LEAD SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

 APPLICATIO PROCESS

As part of the application process, please submit a CV providing evidence against the following essential criteria:

• Undergraduate level degree in computer science or related subject OR professional industry experience working in a software development role
• Experience of senior development / engineering management roles
• Experience of brownfield projects, including maintenance and support
• Experience of multidisciplinary work i.e. full stack developer 
• Experience of the full software development lifecycle

Job summary

It is an exciting time for HM Land Registry (HMLR) as we continue on a major transformation programme. HMLR's ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.  

We are seeking experienced software development leaders who can inspire teams, promote best practice, and deliver high-quality digital solutions. Provide technical leadership, support continuous improvement, and work collaboratively across the organisation to help shape technology decisions and drive successful outcomes for our users and services

Job description

As a Lead Software Developer, you will provide technical leadership across software development teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, secure and maintainable digital services.  You will champion best practice, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, coach and develop colleagues, and drive continuous improvement in development processes, tools and standards.

The role also offers the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, shape the software development community, and support the organisation's wider digital transformation ambitions.

Main duties

• Actively participate and contribute to the developer community
• Advocate for software quality and maintainability alongside feature development
• Assist with recruitment campaigns as a subject matter expert
• Be a visible, accessible and available point of contact to the software development community
• Collaborate with other disciplines to enable effective cross-functional delivery
• Continuously improve the quality of the software and systems produced
• Define ways of working, team structure, tools, technologies, guidance and standards.
• Develop and manage performance metrics
• Develop own skills and knowledge through agreed personal development activities
• Develop software by following industry best practice, aligned to HMLR standards and approved technologies
• Ensure that software designs are aligned to strategic goals and policies
• Ensure the software development practice has credibility and influence across the organisation
• Identify and implement optimisations to the development process
• Learn and understand legacy technology and systems as required
• Learn the basics of Land Registry operations, including casework and register data
• Maintain awareness of organisational priorities and their impact
• Manage reusable commodities, libraries, components and services
• Undertake strategic planning and input into organisational priorities

Person specification

You will have significant experience in software development, including delivering and supporting complex digital solutions throughout the development lifecycle. With strong technical knowledge and a collaborative approach, you will be able to lead others, champion best practice, and drive the delivery of secure, high-quality software that meets user and business needs. 

Essential skills

• Degree-level qualification in Computer Science or a related subject, or equivalent professional experience working in software development.
• Strong experience in senior software development, engineering leadership or engineering management roles.
• Experience working on brownfield systems, including maintaining, supporting and improving existing applications.
• Broad software engineering experience across multiple areas of the technology stack, ideally within multidisciplinary or full-stack environments.
• Strong understanding and practical experience of the full software development lifecycle, from design and development through to testing, deployment, maintenance and continuous improvement.

Salary

Your salary will be determined following assessment at interview

• Grade: SEO+
• £58,500 - £72,700

Office locations

The role is open across 14 of HMLR’s locations:

Birkenhead (CH41 6DU), Croydon (CR0 2AQ), Coventry (CV1 2WT), Durham (DH1 5TR), Weymouth (DT4 9TT), Gloucester (GL1 1DQ), Kingston upon Hull (HU2 8JN), Leicester (LE3 5DR), Nottingham (NG2 1AW), Peterborough (PE2 8YY), Plymouth (PL6 5WS), Warton (PR4 1TE), Swansea (SA7 9FQ), Telford (TF3 4LR)

Additional Requirements

• HMLR expect everyone to spend 60% of their working time in one of the offices.
• Occasional travel will be required to HMLR offices, supplier sites and other government departments, which may include overnight stays
• This role operates under the flexible working hours agreement, supporting a positive work-life balance
• The post is subject to BPPS level clearance
• This role does not meet the category to offer sponsorship, and HMLR will not sponsor a skilled worker visa. You must ensure you have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,500, HM Land Registry contributes £16,947 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Annual leave of 28.5 days’ paid holiday during each holiday year plus 8 days public holidays
• A clear progression pathway inc. personalised training and development plans including expensed accreditations with training days set aside
• Over 29% employer pension contribution 
• Flexi-time scheme (You decide what working hours work best for you)
• Opportunity to work condensed hours
• Social and sports club
• Access to our employee assistance programme for counselling and support on a wide range of issues
• Interest-free loan for season tickets
• Cycle to work scheme (salary sacrifice).
• HMLR have a strong and positive culture, a commitment to inclusivity, an emphasis on continuous learning and development and flexible ways of working.

At HM Land Registry our vision is a world leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future. We are unique in terms of the economic and social impacts of our work, our ability to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers, our sense of mission, and our great people. They are the foundation of all we have achieved and all we aspire to in the future. We want our people to feel proud to work for HM Land Registry and able to fulfil their full potential.

We have a strong and positive culture, a commitment to inclusivity, an emphasis on continuous learning and development, and flexible ways of working. We offer competitive pay and annual leave, attractive pension options and a wide range of other benefits.

• We have integrity – we value honesty, trust and doing the right thing in the right way.
• We drive innovation – we are forward-thinking, embrace change and are continually improving our processes.
• We are professional – we value and grow our knowledge and professional expertise.
• We give assurance – we guarantee our services and provide confidence to the property market.

The HMLR Way – Our Shared Commitment

What you can expect from HMLR:

• Inclusive & Empowering: A positive, healthy environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute
• High Performance: Access to tools, resources, and development opportunities within a supportive culture
• Value & Recognition: We value team and individual improvement, learning from setbacks as much as celebrating success
• Clarity & Transparency: Clear communication of our vision and priorities, so our direction and decisions are evident

You can find more information on our rewards package on our website.

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills, no behaviours included.

We are working with our recruitment partner (Inspire People) for this campaign. 

• Inspire People will assess your CV and will compile a longlist of applications
• If you progress through this stage, you will be asked to complete a short, pre-recorded video with Inspire People, details will be provided on invitation.
• HM Land Registry will sift these applications.
• If successful, you will be invited to attend a blended video interview
• The blended interview will assess the essential technical skills and essential experience as listed in the job description. This will include a pre-prepared presentation.
• Candidates may refer to notes within their interview, but they should be used as a prompt only.  

Application

Please make sure your CV outlines how you meet the Essential Experience from the job description: 

• Undergraduate level degree in computer science or related subject OR professional industry experience working in a software development role
• Experience of senior development / engineering management roles
• Experience of brownfield projects, including maintenance and support
• Experience of multidisciplinary work i.e. full stack developer 
• Experience of the full software development lifecycle

Interview & pre-prepared presentation

If successful at sift you will be invited to attend a blended video interview and pre-prepared presentation, held over MS Teams, week commencing 21 September 2026. The blended interview and pre-prepared presentation will test the Technical Skills and Essential Experience, as listed in the Job Description.  If you are invited to interview, further information will be provided then. (Please note you will not be tested on the Desirable experience). 

Technical Skills levels are defined using the DDaT Capability Framework: https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/software-developer.html#lead-developer

Other information

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to share these values. Please ensure all examples provided throughout the recruitment process are representative of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating (including the improper use of artificial intelligence) will be investigated and, if proven, the application will be withdrawn.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name :Zymante Gintalaite (Zee) - Inspire People
• Email :zymante@inspirepeople.net

Recruitment team

• Email :hrresourcingteam2@landregistry.gov.uk

Click here to view original advert on Civil Service jobs.

Attachments

Lead Software Developer JD Opens in new window(pdf, 207kB)

Transformation & Technology Candidate Pack 2026 Opens in new window(pdf, 2126kB)