work, up to 33 days
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Free onsite parking at our modern HQ in Southampton
- We adopt flexible working and can consider different working hours dependent on the role and your personal circumstances
- OS Explorers Nursery discount
- Cycle to Work scheme
- We believe that as a company we should give back wherever we can, so we give you 1 day a year to volunteer for charities that are important to you, as well as offering a match funding scheme
Location & Working Pattern
We embrace a hybrid working model at OS, because we believe in flexibility and balance. You’ll be based at our fantastic HQ in Southampton, Hampshire, where you'll spend 50% of your working week collaborating face‑to‑face with colleagues. It’s all about combining the best of both worlds connection and autonomy to help you thrive.
Inclusion at OS
Research shows that people from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. At Ordnance Survey, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace. If this role excites you but your experience doesn’t match every point, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right person for this role or another opportunity at OS. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that people may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during the application process.
Closing date: 15 June 2026
Interviews will be via Teams
This role requires the right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, OS cannot provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Senior Back End Developer in Southampton employer: Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and employee growth, offering a dynamic work culture in the heart of Southampton. With a competitive salary, generous benefits including enhanced family leave and a commitment to flexible working, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. The opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology on impactful national projects makes this a truly rewarding place to advance your career as a Senior Back End Developer.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Back End Developer in Southampton
✨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 Ordnance Survey 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 Ordnance Survey.
✨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 Ordnance Survey.
✨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 Ordnance Survey 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 Back End Developer in Southampton
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 Ordnance Survey.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ordnance Survey 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 Ordnance Survey
✨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 Ordnance Survey 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.
