Software Technical Lead Ref. 382

Engineering
Senior: £40,722 to £43,543 OR Principal: £50,105 to £53,575 Plus up to a £5,000 welcome package*

Full-time, part-time and flexible working patterns available

We're looking for people that can lead the software engineering activities of our development teams, creating technologies that solve some of the most difficult  cyber challenges across a diverse range of security and information domains that are either too niche or too sensitive to be undertaken elsewhere. The pace of change of technology, and society's increasing dependency on technical systems, mean that the programmes and projects we undertake have more complexity and uncertainty than ever before, and we must grow our systems engineering and technical team leadership to keep up with demand.

Working as a Technical Lead at HMGCC means you get to lead the end-to-end development of key products and technologies that will make significant contributions to the UK Government's ability to communicate and protect national security.  You'll take on challenges considered too difficult or sensitive to be done elsewhere and, through the insights our unique relationships with our customer agencies give us, you'll know that you made a difference.

Our Technical Leads spend time focusing on either directly leading teams of developers (being what we internally call a 'technical manager) or analysing the wider systems and problem spaces that our technologies need to integrate with (being what we internally call a 'systems engineer'). We'll work with you to identify which is the best fit for you:

  • Those focusing on technical management are responsible for defining, planning, monitoring, and controlling  the work of the development team. They work alongside project managers, and choose how to split their time between leading the team and doing hands-on development work
  • Those focusing on systems engineering are responsible for  bringing clarity to complex and foggy problems and contexts,  leading and influencing  stakeholders to achieve this. They operate both at the project level, supporting technical managers by leading on the front end of the engineering lifecycle on our most complex developments, and at the programme level where they manage the complex eco-systems of technologies that give our customers end­ to-end capabilities and shape the requirements for future developments


In addition, our more experienced Technical Leads contribute to driving and sharing good practice across HMGCC through line managing other Technical Leads.

Technical Skills

We would need you to already have:

  • Actual experience of working on software projects where your role has been to understand the technical elements of the solution, liaise with customers, and ideally to lead teams of software engineers
  • Experience of working in, ideally leading, software projects involving a range of technologies related to Windows, Linux or Mac. For example, server-client architecture, database, cloud technologies, networking, and application development
  • A practical understanding of principles and techniques used in shaping and managing the technical aspects of engineering projects, and experience in applying them under linear and agile methodologies effectively
  • Experience of managing customer/stakeholder  relationships
  • Experience of at least two, and ideally more, of the following aspects of technical leadership and systems  engineering:

           - Eliciting, managing, and constructively challenging customer requirements
           - Solution concept generation, analysis, and trade-off
           - Architectural design
           - Leading teams of engineers working on a range of technologies, ideally including technologies not personally familiar to you
           - Managing technical risks affecting the project delivery
           - Direction and oversight of engineering project integration, verification and validation activities.         

To strengthen your application it would be desirable if you have experience of:

  • Projects/programmes involving disciplines outside of software - for example, development projects requiring mechanical, electronics, or RFdesign
  • Security engineering or information  assurance, including threat modelling and preparation of system accreditation evidence
  • Engineering sectors such as telecoms, defence, rail, or ICT
  • Using modelling tools, languages, and frameworks to support and communicate your work
  • Line management; performance appraisal and difficult  conversations


Personal Skills

To work as a Technical Lead you will be the type of person who:

  • Understands the value of thinking in terms of systems, and is able to apply it to a range of contexts to get to the root of an issue
  • Enjoys solving problems, and helping others to work together to solve theirs
  • Reflects on and learns from experience; who drives their own professional development
  • Enjoys working with a range of experts, knowing when and how to draw on their expertise to help you deliver project requirements
  • Relishesthe opportunity  to manage complex customer requirements, leading to in-depth discussions to find out what they really need
  • Is confident in dealing with uncertainty, helping others to reduce and manage ambiguity around potential ways forward
  • Enjoys actively maintaining your technical knowledge, making sure that you keep up with latest technologies
  • Can communicate complex technical information  to those without  a technical background in an engaging and effective way
  • Is adept at tailoring approaches to get the right balance between pace and rigour


You will play an integral part in ensuring that our Government's communication  systems in the UK and around  the globe are reliable and totally  secure. In return  we will  offer  you a positive and creative environment to work in and give you all of the tools and training to develop and be the best that you can be.

To find  out  more about  HMGCC and how we are truly  individual  both as an organisation and an employer visit 'about us'.

*If you are relocating to the area then we can discussthe possibility of a relocation package.

This is a rolling  campaign  and shortlisting  will  be undertaken  on  a regular  basis/Please note shortlisting  will not be carried out until after the closing date for this role.

Please note dependent on the recruitment requirements, we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date.

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.