About the job

Job summary

It is an exciting time for HM Land Registry (HMLR) as we continue to embark on a major transformation programme. HMLR's ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data. 

HM Land Registry's existing software systems and services form part of the critical national infrastructure, safeguarding land and property ownership valued at £7 trillion. This enables over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales.

We are looking for three Principal Software Developers to join our award-winning Transformation and Technology Directorate, which is the in-house IT division at the heart of the move to a digital, data-driven organisation with the ambition to provide our customers with cutting-edge digital services. 

You will lead and plan development across large or multiple teams and develop capability by facilitating internal mobility, shaping career paths and recruiting talent - ensuring they collaborate, identify, test and champion the adoption of emerging technologies.  

You will line manage up to six members of staff within the Software Development practice as part of this role. 

Job description

You will actively participate and contribute to the developer community, and be a visible and available point of contact to the software development community.  You are the advocate for software quality and maintainability.  

Collaborating with other disciplines to enable effective cross functional delivery, to continuously improve the quality of the software and systems produced.  

• Define the software development community practices, principles and values
• Develop software by following industry best practice, aligned to HMLR standards and approved technologies
• Engage with the cross-government DDaT profession to build relationships and promote HM Land Registry
• Develop and manage performance metrics
• Own and manage high level risks, dependencies and capability gaps
• Undertake strategic planning and input into organisational priorities
• Value professional development by providing opportunities to improve individual and organisational capability
• Workforce planning and recruiting to build a strong talent pool and ensure optimal capacity

Please note there may be occasional travel to other HMLR/government/external locations including overnight stays.  

HMLR believe that a blended approach to where you work that enables some time working from home, as well as in the office may give you an improved experience and has clear business benefits, therefore we expect everyone to spend at least 60% of their working time in the office. 

Please see attached candidate pack for further information on this role. 

Person specification

You will be an expert programmer using object-oriented languages and an expert in functional and behavioural automated testing techniques. You will have a strong understanding of continuous integration and continuous delivery practices.  

You have experience of identifying and implementing optimisations to development processes and experience of engineering solutions with controls embedded to mitigate security threats.  You have coached and guided a team in the application of appropriate modern standards and practices and you have experience of working as a senior/lead developer on agile software development projects.  

You can demonstrate experience of developing proof of concept prototypes and coaching others in their creation, experience of maintaining and supporting services in production.  You have worked with users and gained an understanding of their needs, using this to drive development. 

You can demonstrate experience of defining integrations between systems and coordinating build and test activities. Designing systems which are characterised by high levels of risk, impact and business or technical complexity.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,100, HM Land Registry contributes £15,374 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

Please complete the online application form and upload an anonymous CV including your qualifications, skills and work history.  You will be asked to complete the Technical skills box to demonstrate how you meet the following criteria: 

• Expert programmer using object-oriented languages (e.g. Java, Python, Delphi).
• Expert in functional and behavioural automated testing techniques (e.g. TDD, BDD).
• Strong understanding of continuous integration and continuous delivery practices.

Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application. Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 23:55pm on the advertised date.

The sift will take place once we have received your application and if successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a blended interview and pre-prepared presentation, which will take place through Microsoft Teams.   

The blended interview will test the experience and technical skills listed in the candidate pack.

Candidates may refer to notes within their video interview but they should be used as a prompt only.

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.  If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

You can find more information on how we use your personal data on our website

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.