At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software development projects and mentor a dynamic team in creating impactful digital services.
- Company: Join the Crown Prosecution Service, a top-performing organisation committed to inclusion and community impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible working, and personal development funding.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of continuous improvement and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while advancing your career in a supportive and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in C# and .NET, with strong skills in backend services and cloud architectures.
The predicted salary is between 58330 - 58330 € per year.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 31st May 2026
Reference number: 456943
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade: Grade 7 Level D
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: CPS - HQ Digital Information Directorate (DID)
Type of role: Digital
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available: 1
Location: Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Exeter, Guildford, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Mold, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, St Albans, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Truro, Wakefield, Warrington, York
About the job
Job summary: Are you a seasoned software engineer ready to lead from the front? We are looking for Lead Developers with broad experience to join our dynamic team and shape the future of digital services at CPS. This is a hands-on leadership role where you combine deep technical expertise with strategic influence, mentor others, and drive delivery across high-impact projects.
You bring extensive experience in C# and .NET 8, with a strong track record in designing and building scalable backend services and RESTful APIs using ASP.NET. Your understanding of cloud-native architectures—particularly within Microsoft Azure and the use of Function apps—is key, alongside a solid grounding in computer science fundamentals, clean architecture, and SOLID principles.
You thrive in agile environments and champion DevSecOps practices. As a technical authority, you lead developers as part of multidisciplinary teams, shape development standards, and collaborate across departments to deliver secure, accessible, and high-quality digital solutions. You also play a key role in recruitment, skill development, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
If you are passionate about modern software engineering, eager to mentor others, and ready to make a tangible impact, we want to hear from you. As part of this role, you undertake direct line management responsibilities.
Your roles and responsibilities:
- You have an in-depth technical understanding of C# and .NET, and coach and mentor others in their use.
- Proficient in a range of development tools and skills relevant to your specialism, you are a committed learner who pivots to new skills as the technology ecosystem evolves.
- You advocate a modern standards approach to software development, including test-driven development (TDD), automated testing, continuous integration, pair programming, code review, and version control.
- You shape and share digital software development standards that are pragmatic and fit for CPS, recognising and advocating for change where needed.
- You inform the overarching strategy and define decision-making processes as part of the wider Technical Leadership group within Software Engineering.
- You write code for complex projects, break down barriers for teams, handle escalations, and plan at a high level while also diving into the detail to make things happen.
Person specification:
To be eligible to apply, you need to:
- Extensive professional experience in .Net and C# development, and with a strong track record of designing, implementing, and maintaining back end services.
- Developed and implemented RESTful based Web API's using ASP.Net.
- Understanding of Cloud Native Architectures e.g use of Azure Functions, Function apps & App services.
- Software Design: Strong Experience in use of Domain Driven Design, Clean Architecture, SOLID and clean code principles.
- Database Skills: Hands-on experience with Relational Databases (i.e., PostgreSQL/Oracle), including writing and optimizing SQL queries.
- Testing: Knowledge of Unit Testing, TDD/BDD, Integration Testing.
- Agile Methodologies: Proven ability to work in Agile/Scrum environments, with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- CI/CD and Version Control: Experience with CI/CD pipelines Version Control Systems (Github), and modern software development practices.
- Cloud Platforms: Experience with Cloud Platforms, in particular Azure.
Behaviours: We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Alongside your salary of £58,330, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £16,898 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Join the Crown Prosecution Service and find your purpose.
The Crown Prosecution Service is passionate about ensuring that we're a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We're a committed equal opportunities employer, creating a culture where you can bring your whole self to work, and individuality is truly appreciated.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering disability, faith and belief, LGBTQI+, race, social mobility alongside our mental health first aiders programme and wellbeing sessions.
The Crown Prosecution Service commits to offer its employees the following experience:
- You can do impactful, purposeful work that’s making a difference to your local communities.
- You are able to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources.
- We care about your wellbeing.
- We want you to feel valued, trusted and included.
We also offer the following range of benefits:
- Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
- 25 days’ leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
- £350 each year to spend on personal development
- Lawyer training programme for all new prosecutors
- An extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
- Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
- Flexible working including flexitime, and a family friendly approach to work
- Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings.
Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service is about inclusion, embracing differences and ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. We want you to feel that you belong and can thrive, whatever your background, identity or culture.
As a Disability Confident employer, we're happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments and improve your recruitment experience. If you'd like any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment process, let us know within your application or contact Ellie.Dixon@cps.gov.uk.
We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. We offer a hybrid working policy. You must spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.
The Crown Prosecution Service also has a range of development programmes to support all aspiring, new and experienced managers with developing the skills, behaviours and knowledge to build their confidence and capability. Our Manager Induction Programme is mandatory for all newly appointed managers. This is a fantastic opportunity to support all our new Crown Prosecution Service managers with the tools required to perform effectively in their roles.
Things you need to know: Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Lead Software Developer in Bristol employer: Public Sector Resourcing
The Crown Prosecution Service is an exceptional employer that prioritises impactful work and employee wellbeing, offering a supportive culture where individuality is celebrated. With flexible working arrangements, generous leave policies, and a commitment to professional development, employees are empowered to grow and thrive in their careers. Join us in making a difference to local communities while enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance in various locations across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Developer in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving C# and .NET. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. We recommend using platforms that simulate real interview scenarios to boost your confidence and performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at CPS.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Developer in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with C# and .NET, as well as your leadership skills. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant projects!
Show Off Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your expertise in cloud-native architectures and RESTful APIs. We’re looking for someone who can dive deep into technical details, so include specific examples of your work that demonstrate your capabilities.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to follow and free from jargon. This will help us understand your experience without getting lost in the details.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our team there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Public Sector Resourcing
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your C# and .NET skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with designing and building scalable backend services and RESTful APIs using ASP.NET. They’ll want to hear about specific projects where you’ve applied these skills.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Software Developer, you'll be expected to mentor others and lead teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully guided teams in the past, particularly in agile environments. Highlight your experience with DevSecOps practices and how you've fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to tackle some technical challenges during the interview. Think through how you would approach complex problems, especially those related to cloud-native architectures and Azure. They’ll appreciate candidates who can think critically and offer innovative solutions.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with the Crown Prosecution Service's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their culture and values, especially in terms of creating an inclusive environment and supporting your colleagues.
