At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative software solutions and mentor junior team members.
- Company: Join UCAS, a leading organisation connecting people to higher education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible hybrid working, and 30 days annual leave.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education technology while growing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in .Net applications and cloud technologies is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: South West, Gloucestershire, Rosehill - Hybrid
About UCAS
UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education. UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers. We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.
Business Unit Description
The Digital Services business unit is at the heart of UCAS’ technical innovation, data and infrastructure. It focuses on leveraging data science, technology, and enterprise architecture to enhance UCAS' digital products and services. The unit is dedicated to developing and improving customer-centric digital solutions, ensuring seamless and secure online experiences for all users. By providing insightful data and analysis, often made available to anyone with free-to-use intuitive dashboard, Digital Services empowers the Higher Education sector and those interested in the sector with valuable information to make informed decisions. By working in collaborative, expert led, multi-disciplinary teams, Digital Services drives UCAS’ mission to connect students with their next opportunities through advanced technological solutions.
About the Role
Contractual Hours: 35.00
The Senior Software Engineer is the key development and technical specialist resource for the team, responsible for developing and delivering software solutions in line with UCAS’ Corporate and IT strategy, while maintaining a detailed knowledge of existing UCAS applications and systems. They will work alongside other Senior Software Engineers to ensure compliance with UCAS coding and design standards.
Key Accountabilities:
- Provide technical leadership and innovation, utilising advanced technical skills.
- Accountable for the development of quality solutions based on technical requirements, leading projects and/or project teams as required.
- Provide coaching, mentoring support and feedback to team members in key technologies and developments, to improve general skill set of the team and increase knowledge of solutions.
- Code/configure and document complex solutions from supplied specifications, using agreed standards and tools, and conduct reviews with others as appropriate.
- Define and maintain coding and best practice standards and documentation guidelines.
- Develop and maintain specialist knowledge of cloud technologies, design principles, architectures, and software.
- Analyse data requirements to establish, modify, and maintain object/data models.
- Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for related technologies and understand the interactions between the systems.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
- Educated to degree level in relevant computing discipline or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of professional experience.
- Substantial experience of developing enterprise level .Net applications.
- Significant experience leading and designing solutions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate effectively to both non-technical and technical audiences.
- Experience of working successfully in a dynamic, large-scale agile department with multiple technologies.
- Significant experience developing solutions for the cloud.
- Highly proficient in automated CI/CD pipelines, including automated testing.
- Significant experience of coaching and mentoring junior members of staff, with a proven ability to develop individuals and input into performance evaluation.
- Proven ability to lead architectural designs, considering business need, cost, and delivery timescales.
Package
- Salary up to £60,000
- Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity.
- Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies.
- Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts.
- 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave.
- Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools.
- Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office.
- Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders.
- Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond.
Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you are interested in this vacancy, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please apply.
If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk.
Working Arrangements: Is fully remote working an option? No
Senior Software Engineer employer: UCAS
UCAS is an exceptional employer, offering a purpose-driven work environment that connects individuals to higher education opportunities. With a strong commitment to employee growth through internal training and access to industry-recognised certifications, UCAS fosters an inclusive culture supported by various employee networks and wellbeing initiatives. The hybrid working model, generous leave policies, and onsite facilities further enhance the overall employee experience, making it a rewarding place to work in Cheltenham.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior 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 UCAS 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 UCAS.
✨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 UCAS.
✨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 UCAS 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 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 UCAS.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at UCAS 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 UCAS
✨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 UCAS 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.
