About the job

Job summary

As a Java Developer you’ll ensure high quality code is delivered in line with project goals and delivery cycles. You’ll thrive using agile methods and enjoy working openly, collaboratively and as part of a multidisciplinary team focused on one or more projects.

We are interested in people with:

• Backend or full-stack development, with detailed knowledge and experience of Java
• Experience of agile practices and version control
• Experience using different testing techniques like unit testing 
• Experience working with databases
• Knowledge and awareness of the full software development lifecycle 
• An interest in cloud-based approaches and orchestration tools such as AWS, Azure, Docker and Kubernetes.

We know that great software requires great coding practices. Here are some key practices which we insist upon across our teams that allow us to release with speed and quality:

• Agile methodology
• Test-driven development with a focus on automation
• Continuous integration and continuous delivery
• Review code via pull requests
• Pairing smartly
• Infrastructure as code & a modern DevOps environment
• Upskilling and training across our tech stack

This is a mid-level developer role. You'll work with seniors and principals whilst starting to coach and mentor associate (junior) engineers. 

To be considered for this role, you will need to successfully complete SC clearance before commencing the role. To meet the National Security Vetting requirements for this role you will need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 5 years.

We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

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.  Applicants can discuss any specific questions with the Vacancy Holder.

Job description

We’re passionate about building software that solves problems. We’re home to some of the most important public services in the United Kingdom and are transforming how we use data and technology to improve these.  

You could be designing, building and supporting solutions to help people prove their identity or apply for visas or working on the critical IT systems that support policing and counter terrorism and help protect UK borders. Our success in this role depends on our ability to exploit the latest technologies to create leading-edge, world class solutions whilst ensuring they are secure and resilient.

We develop over 500 services which have millions of users worldwide. If these types of projects excite you, we'd love for you to join us!

Our tech stack 

We have an extremely large range of tech and tools used in the Home Office, below are some of the main things we use:

•  Backend: Java, Node.js, C#, Python, PHP, Scala
•  Frontend: React, JavaScript, Typescript, Angular
•  Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongodb, Apache Cassandra
•  DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Azure, Jenkins, Docker, Ansible, Terraform.

Person specification

What you’ll do

• Building RESTful web services to serve a variety of citizen and government needs, taking responsibility for the quality of code you produce
• Implementing toolkits and APIs for purposes such as integration, performance optimisation, security and scalability
• Delivering secure, reliable and scalable software in your team; undertaking a breadth of development tasks
• Designing new software using appropriate tools and in line with standards, proving designs through prototyping
• Reporting on system performance and support test activities; keep documentation up to date
• Supporting services, you deliver through regular maintenance activities, balancing your work with your leadership
• Working with other engineers to deliver new capability, for instance improved CI/CD pipelines or test approaches
• You will occasionally be expected to assist with the recruitment process for new colleagues

Other day to day activities;

All our engineers will be expected to embody an open and positive approach, supporting the Home Office in:

• Progressing the DDaT Profession, understanding all roles and helping to build our community
• Working and assessing to appropriate standards: for instance, accessibility, the GDS service standard and our own community practices
• Improving our skills and approaches as well as keeping up to speed with the technology landscape

Essential skills

As a developer you will have some experience of: 

• Backend or full-stack development, with detailed knowledge and experience of Java
• Experience of agile practices and version control
• Experience using different testing techniques like unit testing 
• Experience working with databases
• Knowledge and awareness of the full software development lifecycle 
• An interest in cloud-based approaches and orchestration tools such as AWS, Azure, Docker and Kubernetes.

SFIA capability framework 

The Technical skills listed below are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework), please review the attached ‘Role Description’ which highlights the expected technical skills and required levels for this role. 

Skills for the information age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all engineering levels in the Home Office.

Benefits

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King’s Birthday, rising further with service
• Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that right for you including part-time, flexi time and job sharing
• Training and development opportunities tailored to your role
• An in-year bonus scheme
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name blind (anonymous) CV. It should include all relevant experience that relates to the essential skills listed above and role description. Don't just do a list of languages/platforms - do provide context.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you’ll be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race or gender.

(Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected)

 Application tips

1. It’s crucial that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria set out in the job advert. Don't just do a list of languages/platforms - do provide context
2. You should include enough information and describe examples that demonstrate your skills and experience.
3. You should give yourself plenty of time. You can start an application and come back to complete it before the job advert closes.

More guidance can be found here – completing you application

The sift will be held on the CV only. Please read the Essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements.

Candidates who pass the sift, showing the required experience/abilities, will be invited to attend an interview which will be held via MS Teams.

The interview will assess your technical skills and experience using technical and experience-based oral questions, along with a coding/code review exercise where you will be asked to prepare IDE with Scala 12 (or higher) and to be ready to share IDE screen during the interview.

Sift and interview dates

Sift will be conducted week commencing 8th January 2024.

Interviews will be held week commencing 29th January 2024.

(Subject to panels operational requirements/priorities)

Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Further Information

Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement. 

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

• Higher Security Clearance - This post requires the successful candidate to hold security clearance at minimum SC level (normally requiring a five year UK footprint). Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 
• Visa Sponsorship Statement - Please take note that the Home Office DDaT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visa.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.

This post is eligible for a DDaT Recruitment Retention Allowance this allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in line with the departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time. 

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.