Contract Lead Java Developer - Hybrid / London (2 days a week in the office) - Inside IR35 - Up to £850 per day - (SC Clearance)
We are seeking a Lead Java Developer to take on a crucial role in a Government Dept). As a Lead Java Developer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining complex software solutions in alignment with digital transformation objectives. You will play a pivotal role in leading a team of software engineers, working in close collaboration with technical architects and key stakeholders to deliver high-quality, secure, and scalable products.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Leadership: Lead the design, development, and delivery of Java-based applications. Champion best practices in software development and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
- Strategic Direction: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define long-term software strategies and ensure their successful implementation.
- Mentorship & Collaboration: Mentor junior and mid-level developers, providing guidance and coaching to enhance their technical skills. Lead code reviews, knowledge sharing, and skill development within the team.
- Development & Architecture: Design complex software solutions in Java, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability. Work with senior technical leaders to define system architecture and design reusable libraries and services.
- Risk Management & Support: Proactively manage risks related to project delivery and software quality. Provide third-line support for developed products, including ensuring timely resolution of issues and outages.
- Security & Compliance: Ensure that security practices (e.g., OWASP, secure coding) are implemented throughout the development lifecycle. Comply with necessary government standards and regulations.
- Continuous Delivery: Implement continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, ensuring high-quality and efficient delivery of code to production.
Technical Skills & Expertise:
- Java Development: Expert-level proficiency in Java, with extensive experience in leading Java development projects.
- Database Management: Proficient with databases such as SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, and experienced in database tuning, explain plans, and patching.
- Version Control: Experience with Git for version control and collaborative development.
- Cloud & Containerization: Familiar with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud environments for scalable and maintainable application deployment.
- Frameworks: Strong knowledge of Spring Framework, including Spring Boot, Spring Security, and Spring Batch.
- Testing: Expertise in Test-Driven Development (TDD), automated testing tools (JUnit, Jasmine), and frameworks like Cucumber (Behavior-Driven Development).
- API Development: Experience in designing RESTful APIs and using Swagger/OpenAPI for API documentation and design.
- Security: Knowledge of security practices including OWASP Top Ten, SQL Injection, CSRF, and Denial of Service (DoS) protections.
- Operating Systems: Proficient in Linux (RHEL), scripting in Bash, and maintaining Linux-based environments.
- Collaboration Tools: Experience using Jira, Confluence, and Slack for project management and team collaboration.
Minimum Requirements:
- Significant experience in a Lead Java Developer role, with a proven track record of leading software development teams and designing complex software systems.
- Candidates must demonstrate substantial, consistent experience in a lead position. If a candidate has a history of short-term contracts, please highlight the reasons for this on the cover sheet.
- Experience working in a government or public sector environment (desirable but not required).
- BPSS clearance (eligible for SC clearance).
Interview Process:
The interview process consists of two stages:
- Sift Stage: Initial CV review.
- Maze Test: Candidates who pass the sift stage will be asked to complete a maze test, which must be returned within 5 days.
- Technical Interview/Panel: After the maze test, there will be a 2-hour technical interview that will cover technical knowledge, problem-solving, and competency-based questions.
Location: Hybrid / London (2 days a week in the office)
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Pay Rate Up to £850 per day
Security Clearance: BPSS Clearance (eligible for SC Clearance)