Lead Technical Software Engineer

Job summary

As a Trading Fund of the Ministry of Defence, the UKHO works hand in glove with uniformed colleagues from across the Royal Navy and other allied Defence organisations to ensure the timely and accurate provision of mission-critical data at the point of need.

In a rapidly changing landscape, we require experienced and flexible individuals who can work in a close-knit team to use their multi-disciplinary skills to collaborate, problem-solve, and deliver within a highly assured private cloud infrastructure environment. This is a capability-focussed team, working on unique and highly specialised data and insight solutions within a modern secure facility, contributing to capabilities of national significance

We are looking for an experienced Lead Technical Software Engineer to serve as our recognised subject matter expert for the .NET ecosystem, shaping technical excellence across our engineering community.

You will be embedded within our Defence Delivery team, where four days per week will be dedicated to core engineering activities. The remaining day each week which can be worked from home is reserved exclusively for technical development, research, and thought leadership. Including professional development, building and leading community initiatives.

Alongside deep .NET expertise, you will also bring a solid understanding of the Python ecosystem, enabling you to support and influence a broad range of technical work.

Hybrid Working

This job role is based in our modern and purpose built offices based a stone’s throw from the M5 in Taunton, Somerset. There will be some opportunity for hybrid working - a maximum of 1 day a week based remotely, 4 days in the office.

Additional Information:

Part-time hours will be considered (minimum of 29.6 hours per week)

Job description

• Provide technical leadership, best practice and and expert advice to engineering teams.
• Playing a part in an agile delivery team including designing, coding, unit testing, deploying, improving and supporting applications and services.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for .Net Ecosystem by owning and developing this capability You will provide, drive and share knowledge on new features, release schedules and vulnerabilities. (The role is given one day a week to fulfil this, but there may be additional time allocated if there is a major capability that needs to be delivered)
• Excellent software development skills and knowledge of C# and .Net Core
• Experience in the designing, building, testing and maintaining software using a modern standards approach, or experience supporting operationally live systems in either modern or legacy technologies
• Lead and contribute to community and guild events to share knowledge across teams through creating content including blog posts, guidance and documentation.
• Deliver training and upskilling workshops for engineering colleagues.
• Engage with guilds, communities of practice, and special interest groups such as cloud, AI, and security.
• Represent the engineering discipline and promote best practice across the organisation.

Person specification

• Experience of working in an agile software delivery team
• Expert software development skills and knowledge of C# and .Net Core
• Understanding and use of the Python Ecosystem
• Experience in the designing, building, testing and maintaining software using a modern standards approach.
• Building capability in your technical specialism across the engineering teams.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Excellent Software development skills and knowledge of C# and .Net Core
• Understanding and use of the Python Ecosystem

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,605, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £17,846 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

How to Apply:

When you click 'Apply now' you will be asked to attach your anonymised CV and input a 500 word supporting statement on the criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 28/06/2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 15/06/2026
• Interviews: w/c 29/06/2026

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

Pre-sift criteria:

Are you eligible for a Reserved Post and the level of security clearance required for this post? Yes/No. (Please refer to the link below).

Please note that applications where it is identified that the candidate is not eligible for a Reserved post or security clearance, we reserve the right for the application to be withdrawn.

This information will be taken from your CV and Personal Statement where it should be clearly annotated.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria using the information provided in your supporting statement and your CV.

Experience:

• Experience of working in an agile software delivery team - assessed from CV.
• Excellent software development skills and knowledge of C# and .Net Core - assessed from CV (Lead criteria used if a large number of applications is received)
• Understanding and use of the Python Ecosystem - assessed from CV
• Experience in the designing, building, testing and maintaining software using a modern standards approach, or experience supporting operationally live systems in either modern or legacy technologies - assessed from Personal Statement

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Experience:

• Experience in the designing, building, testing and maintaining software using a modern standards approach.

Technical skills:

• Expert Software development skills and knowledge of C# and .Net Core (Lead criteria used if there is a tie at interview) - assessed by a test.
• Understanding and use of the Python Ecosystem

Civil Service Behaviours (Grade 7 level):

• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together
• Development Self and Others

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. As part of the interview, there will be a test as noted above. Further details will be given in the invitation to interview.

Onboarding Checks

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Security Clearance (SC) will need to be obtained prior to the role commencing. You will also need to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) which can be completed while working for us but the offer will remain conditional until DV is gained. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Nationality requirements:

DV – reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require Developed Vetting (DV) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 24 consecutive months within the last 10 years.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

UKHO Candidate Information Pack - Tech Opens in new window (pdf, 5887kB)Additional Pay Information Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)