Lead Software Engineer
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.