We are currently recruiting for Lead Software Engineers to work a 12-month contract with our client 40% on-site in any of five available locations in the UK.

Overview

This role is responsible for the design, development, delivery, and ongoing improvement of software solutions within a secure, government-focused environment. The successful candidate will contribute to building resilient, scalable, and user-centred services, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards relating to controlled goods and exports.

The position requires strong technical leadership, collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, and ownership of both development and live service performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of scalable software solutions
• Translate user needs into technical outcomes
• Build secure, test-driven, high-quality code
• Support and maintain live services (performance & stability)
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (BA, UCD, Developers)
• Oversee development across multiple workstreams
• Drive continuous improvement of systems and processes
• Ensure integration across complex systems

Technical Environment

• Primary Stack: Python, Django
• Backend-focused with full-stack awareness
• Multiple user journeys (~27 Front End journeys)
• Government Digital Service (GDS) aligned delivery

Team Structure

• Total team: ~27 people
• 4 Agile squads (~7 per squad)
• Typical squad includes:
  • 3 × Senior Developers
  • Business Analyst
  • UCD Specialists (Content, Interaction, Design)

Ways of Working

• Agile delivery model
• Daily stand-ups (~10am)
• Ticket-based workflow
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Focus on:
  • Clean code
  • Engineering standards
  • Testing & documentation

Key Requirements:

Essential

• Strong Python and Django experience
• Proven system design capability (end-to-end)
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Experience working in agile, multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to contribute to secure, structured environments
• Minimum 5+ years' experience (ideally 8-10 years)

Top 3 Evaluation Criteria

1. Python & Django technical expertise
2. System design and architecture capability
3. Strong communication and teamwork skills

Desirable

• Experience with GDS standards
• Public sector or defence-related experience
• Exposure to secure or regulated environments

Domain Context

• Defence/government environment (eg MOD, HMRC)
• Focus on export control systems (weapons, aircraft, sensitive goods)
• Security-focused work contributing to national interest

Candidate Profile

• T-shaped skill set (deep technical + broad system awareness)
• Strong delivery focus and efficiency
• Comfortable taking ownership and leading within squads
• Experience working in structured, governance-heavy environments

If you feel you have the skills and experience needed for this role; please do apply now.

By applying for this job and submitting your CV to Parker Shaw, you acknowledge and give permission for us to pass it to an associate company for resourcing purposes. We outsource some of our resourcing calls to a trusted third-party company and they may call you to discuss this opportunity with you. They will then report back to us with the outcome of their conversation with you, where upon we will decide whether to submit your CV to the end client. Please be assured that the third-party company do not store or control any of your data, this is all done by ourselves (Parker Shaw).