Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer (Python, Django) – Inside IR35 | Up to £750/day (Umbrella) | 12-month contract. Hybrid – 40% onsite (London / Manchester / Birmingham / Cardiff / North East). SC clearance will be required for onboarding.

We are currently supporting a confidential central government programme in the search for an experienced Lead Software Engineer (Python, Django) to join a high-performing digital delivery team building secure, user‑centred services within a GDS‑aligned environment. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role suited to an experienced engineer who can operate across architecture, delivery, and live service support, while leading multidisciplinary agile squads to deliver complex, integrated systems.

You’ll be working in a regulated, security‑focused domain supporting critical national services related to controlled goods and export systems.

• Lead the design, build, and delivery of scalable, secure software solutions
• Take ownership of end‑to‑end feature development across complex services
• Produce clean, secure, test‑driven code using Python and Django
• Support live services, ensuring performance, resilience, and stability
• Collaborate closely with BAs, UCD specialists, and engineers in agile squads
• Drive system design, architecture decisions, and integration approaches
  
  Contribute to engineering standards and continuous improvement
• Help coordinate build and integration activities across multiple systems

• 8–10 years’ experience in software engineering (minimum 5+ essential)
• Strong hands‑on experience with Python and Django
• Proven ability in end‑to‑end system design and architecture
• Experience leading or contributing significantly within agile teams
• Strong communication skills across technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Experience working in secure, structured or regulated environments
• A T‑shaped profile — deep technical expertise with broad system awareness

• Python & Django development at senior/lead level
• System design and distributed architecture experience
• Agile delivery within multidisciplinary teams
• Experience supporting live production services
• Strong collaboration and technical leadership
• Desirable experience in Government Digital Service (GDS) environments
• Public sector, defence, or other regulated domains
• Secure systems or compliance‑heavy engineering environments

• Inside IR35 contract
• SC clearance will be required for onboarding
• Hybrid working model (40% onsite expectation)
• Long‑term programme with complex, meaningful digital services