Lead Software Engineer

Title: Lead Software Engineer

Description: Lead Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer (Python & Django) Contract Length: 12 Months Rate: Up to £750 per day (Umbrella) IR35 Status: Inside IR35 Clearance Required: Active SC Clearance Working Pattern: Hybrid – 2 days per week onsite Locations London Manchester Birmingham Cardiff Darlington The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Lead Software Engineer / Senior Software Engineer with strong Python and Django expertise to join a major digital transformation programme operating within a secure and highly regulated environment. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the design, development, and delivery of secure, scalable digital services supporting business-critical systems. Working within a modern agile delivery environment, you will play a key role in shaping technical solutions, leading engineering activities, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will be a hands-on technical leader with a passion for engineering excellence, modern software development practices, and delivering high-quality digital services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of scalable software solutions using Python and Django
• Translate user and business requirements into secure, reliable technical solutions
• Develop clean, maintainable, and test-driven code
• Design systems with security, resilience, and performance at their core
• Support, maintain, and enhance live production services
• Provide technical leadership across multiple workstreams and integrations
• Collaborate with Developers, Business Analysts, Designers, and UCD specialists
• Review technical designs and ensure adherence to engineering standards and best practices
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes and delivery practices
• Ensure solutions align with modern development standards and agile delivery principles

Technical Environment:

• Python
• Django
• REST APIs
• CI/CD Pipelines
• Automated Testing Frameworks
• Agile Delivery Methodologies
• Secure Software Engineering Practices
• Cloud-Based and Integration-Focused Architectures

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Strong commercial experience with Python and Django
• Proven track record designing and delivering scalable backend systems
• Strong understanding of software architecture and systems integration
• Experience working within agile, multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to build secure, production-ready software
• Experience supporting and improving live services
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience working within structured, regulated, or governance-heavy environments
• Minimum 5+ years of software engineering experience (8–10+ years preferred)

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working on large-scale digital transformation programmes
• Public sector, defence, financial services, or other regulated industry experience
• Experience working within secure or highly governed environments
• Exposure to compliance, security, or business-critical systems

Team & Environment:

You will join a collaborative programme team working across multiple agile delivery squads alongside Developers, Business Analysts, Designers, and User-Centred Design specialists. The environment promotes collaboration, engineering quality, continuous improvement, testing, documentation, and delivery excellence.

Candidate Profile:

We're looking for a strong hands-on engineer with leadership capability and a T-shaped skillset—someone who combines deep technical expertise with broad systems awareness. You will be comfortable taking ownership, influencing technical direction, mentoring others, and delivering high-quality solutions within secure, high-profile programmes. Please note: Active SC Clearance is required for submission.