Software Developer

Job summary

We are looking for a Developer to work as part of the Data & Surveillance Services Division of the Digital & Data Directorate, UKHSA. You will be part of a team responsible for developing and supporting systems that support the organisation’s clinical and scientific teams in the delivery of our Health Protection capabilities.

Digital & Data

The UKHSA Digital & Data Directorate provides strategic leadership and oversight for developing and managing a common and bespoke suite of performant, modern, secure, data and analytical tools, services, platforms and applications, ensuring access to high quality data and analytics services, internally and externally.

Data & Surveillance Services

Based within the Digital & Data Directorate, the Data and Surveillance Services Division works across the organisation and with external partners to lead the design, development, maintenance and delivery of system which are accessible, interoperable and which improving health security outcomes.

The Division supports the UKHSAs laboratory workflow and surveillance functions and is responsible it’s central bioinformatics service which delivers whole genome sequencing for pathogens of concern.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Job description

• Develop and manage technical software services and database integrations to meet user requirements.
• Prioritize and implement strategies to improve and streamline development workflows.
• Engineer solutions with embedded security controls.
• Develop software compatible with local servers, high-performance computing, and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure).
• Diagnose and resolve technical issues using methodical testing and standardized documentation.
• Design, test, and document complex, secure code using industry-standard tools and practices.
• Collaborate with researchers to define user stories and recommend effective tools for user-centric design.
• Write optimized SQL and PL/SQL scripts for complex data processing, integration, and extraction.
• Build simple interfaces independently and contribute to complex system integrations within a team.
• Maintain software across platforms to ensure high-quality data collection, storage, and extraction.
• Develop software metrics and comprehensive test plans to ensure application performance.
• Manage source code repositories in alignment with organizational technology strategies.
• Ensure production services have robust operational support and meet performance targets.
• Apply modern standards to all design stages, utilizing prototyping and detailed documentation.
• Develop & support databases and software applications used to support data collection, analysis and dissemination. This will include a drive towards automation and more resilient, reliable infrastructure.
• Coordinate with colleagues in the development of code using appropriate languages, established modern software engineering principles and design patterns, including the development of prototypes.
• You will select and implement modern RAD (rapid application development) tools for prototyping and where appropriate, for implementation of minimal viable products.
• You will contribute to the creation of standards and policies relating to these.
• Be responsible for ensuring that system availability, performance and data flow is monitored and to seek ways to make continuous improvements to improve resilience, data quality and to shape improvements in service delivery including improvements to development processes.
• Use software engineering practices that ensure compliance with information security and quality policies and procedures, designing solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered with mitigation of security threats as a core feature Work with Technology group colleagues to coordinate and implement multidisciplinary approaches to data pipeline production and application/database hosting on various platforms, where necessary migrating current software solutions to new architectures.
• You will select appropriate system designs characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure that current best practice for software specification, development, testing and implementation is followed across the software development activities of the Division.
• Manage testing of software applications and databases to ensure that development is to agreed specifications, uses appropriate tools and adheres to commercial and UKHSA standards.
• Identify, locate and fix faults in systems both during development and after deployment to production environments including working with infrastructure colleagues to resolve issues that could cause loss of service.
• You will prioritise your work to ensure that organisation key services are kept available.
• Undertake training as required by UKHSA or for the specific requirements of projects and undertake any other duties commensurate with your grade.

This list of duties is not exhaustive

Person specification

Essential role criteria

• Degree in an appropriate discipline (Oriented Programming (OOP)/Functional Programming, Software Engineering Principles, Databases & Data Management, Data Structures and Algorithms, Cloud Computing & DevOps, Web & Full-Stack Development, Cybersecurity / Secure Coding) or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of designing, developing and delivering large and complex software solutions
• Proven ability to write high quality software documentation and implementation of quality standards for coding among a team.
• Expert knowledge/experience of Microsoft development technologies including, Visual Studio .Net.
• Experience of implementing a containerised approach to code deployment across development teams and a moving from on premise to cloud native development.
• Experience of SQL, the MS SQL Server suite, Transact-SQL
• Proven skills in at least one object-oriented programming language, such as C#, and intermediate knowledge of Python
• Knowledge of deploying code to enterprise architectures and the cloud, including the use of containers. Experience of OpenShift and/or Kubernetes
• Experience of Internet Information Services (IIS), web application deployment, administration and security
• Experience of the use of Git, GitHub actions and associated tools for version control, integration, deployment or another industry standard version control and CI/CD tools
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
• An understanding of software Change Control practices

Desirable role criteria:

• Knowledge of Agile software development methodologies
• Previous work with Azure AD
• Experience of JIRA and Confluence
• Oracle PL/SQL development
• Experience of software used for pipeline development
• Proven skills in developing and modifying code used for data analysis and the production of reports in SQL Server Reporting Services, Power BI and other reporting tools

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

Success Profiles

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Ability/ Experience/Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profilesSuccess Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

• 1500 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement.

(The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1500 words. We will not consider any words over 1500 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

The pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and ‘Meets some essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:-

• Expert knowledge/experience of Microsoft development technologies including, Visual Studio .Net.
• Experience of SQL, the MS SQL Server suite, Transact-SQL
• Experience of the use of Git, GitHub actions and associated tools for version control, integration, deployment or another industry standard version control and CI/CD tools

Desirable criteria the following may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

• Previous work with Azure AD
• Experience of JIRA and Confluence
• Proven skills in developing and modifying code used for data analysis and the production of reports in SQL Server Reporting Services, Power BI and other reporting tools

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

As face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Ability, Experience, Technical skills will be tested at interview.

There will be a Assessment

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

• Making Effective Decisions (Lead)
• Communication and Influencing
• Working Together

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Interviews will be held at;

UKHSA Scientific Campus
Colindale
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any
reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability
Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month)working at our campus.

Based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance.

UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're
appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

This does not need to be included on EOI adverts.If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil
Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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 counter-terrorist 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.

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 : Chris Williams
• Email : chris.williams2@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can
contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk