Job summary
We are looking for talented Lead Software Developers to join us at Companies House, you can be part of an exciting transformation in the world of corporate governance; empowered by the ground-breaking legislation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill.
We have a large estate of services which we develop in Java using the Spring Boot framework, and Typescript using the Node.js framework with Express. We use the Gov.uk Design System (GDS) for our User Interfaces. We also have older J2EE applications which we are in the process of modernising.
We are looking for expert developers in these technologies! While we would expect you to be very experienced in either Java/Spring or Typescript/Node we like to hire inquisitive developers who value continuous learning, and we will support you in learning all the development technologies we use at Companies House. As a Lead Developer, over time you will be expected to be familiar with all these technologies.
Watch this video to find out more about working in Digital at Companies House
Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work
Please note:
- Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
- Security Clearance is an essential requirement for this campaign. You'll need to have been in the UK for at least 3 out of the last 5 years to be eligible to apply for SC.
- Remote contracts will only be offered to successful candidates who are not within a commutable distance to our Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh offices. If you are located in a reasonable distance to one our offices, you will receive a hybrid contract aligned to one of our offices.
Please see 'Things you need to know' and 'Where will you be working' sections below for more information.
Job description
As a Lead Developer you may be asked to work in one of two areas – either leading a Scrum team, or to work as an individual contributor as part of our R&D Team. There may be opportunity to move between the two areas in the future, but you will be allocated an area during the offer process, if you are successful in your application. You will be asked for your preference at interview, and we will try to accommodate where possible, given the needs of the business.
- As a Lead Developer managing a Scrum team, you will line manage other developers, seniors and juniors. You will work in a cross functional team with delivery colleagues using agile practices and the normal agile ceremonies, to deliver software projects. You will provide coaching and mentoring to the team and help them deliver at pace. You will use your development and people management experience to create a high functioning software development team. A team will typically consist of around eight developers at various levels of seniority. You will be working on services at the heart of our estate.
- As a Lead Developer working as an individual contributor as part of our R&D team, we are looking for a broad skill set (given the foundation languages and frameworks noted above). We value fast learners with a flexible approach. Our R&D team supports the rest of our development department, and the business in general, with Proof of Concepts, technical evaluations and investigations. It is a fast-moving environment where your hands on software development skills will come to the fore.
We very much encourage innovation and training; every developer is given time to undertake innovation and training within their regular activities. This allows developers and teams to try out new things, stay up to date with industry trends and continue their professional development. We provide access to online training platforms, access to instructor led training and ability to attend conferences (budgets permitting). We have a thriving community of practice.
As a Lead Developer managing a Scrum team, you will:
- Provide technical Leadership to your team.
- Coach and support your team to upskill their technical capabilities and ensure they design and deliver efficient and maintainable solutions.
- Communicate between the product owners and developers to ensure key deliverables are achieved and understood by both parties.
- Work with the wider developer community to define and document technical standards.
- Help and encourage your team to maximise their automated test coverage.
- Work closely with the Architects for design and the Platform team who manage our development pipeline using Concourse CI, SonarQube, AWS, Terraform and Artifactory. We use Docker containers and AWS ECS.
- Take the lead in sharing your knowledge and experience within our software development and lead software developer communities.
As a Lead Developer within our R&D Team, you will work within a team of other Lead Developers as an individual contributor. You will use your highly technical skillset to:
- Develop and deliver Proof of Concepts.
- Evaluate different technologies for fitness of purpose and suitability for wider user.
- Investigate ongoing issues (process/systems/projects) and seek resolutions.
- Support Scrum teams where required.
- Show flexibility and maturity of approach.
- Keep up to date with technology advances.
- Approach problems in an analytical way.
- Accurately record and document findings.
If you are looking for a place where you can focus on your own development as well as support others to succeed and perform at their best, then this is the role for you – either leading a Scrum team or working as a member of our R&D team.
This is an exciting time to join us as we constantly evolve our own technical capabilities and ways of working to make our work at Companies House more efficient and easier to use for our users and customers.
You will be joining a passionate team of Developers with varying levels of technical abilities. There are many other experienced Lead Developers and Principal Developers within Companies House, so you will be surrounded by a friendly community of experts who will fully support you.
Person specification
We're looking for the following experience and technical capabilities, which will be assessed at sift and at interview.
- Extensive software engineering experience, with excellent technical skills and the ability to complete detailed design. A degree in computing or similar would be an advantage.
- Excellent coding skills which must include Java / Spring Boot and/or Typescript / Express / Node.
- Mentoring experience or can demonstrate experience of leading a team.
- Strong communication skills where you can translate technical jargon into simple, clear descriptions so understanding is achieved.
- Experience of using agile techniques/methodologies.
