Software Developer

Job summary

We are MHCLG

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is supporting the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) on the development of ALIGN - the government’s national infrastructure spatial tool: a single digital platform that brings together strategies, data, models and tools, including AI, to identify local infrastructure needs (energy, water and wastewater, transport, flood risk, digital telecoms) for housing, industrial growth and land use scenarios.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to join a high performing team, co-located in MHCLG and NISTA, that comprises of data scientists, developers and economists. Our aim is to strengthen the local evidence base for the 10- Year Infrastructure Strategy and improve the way in which key decisions on place-based infrastructure investments are informed by spatial data, analysis and evidence. Our work is directly supporting the government’s growth mission, the delivery of 1.5 million homes and planning reform objectives.

As a SEO Software Developer, you will support on further developing the spatial tool, including front-end and back-end development of the main application and interactive data stories built mainly in JavaScript and Svelte, using the best available technologies. You will work closely with colleagues in NISTA, MHCLG, No10, other government departments, regulators, industry and academia. You will also be expected to collaborate with and support MHCLG teams working on the Digital Planning and New Towns programmes.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a Software Developer, you’ll:

• Build, develop and maintain front-end and back-end interfaces for the ALIGN tool, designing and consuming APIs, using JavaScript, including components such as Svelte, MapLibre, React, taking responsibility for the quality of code you produce. This includes working across different technology stacks and development environments. You will also have opportunities to integrate AI in the solutions
• Design, create, test and document frontend and back-end solutions of high complexity, including rapid prototypes and databases, using agreed specifications and designs following modern standards and tools. You’ll manage and document technical complexity to make sure work is easily maintained and reusable, often within an existing Gov.uk design system
• Collaborate with Product Managers, Delivery Managers, User Researchers and Designers to understand the product users and their needs
• Implement toolkits and APIs for purposes such as integration, performance optimisation, security and scalability
• Keep an open mind and explore innovative ways to solve problems, working in a failfast fashion to provide required functionality
• Proactively investigate problems and opportunities in existing processes, evaluating and communicating findings and recommendations to stakeholders

Person specification

As a Software Developer, you’ll have:

• Experience in building robust and accessible front-end interfaces, with detailed knowledge of plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript – this ideally includes experience in Python, Svelte and geographic data visualisation libraries such as MapLibre, Deck.gl and other dynamic JavaScript components
• Experience in working in a modern backend language
• Experience working with databases, such as Databricks and SQL Server, designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Experience with cloud platforms, such as AWS and Azure, and CI/CD pipelines
• The ability to quickly research and learn new programming tools, techniques and languages
• An understanding of software design principles – this ideally includes an understanding of the Government Service Standard
• Experience in coding best practice – structuring, commenting and documenting code, developing and deploying reusable components, incorporating tests, validation and error handling, use of GitHub
• Experience of working in agile and lean teams

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,501, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £14,050 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Ability , Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience & Technical: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

Stage 2: Technical Ability Test

• Ability: Candidates who pass the sift stage will be invited to complete a technical ability test (further details to be provided upon invitation). Those who are successful at this stage will then be invited to a full interview.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.*
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

*Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 2nd November 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place shortly after and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only.Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Grade SEO Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £52,322 (London), £48,501 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance of up to £9,738 (National) or £9,510 (London) may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

Human

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: + SC

London Office: + SC

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.

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

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 : Digital Data Jobs
• Email : DigitalDataJobs@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
•a procedural irregularity
•an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
•exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk