About the job

Job summary

Changes are happening at UK Home Office we are not just about entry gates at Airports or issuing passports. We have over 30 different agencies and public bodies, including Policing and Counter Terrorism and with everyone using digital device's technology is changing massively, we are bringing services in house, and it’s a big challenge.

You could be designing and building 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.

Our work is guided by these fundamental principles:

•    Put user needs first
•    Delivery and outcomes over process
•    Make the most of openness: open standards, open source, open data and open markets

As a 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. This is a mid-level role where 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 them.

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, Power platform 
• Frontend: React, JavaScript, Typescript, Angular  
• Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongodb, Apache Cassandra  
• DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Azure, Jenkins, Docker, Ansible, Terraform  

What we offer   

Great work life balance! We offer a lot of autonomy and flexible working patterns that can be agreed based on your personal needs. We currently offer a hybrid working model from home with an expectation to be in the office from time to time for team activities which is agreed locally (around 60% in the office).  

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

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.  

Essential skills:

As a developer you will have experience of:   

• Experience with Java or C# or JavaScript (and frameworks such as Node or React) or those with a background using another modern programming language like PHP or python who have some understanding of our core tech stack. Alternatively, experience of low-code development is appropriate.
• Making use of REST/SOAP APIs
• Supporting live services – you will be happy to maintain what you have built
• Modern working practices, such as test driven development (focusing on automation), continuous integration and continuous delivery
• Working within an agile environment
• Experience of Cloud Platforms such as AWS, Azure, Oracle Cloud/OCI etc

We are also looking for experience in Serverless technology such as Azure hosted Logic Apps and Function Apps or AWS hosted Lambdas as well as Databases and DB technology (RDBMS, NoSQL etc).

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. 

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

You will also have access to benefits such as:

• Season ticket loans and rental deposit loans
• Cycle to work and payroll giving
• Employee discounts - including a huge number of retailers (via the Edenred platform), Microsoft Home Use programme and gym membership
• A variety of staff recognition schemes including thank you vouchers
• Health and wellbeing initiatives including monthly mindfulness sessions
• Staff support networks
• Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Maternity and adoption support leave (paternity leave) of 2 weeks full pay
• Up to 5 days paid leave for volunteering
• Study leave and support for studying for a qualification or other accredited development relevant to your role

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 CV and Personal Statement (Max Word Limit: 500).

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

Your CV should include all relevant experience that relates to our Essential skills criteria listed in the advert and role description. Do not just list languages / platforms - do provide context.

Your Personal Statement should be aligned to explain why you are a good fit for the advertised role aligned to the Essential skills criteria listed in the role description.

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 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)

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

Candidates who pass the sift will be provided with a programming / coding technical exercise to complete, details will be provided prior to the interview.

Technical Exercise stage

This coding test will assess your ability to effectively perform in the advertised role. You will be sent detailed instructions along with an invitation to take the test. Please make us aware if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to participate in the test.

A technical test is a great opportunity for you to show us your technical capability in a structured and transparent way. We have an assortment of tests to assess different skills depending on the role.

The Interview Stage

Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend a final interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework).

Regrettably, candidates who fail to complete the test and those candidates not reaching the required standard should note that their applications will not be progressed further.

Sift and Interview dates

Sift will take place week commencing Monday 8th January 2024.

Interviews will take place from Monday 29th January 2024 (subject to the Panels operational priorities).

Interviews will be held remotely and will be conducted 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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

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 are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visa.

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. 

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.   

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 behaviours and essential skills.

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 Stonewall top 100 Workplace Equality Employer and 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 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.