At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of engineers in developing critical applications using Java and React.
- Company: Join the Home Office, a dynamic tech-driven environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Great opportunities for professional growth and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national infrastructure while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and team leadership is essential.
The predicted salary is between 62732 - 69706 £ per year.
Location: London Borough of Croydon, UK; Salford, UK; Sheffield, UK; Glasgow City, Glasgow, UK
Salary: 62,732 - 69,706 per year
Employment: Flexible
Category: IT
Posted: 2026-08-18
Valid to: 2026-09-01
Employer: Home Office
We are looking for people who are passionate about Engineering to join our community led team in Shared Applications Service (SAS). You will work in agile multidisciplinary teams with over 200 engineers in a modern cloud environment using the latest technologies. Our purpose as a team is to bring technical understanding in-house for over 600 Home Office applications. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office.
This role is for leading Critical National Infrastructure applications within Migration and Borders Portfolio. The Lead Engineer will drive the technical delivery of their team, managing their workload and ensuring the right skills are available. You will be responsible for the work undertaken by your Developers and DevOps staff and will be expected to work with Seniors and Principals to ensure that services produced are best practice. You should have a solid technical background and will be able to apply these skills if required to provide guidance to your team. You will also maintain a broad perspective, monitoring technology developments such that you can support strategy formation.
Along with the other Senior, Lead and Principal Engineers in your area you will be responsible for ensuring that all technical approaches being used are appropriate and endorsed, and will take part in planning with senior stakeholders to make sure that product delivery and maintenance is on a firm basis. Your remit may be across the engineering function but working closely with Architects and other professions.
Tools and Technologies we use:
- Backend: Java, Node.js, Kafka
- Frontend: React, JavaScript
- Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongo DB
- DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Docker, Terraform, Github Actions
- AI: Github Copilot, OpenAI, Claude
Main Responsibilities
- Leading the day to day activities of engineers in your team, ensuring everyone is working effectively and efficiently; reporting any impediments.
- Coaching your team as well as Supporting Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and encouraging formal professional qualifications.
- Supporting capability build in your team and in the organisation.
- Taking a hands-on role with engineering delivery when necessary, blending your leadership and technical tasks to achieve team objectives.
- Ensuring appropriate methods are being used, as well as leading efforts to identify improved tools/technologies.
- Leadership of the Java and React software development in teams.
Working Pattern
This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 3 days per week due to business requirements.
Essential Skills
As a Lead Java Engineer, you’ll have a demonstrable experience in:
- Managing multiple delivery focused teams with competing priorities and timelines, ensuring adherence to standards within the team.
- Software development using Java.
- Working with senior stakeholders to provide operational support to the portfolio in pursuit of challenging ministerial and legislative deadlines.
- Providing technical expertise and best practice across cloud management, FinOps, and end‑to‑end CI/CD processes, with the capability to interpret complex system designs and communicate them effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Creating, executing, and delivering detailed roadmaps that include appropriate quality management and business capacity to ensure successful outcomes.
- Mentoring colleagues in developing skills and capabilities in line with strategy, team, and personal goals.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 62,732, Home Office contributes 18,173 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Some of the primary benefits include:
- 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.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
- 8 days of public holidays, plus 1 additional privilege day.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the details provided in the original job description.
Lead Java Engineer in London employer: United Kingdom Government
The Home Office is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of the UK, with opportunities for flexible working arrangements. Employees benefit from a robust Civil Service pension scheme, generous annual leave, and a strong commitment to professional development, ensuring that you can grow your skills while contributing to critical national infrastructure projects. Join a diverse team of over 200 engineers in a collaborative culture that values innovation and continuous improvement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Java Engineer in London
✨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 United Kingdom Government 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 United Kingdom Government.
✨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 United Kingdom Government.
✨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 United Kingdom Government 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 Java Engineer in London
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 United Kingdom Government.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at United Kingdom Government 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 United Kingdom Government
✨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 United Kingdom Government 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.
