At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop high-quality software solutions for impactful digital services.
- Company: A growing digital consultancy focused on public sector transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in user-focused projects while mentoring junior engineers.
- Qualifications: Experience in full-stack development with Java, Python, or JavaScript.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
A growing digital consultancy delivering complex transformation programmes across the public sector is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its engineering team. This is an opportunity to create an impact on user-focused digital services while contributing to modern engineering practices in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
Please note: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must either hold current SC Clearance or be eligible to obtain SC Clearance.
The Role
As a Senior Software Engineer, you will design, build, and deliver high-quality software solutions across a variety of complex projects. You will play a key role in shaping technical direction, contributing to architecture, and ensuring engineering best practices are followed. You'll operate as part of agile, cross-functional teams, while also mentoring junior engineers and supporting continuous improvement across engineering capability. A key part of this role is adaptability-working across different technologies and environments depending on client need.
Key Responsibilities
- Development & Engineering
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable, secure, and robust software solutions
- Contribute to architectural decisions and system design
- Work across the full software development lifecycle from concept through to deployment
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges
- Quality & Best Practice
- Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code
- Implement and optimise CI/CD pipelines
- Conduct code reviews and uphold high engineering standards
- Ensure solutions follow secure-by-design and well-architected principles
- Collaboration & Delivery
- Work within agile, multidisciplinary teams including product, UX, DevOps, and QA
- Engage in early project discussions, providing technical insight and direction
- Communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders
- Support delivery planning and ensure alignment to business and user needs
- Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor and support junior engineers to develop their skills
- Promote best practice and continuous improvement across the team
- Contribute to the development of engineering standards and processes
- Continuous Improvement
- Stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends
- Drive improvements in coding standards, testing, and development practices
- Support adoption of new tools and methodologies
About You
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in full-stack software development across design, build, test, and deployment
- Strong experience in at least one of the following: Java, Python, C# / .NET, Full-stack JavaScript (e.g. React, Node.js)
- Comfortable working as a polyglot engineer, adapting to different technologies as needed
- Strong understanding of Agile and DevOps practices, including CI/CD
- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Familiarity with infrastructure as code (e.g. Terraform)
- Experience with modern architectures such as microservices, containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes), or serverless
- Knowledge of automated testing and modern development practices
- Awareness of secure-by-design and well-architected principles
- Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders
Desirable
- Experience operating in a senior engineering role
- Proficiency across multiple programming languages
- Experience working on government or public sector projects
- Background in consulting or client-facing environments
Key Skills
- Developing scalable, high-quality software solutions
- Writing clean, maintainable, and testable code
- Driving code quality through reviews and testing practices
- Collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams
- Communicating complex ideas clearly
- Mentoring and developing engineers
- Continuous learning and process improvement
If you're looking to deliver meaningful digital services in complex environments-while maintaining flexibility across technologies and having real influence on engineering outcomes-this role offers both challenge and opportunity.
Reasonable Adjustments: Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients. If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.
Lead Fullstack Software Engineer employer: Sanderson Government and Defence
As a Lead Network Engineer in Salisbury, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to maintaining and enhancing a critical network capability within a secure environment. Our company fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, offering extensive opportunities for professional growth and development while prioritising diversity and inclusion. With a commitment to employee well-being and a supportive work atmosphere, we ensure that our team members thrive both personally and professionally.
Contact Details:
Sanderson Government and Defence Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Fullstack Software Engineer
✨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 Sanderson Government and Defence 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 Sanderson Government and Defence.
✨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 Sanderson Government and Defence.
✨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 Sanderson Government and Defence 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 Lead Fullstack Software Engineer
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 Sanderson Government and Defence.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sanderson Government and Defence 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 Sanderson Government and Defence
✨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 Sanderson Government and Defence 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.
