Lead Software Developer

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of software developers, ensuring high-quality delivery and adherence to engineering best practices.
• Maintain a hands‑on approach to software development, primarily using Node.js.
• Contribute to architecture, design decisions, and technical planning, ensuring alignment with client needs and modern engineering standards.
• Work closely with product owners, architects, and central government stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with GDS (Government Digital Service) standards, including security, performance, and accessibility.
• Participate in sprint ceremonies, estimations, and Agile delivery processes.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, technical excellence, and knowledge sharing. Develop skills across cloud engineering, secure development, automation, and large‑scale transformations.

• Private Medical Insurance (Aviva)
• Company Pension Plan (Nest)
• 25 days annual leave + UK bank holidays
• Perkbox - global employee rewards and wellbeing platform
• Generous employee referral scheme
• Supportive, inclusive environment encouraging innovation and growth
• Choose your preferred working device - Mac or PC

At Amber Labs, diversity fuels innovation. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and respected.

• Welcome a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives
• Promote equality and inclusion across all teams
• Maintain a workplace free from discrimination, bullying, and harassment

The ideal candidate will have solid central government project experience, extensive Node.js coding expertise, and a proven ability to lead, mentor, and influence technical teams while remaining actively involved in day‑to‑day development. Strong, hands‑on Node.js coding experience.

• Proven experience working on central government digital projects.
• Demonstrable experience leading or mentoring development teams.
• Eligible for BPSS clearance.
• Strong understanding of modern software engineering practices: CI/CD, automated testing, APIs, cloud‑native development.
• Comfortable working within Agile, multi‑disciplinary teams.

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred).
• Knowledge of microservice architectures.
• Understanding of GDS service standards and  design patterns.
• Experience working within consultancy or client‑facing environments.

Amber Labs is a cutting‑edge digital consultancy specialising in data, cloud, and software engineering solutions for high‑impact projects. We partner with organisations to deliver secure, modern, and user‑centred digital services. Our culture is collaborative, innovative, and focused on technical excellence.