Job Description

Posted 4 weeks ago

Job title – Lead Python Developer
Profession- Development & Operations
Directorate – Technology
Full Time equivalent – 37.5 hours
No of Roles – 1
Contract Type – Permanent
Location – Hybrid
UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata,(averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.
Working Pattern – Full Time /Hybrid Working/ Flexible Working
Grade & Salary – Grade 7. National banding -£51,824- £61,414 per annum. Outer London -£53,812- £63,252 per annum. Inner London – £55,799- £65,089 per annum.
This role comes with a Market Pay Supplement of up to £10,000
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions.
Closing Date – 08/04/2024. 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
Interview Date – 22/04/2024 Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Introduction
The UKHSA Development and Operations team leads the digital transformation of UKHSA to make it a more data driven, customer focused, digital organisation. We do this by delivering services which meet and maintain the Government Digital Service (GDS) Digital by Default Service Standard
Developers at UKHSA work collaboratively with stakeholders such as Data Scientists and Public Health officials to deliver software which helps to drive forward the mission of the agency. We employ modern best practices to deliver projects quickly, safely, and cost-effectively.
This is a critically important role, driving the standard and practice of Python development across UKHSA.
Overview of Job
As a Lead Python Developer for UKHSA, you will lead the delivery of design, development and maintenance of Python APIs, UIs and backend infrastructure to deliver UKHSA's objectives of transforming the heath expectations of all people in England.
You will be responsible for leading the identification of process optimisation opportunities for our products and services and contributing to the implementations of proposed solutions.
You will provide expert Python technical knowledge throughout the design, build and test phases using test-driven development techniques across the full stack, from the back-end data sources to the UI. You will take the lead on overseeing software development during the full lifecycle of the various systems, including modern DevOps practices, and you also need to be familiar with the scrum agile delivery methodology and deliver software in short iterations with frequent releases without compromising code quality. You will liaise with key internal and external stakeholders and provide expert technical direction on software development best practices for mobile front-end and back-end environments. You will take ownership of projects and be motivated to take them through to production.
You will work with business and technology stakeholders to translate business problems into technical designs. You will collaborate with UI, connectivity and DevOps teams for building elegant solutions to complex problems.
You will need the ability to explore and propose different approaches to solving problems and ensure you select appropriate technology and use resources efficiently to integrate multiple systems and technologies.
You will be skilled at integrating and testing multiple components, systems and their interfaces. You should be able to define an integration build and coordinate the build activities across systems, and understand how to undertake and support integration testing.
You will build apps for UKHSA staff and the general public that will support UKHSA to empower individuals to make changes in their lifestyles to promote healthier living. These products will target all devices, with native, hybrid and web development techniques, and you will design, build and test them using test-driven development techniques for both the backend data sources and the UI.
You will use the Scrum agile delivery methodology and deliver software in short iterations with frequent releases without compromising code quality liaising with key internal and external stakeholders and providing technical direction on full-stack software development best practices.
You will have the ability to take ownership of projects and the desire to take them through to production.
The role requires good troubleshooting skills with an ability to identify locate and competently fix bugs and errors.
You will need a strong ability to collaborate with user researchers, sell and represent users internally and champion user research to focus on all users. This means an ability to understand users and identify them and their needs based on evidence. You should put users first, manage competing priorities and offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to be used.
Main Duties of the Job
Lead the development and maintenance of UKHSA’s portfolio of Python apps / UI / APIs
Define the technical requirements for the implementation of new Python solutions
Define the technical aspects of the Python application solution architecture, including the technology used, methodology followed, and devices/platforms targeted
Prepare technical solution and architecture documents, work products and presentations
Define Python security protocols, analytics and social channel integration
Design and develop detailed Python architectures and interfaces to integrate with other APIs / apps / domains
Take responsibility for the various non-functional aspects in Python application design and provide a solution to optimise performance, scalability etc. using DevOps principles
Collaborate and work with technology and cloud service providers to ensure UKHSA derives the maximum benefit from any third-party service providers and that the right knowledge is transferred in-hous
Continuously seek to improve your own knowledge of work areas and embrace the agile framework of software delivery methodology and aim to reach full agility with continuous integration, delivery and deployment
Research and recommend proven open-source tools and platforms that will support the ongoing delivery of UKHSA’s Python platform
Enforce sound development practices and ensure the quality delivery of enterprise solutions
Line management responsibility
Take ownership of the solution from end to end, and be responsible for translating functional requirements into a solution
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Essential Criteria:
* Educated to degree level in relevant subject such as computer science with core development element or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
* Experience of front-end software application development, including modern HTML, CSS and JavaScript
* Proficiency with at least one server-side programming language such as Python, modern PHP or C#
* Django (or Flask) in Rest Framework, ORM
* Containerization (Docker or Kubernetes)
* NGINX
* PostgreSQL / NoSQL
* Cloud Environments (AWS / Azure)
* Good understanding of UI design systems and best practices
* Experience of developing and consuming RESTful APIs and web services
* Experience with version control software (such as Git or Mercurial) and Git workflows (or equivalent)
* Knowledge of object-oriented concepts and design Patterns
* Ability to troubleshoot problems and competently identify and fix bugs and errors. Excellent ability to support users and systems
* Good understanding and experience of open-source content management systems and SharePoint 2010/2016, including knowledge of the CMS’ administrative interfaces
* Good knowledge and understanding of Linux or Windows-based operating systems and terminal scripting languages such as Bash or PowerShell
* Good knowledge and understanding of both SQL and NoSQL databases
* Genuine passion and interest in web and mobile technologies
* Experience in leading development teams to deliver key business capabilities
* Experience of working with automation technologies like Ansible, Puppet or Chef to deploy workloads on public/private cloud APIs such as Amazon Web Services, Azure, Google Cloud Platform or OpenStack
* Experience of leading the design of systems and interfacing to other systems using Service Oriented Architecture platforms
* Experience with DevOps, TDD/BDD, continuous integration and continuous deployment systems (CI/CD) such as Jenkins
* Experience of the principles and practices of agile development and the project lifecycle, and agile tools such as Jira or Redmine
* An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
Selection Process
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed and sifted in line with the essential criteria.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 750 words providing examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
This role is a two stage interview process. It will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. The first stage will consist of a technical test if successful the second interview will test the following behaviours:
* Working Together
* Making Effective Decisions
* Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £51,824, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,992 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Range of health and wellbeing support