- Understanding of full stack web technologies.
- Practical knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases.
- Application of industry standard software development working practices such as test-driven and behaviour-driven development (TDD/BDD), pair programming, version control and branching strategies.
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Development.
- Application of software design patterns.
- Knowledge and understanding of developing and running applications securely in Cloud environments.
- AWS/Docker/Terraform.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- REST interfaces
- Web
- Security
- Containers
- Programming and build
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £41,571, Companies House contributes £12,043 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we’re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.
Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.
We celebrate diversity...
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we’re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few.
If you require any reasonable adjustments at application stage, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing recruitmentCH@companieshouse.gov.uk.
Read our 'Applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)' guide to find out how to successfully complete an application under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS).
Where will you be working?
Our approach to hybrid working provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on business need, your role and your day-to-day work activities and will be discussed at offer stage. Remote contracts will only be offered to successful candidates who are not within a commutable distance to our Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh offices. If you are located in a reasonable distance to one our offices, you will receive a hybrid contract aligned to one of our offices.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
In your application form we’d like you to:
- Tell us about your employment history, key responsibilities, projects worked on and achievements specifically relevant to the role responsibilities and experience required as detailed above. We're keen to know the depth of your skills and experience so please include any details to demonstrate these. We’d specifically like to know what projects you worked on, for how long, what was your role, what technologies you used and project outcomes.
- Write a personal statement of 750 words where you demonstrate how you meet the required experience including work-based examples to demonstrate your level of skill, to cover these three role requirements:
- Excellent coding skills which must include Java / Spring Boot and/or Typescript / Express / Node.
- Mentoring experience or can demonstrate experience of leading a team.
- Strong communication skills where you can translate technical jargon into simple, clear descriptions so understanding is achieved.
What will the process look like?
Sift
- Once the advert has closed we will sift applications - this involves reading through them all, please bear with us as this can take some time.
- We may raise the score required if we receive a high number of applications.
- At sift we may choose to take through the highest performing candidates to the next stage. If, after the final stage is completed and roles are unfilled, we will proceed to invite lower scoring candidates to interview.
- At sift candidates will be assessed against the experience listed in the advert and alongside your work history the panel will score your application against the following criteria:
- Excellent coding skills which must include Java / Spring Boot and/or Typescript / Express / Node.
- Mentoring experience or can demonstrate experience of leading a team.
- Strong communication skills where you can translate technical jargon into simple, clear descriptions so understanding is achieved.
Interview
- Successful candidates from sift will be invited to attend an interview, which will be conducted using Microsoft Teams.
- We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you.
- We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will use Success Profiles assessing the Experience, Behaviours and Technical Skills listed in the advert, and Strengths.
- As part of the interview, you will be asked to complete a written coding exercise. Details will be emailed to you 1 hour before your interview start time. You'll have 1 hour to work through the activity and then you'll join the Teams call at your interview start time. You'll be asked to screen share, discussing the exercise with the panel and answering some live questions to demonstrate your level of skill. This will be assessing Technical Skill: Programming and build.
- After the technical activity you'll head into the Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strengths questions.
- A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
- If after interview you are not found appointable at the advertised grade you may be offered the lower grade role if you are considered to meet the skills, experience and behaviours for the lower level. The benchmark for appointing to the lower grade is set at the start of each campaign. All offers will be made in merit.
- Candidates who pass the interview but do not score highly enough for an offer for Lead Software Developer may be considered for Senior Software Developer opportunities.
Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)
- Closing date - 17 August 2025 (at 23:55)
- Sifting - w/c 18 August 2025
- Interviews - w/c 1 September & w/c 8 September 2025
We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as your names and age) from your employment history and personal statement.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Sponsorship
Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Companies House holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship, your application may be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment withdrawn.
Security clearance
Successful candidates must pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before they can be appointed.
BPSS is an entry level security check. It uses the Police National Computer (PNC) to make sure a candidate has no convictions. The check returns evidence of any current criminal record and un-spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements for Security Check (SC) before they can be appointed.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
Further information on National Security Vetting
Nationality statement
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.
As part of our recruitment process, it is essential for all candidates to independently verify their eligibility to work in the UK before applying. This includes a thorough check of your right to work to ensure compliance with UK employment laws, being mindful of the recent changes to going rates detailed on GOV.UK.
Please ensure you have the necessary documentation and permissions in place. Our team is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. However, it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the UK's legal requirements to work.
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 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 the Civil 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
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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 :
- Katie Jones
- Email :
- kjones6@companieshouse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :
- recruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.uk
Further information
We welcome applications in Welsh / Rydym yn croesawi ceisiadau yn y Gymraeg. 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. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact infopoint@companieshouse.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission .
info@csc.gov.uk
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ
