Lead Software Developer

Lead Developer - up to £65,000Hybrid, London (1 day per week on-site)

We're working with a world-renowned organisation at the forefront of science and digital innovation who are looking for a Lead Developer to join a major national programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of building and leading a team delivering cutting-edge digital infrastructure that will transform how vital scientific data is accessed and shared across the UK and beyond.

The roleAs Lead Developer, you'll provide senior technical direction and hands-on expertise in designing and implementing scalable, secure infrastructure. You'll be responsible for shaping architectural decisions, integrating cloud-based and bespoke solutions, and ensuring robust delivery of complex technical projects. Alongside this, you'll build and mentor a small but growing engineering team while collaborating closely with programme managers, senior stakeholders, and technical partners.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and grow a technical team delivering a new digital infrastructure programme.
• Provide hands-on technical input, writing high-quality code and driving architecture decisions.
• Design and implement secure, scalable backend systems and cloud infrastructure.
• Build robust data pipelines to manage and mobilise large-scale datasets.
• Collaborate with external suppliers, partners, and stakeholders to align delivery.

What we're looking for:

• At least 5 years of experience delivering full-stack software development (Python backend, JavaScript frontend).
• Strong background in backend infrastructure - SQL/NoSQL, event stores, cloud storage.
• Proven experience in architecting secure, scalable systems in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, agile delivery, and technical leadership.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with senior stakeholders.

What's on offer:

• Salary up to £65,000
• Hybrid working - 1 day per week in London, with some UK travel
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Wellbeing and flexible working support
• A unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant digital transformation programme with global impact

If you're a technically strong, forward-thinking engineer ready to step into a leadership role, this is your chance to make a real impact.