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- Tasks: Tackle challenging technical problems while developing software and ensuring delivery quality.
- Company: Join a vital team within UK law enforcement, enhancing national security.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and a civil service pension.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public safety with innovative technology solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and a passion for learning new technologies.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
The predicted salary is between 76117 - 80237 £ per year.
Salary: £76,117 (National) or £80,237 (Croydon) plus skills allowance of up to £19,483 pending assessment.
Location: Croydon, Manchester or Sheffield on a hybrid basis
Advert Close: 11:55 pm Tuesday 10th February 2026
Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.
What you'll bring to the role
The Principal Developer works on challenging technical problems, which require broad thinking while remaining hands-on developing software. You will be expected to actively deliver but will have more of a focus on ensuring delivery quality and overall service value. You will be working on large scale problems on critical services setting strategy and standards for the wider team to follow.
You will be working on the National Communications Data Service (NCDS) a critical capability within UK law enforcement, providing secure, reliable, and scalable services for the acquisition and analysis of communications data to support investigations and protect the public. Operating at the heart of national security and policing, NCDS ensures compliance with legal frameworks while delivering innovative technology solutions that enable rapid, accurate, and ethical data handling.
You will be expected to understand and use the latest AWS technology as well as applying Secure by Design Principles.
We are currently looking for 2 roles. One is working in the Homeland Security Group and the other is within Policing.
Tools and Technologies we use
We are keen for Engineers to continue learning new technologies, we have a large range in the Home Office but would especially welcome applications from candidates with experience in the below:
- Role 1: Languages and Frameworks: React, Vue, Node.js. Other Languages used across the service include: Python, PHP, Drupal, Databases, PostgreSQL and/or MySQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform
- Role 2: Databases: Oracle RDBMS Enterprise Edition 11gR1, Oracle WebLogic 11gR1Elastic
You’ll have a demonstrable passion for software development, with the following skills or strong experience in:
- Selecting appropriate tooling, and specifying, designing, refactoring, and documenting complex scripts, frameworks, and infrastructure-as-code definitions, to automate build and deployment activities. (PROG - Programming/software development)
- Specify and lead the implementation of master data management processes and standards, ensuring data integrity, transformation, availability and searchability through formal methods and protection measures. (DATM – Data management)
- Specifying and setting standards for automated testing, scanning and code analysis in collaboration with testers, architects, service owners and developers. (TEST - Testing)
- Specifying, guiding, and leading the adoption of automation frameworks for CI/CD and ETL data pipelines. (SINT - Systems integration and build)
- Specifying and ensuring good use of processes, procedures and tooling for application or database monitoring, maintenance, and incident response. (ASUP - Application support)
- Design, specification, development of large and complex cloud data platforms. Integrating data presentation, analysis and GIS – leading the development strategy and peer reviewing code changes (Role 1), or Support and development of a complex intelligence platform incorporating data ingest, analytics and matching. Peer reviewing code changes (Role 2) (SWDN – Software Design)
Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all levels in the Home Office.
What's in it for you?
- A civil service pension with employer contribution rates of at least 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- The ability to potentially adopt flexible working options that suit your work/life balance, plus the opportunity in future to take a career break.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
- Eight days public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- 26 weeks maternity, adoption or shared parental leave at full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, after qualifying service.
- Maternity and adoption support leave (also known as paternity leave) of two weeks full pay, after qualifying service.
- Paid leave for fostering approval processes, support when a child is substantively placed with you plus a foster to adopt policy.
- Support for guardians and kinship carers.
- Corporate membership of ‘Employers for Carers’ providing additional information and advice for carers, plus a ‘Carer’s Passport’ to discuss workplace needs and underpin supportive conversations.
- Time off to deal with emergencies and certain other unplanned special circumstances.
Please click on apply now where you will be redirected to the full job advert and our application portal.
Principal Developer in Sheffield employer: UK Home Office
Contact Detail:
UK Home Office Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Developer in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its tech stack, especially AWS and the languages mentioned. Show them you’re not just a developer but a passionate problem-solver.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice coding challenges! Brush up on your skills with platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Being sharp on your coding skills can really set you apart during technical interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Developer in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Principal Developer. We want to see how you can tackle those challenging technical problems and contribute to our mission.
Showcase Your Passion: Don’t just list your skills; let us know why you love software development! Share examples of projects or technologies that excite you, especially those related to AWS or secure coding practices.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and gets straight to the point.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember to apply through our website for the best chance of success! It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Home Office
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like AWS, React, and Node.js. Brush up on your knowledge of these tools and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about specific challenges you've faced in software development and how you tackled them. Highlight your ability to think broadly while being hands-on, as this role requires a balance of both.
✨Understand Security Protocols
Since this role involves working on critical services for national security, be prepared to discuss your understanding of Secure by Design principles. Familiarise yourself with relevant legal frameworks and how they apply to data handling.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how they measure success in this position.
