Lead Java Software Engineer in London

Lead Java Engineer - Digital & Public Sector Transformation
A growing digital consultancy delivering complex transformation programmes across the public sector is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to drive engineering delivery on high-profile, important projects.
This is a senior leadership role combining hands-on engineering with team leadership, architecture ownership, and responsibility for driving engineering culture and best practice.
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 Lead Software Engineer, you will oversee the design, development, and delivery of scalable, secure digital solutions. You'll lead engineering teams, shape technical direction, and ensure high standards across all phases of the software lifecycle.
You will work closely with product, design, and delivery teams to align technical solutions with user and business needs, while also playing a key role in mentoring, line management, and capability development.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Architecture
Lead the architecture, design, and development of complex software systems
Ensure solutions meet high standards of scalability, security, and performance
Set technical direction and guide engineering teams through delivery
Apply modern architecture patterns such as microservices and event-driven design
Team Leadership & Management
Lead, mentor, and line manage a team of engineers
Provide technical guidance and support professional development
Foster a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture
Lead by example in engineering best practice and delivery excellence
Engineering Quality & Best Practice
Ensure coding standards, testing approaches, and development practices are consistently applied
Conduct code reviews and promote continuous improvement
Drive adoption of modern engineering practices including TDD, DevOps, and automation
Oversee implementation and optimisation of CI/CD pipelines
Delivery & Collaboration
Work closely with product managers, UX/UI, QA, DevOps, and wider stakeholders
Translate business requirements into robust technical solutions
Manage delivery timelines, ensuring work is delivered on time and within scope
Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges
Wider Contribution
Contribute to early-stage project discussions and solution shaping
Support recruitment activities including CV screening and technical assessments
Contribute to bid and proposal responses when required
Stay informed on emerging technologies and drive innovation where appropriate
About You
Essential Experience
Extensive experience across the full software development lifecycle
Strong hands-on background in Java, Spring Boot, Python, and microservices architectures
Comfortable working as a polyglot engineer across multiple technologies
Proven experience leading and managing engineering teams
Strong understanding of Agile, DevOps, and TDD practices
Experience designing and delivering scalable, secure software architectures
Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
Familiarity with infrastructure as code and CI/CD pipelines
Experience working with containerisation technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
Strong experience with automated testing frameworks and best practice
Ability to communicate complex technical ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Desirable
Experience leading large, multidisciplinary delivery programmes
Line management experience within engineering teams
Exposure to AI or emerging technologies
Experience within public sector or government environments
Experience contributing to bids, hiring, or team growth
Key Skills
Software architecture and system design
Cloud-native development and deployment strategies
Advanced programming across multiple languages (e.g. Java, Python, JavaScript)
CI/CD and automation practices
Code quality, testing, and engineering standards
DevOps and operational excellence
Leadership, mentoring, and team development
Stakeholder communication and engagement
What You'll Bring
A strong sense of accountability for delivery and outcomes
A passion for engineering craft and continuous improvement
The ability to lead through ambiguity and set technical direction
A collaborative mindset, building strong relationships across teams and clients
A focus on delivering high-quality, user-centred solutions in complex environments
If you're looking for a role where you can combine hands-on engineering with leadership and strategic impact , while working on meaningful, large-scale programmes-this is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping modern digital delivery.
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.
TPBN1_UKTJ