487870 - Scientific Developer (CR1289)

Government Recruitment Service; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Hybrid work pattern

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is seeking a Senior Scientific Developer to join the Data Systems Group in Cardiff. You will lead the design, development and delivery of bespoke IT systems spanning disease management databases, simulation models, and scientific computing infrastructure for Defra teams.

You will mentor junior developers, maintain documentation and metadata, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to meet data capture and reporting needs while ensuring

Qualifications

• Experience in software development and data processing.
• Hands-on experience with data systems maintenance and support.
• Strong ownership/architecture role on software projects; agile delivery experience.
• Good knowledge of relational and dimensional data modelling; strong stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and deliver IT systems within a Windows environment.
• Provide maintenance and support for existing data systems; ensure quality and documentation.
• Produce user manuals, risk assessments and issue resolutions; assist data capture and reporting.
• Mentor junior developers and engage with wider government initiatives.

Skills

Software development

Data processing

Architectural design

Agile delivery

Data modelling

Stakeholder communication

C#

VB.NET

SQL

SSIS

SSRS

Education

IT Software Development degree or equivalent

Tools

C#

VB.NET

SQL

SSIS

SSRS

Job description

You will work as a part of a team building and maintaining bespoke infrastructure and software applications spanning multiple high impact areas including disease management databases, simulation models to inform disease control policy, and specialist scientific computing infrastructure for scientists across the Defra group. Managing delivery on a range of technical science projects by negotiating scope; planning and monitoring delivery; quality assuring outputs; ensuring appropriate maintenance; and supporting effective resource allocation. You will specialise in the development of business applications for the collection and management of corporate data assets but also supporting software development and IT engineering activities of the wider team.

You will join a small team within the Data Systems Group (DSG) responsible for IT systems hosted on the corporate (Windows) environment.

Technical focus will be across the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC).

As the senior developer you will provide an Intelligent Customer Function while liaising with Stakeholders (both internal e.g. Defra and external e.g. University research depts.). Drawing on experience you will advise stakeholders and take a prominent role in leading on aspects relating to product design, typically this will include the capture of data from disparate sets and the automation of current paper-based systems.

An important element of this role will be to provide consultancy on the data capture and processing; ensuring reliability, consistency and quality are maintained to, a minimum of, ISO9001 standards.

A key element of the design process will be the creation and maintenance of all documentation for systems you are responsible for, including meta-data. Meeting customer goals by gathering business or scientific requirements and provide technical specifications.

There will be an expectation of active involvement in the wider government initiatives.

Line management responsibilities of staff.

Active engagement with APHAs Data Information Unit who manage the overarching Agency's framework.

Responsibility includes:

Successful design, development and delivery of IT systems.

Support of existing systems.

Production of user manual, risk assessment and issues resolution.

Technical assistance during data capture and reporting.

Strong interpersonal skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, both internal and external customers and wider stakeholders.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Mentoring junior developers.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

487870 - Scientific Developer (CR1289)

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: from £44,052 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Cardiff Working pattern: Hybrid - 2 days remote Job type: Permanent Posting date: 11 Nov 2026 Closing date: 20 Nov 2026

Summary

Job summary

You will work as a part of a team building and maintaining bespoke infrastructure and software applications spanning multiple high impact areas including disease management databases, simulation models to inform disease control policy, and specialist scientific computing infrastructure for scientists across the Defra group. Managing delivery on a range of technical science projects by negotiating scope; planning and monitoring delivery; quality assuring outputs; ensuring appropriate maintenance; and supporting effective resource allocation. You will specialise in the development of business applications for the collection and management of corporate data assets but also supporting software development and IT engineering activities of the wider team.

You will join a small team within the Data Systems Group (DSG) responsible for IT systems hosted on the corporate (Windows) environment.

Technical focus will be across the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC).

As the senior developer you will provide an Intelligent Customer Function while liaising with Stakeholders (both internal e.g. Defra and external e.g. University research depts.). Drawing on experience you will advise stakeholders and take a prominent role in leading on aspects relating to product design, typically this will include the capture of data from disparate sets and the automation of current paper-based systems.

An important element of this role will be to provide consultancy on the data capture and processing; ensuring reliability, consistency and quality are maintained to, a minimum of, ISO9001 standards.

A key element of the design process will be the creation and maintenance of all documentation for systems you are responsible for, including meta-data. Meeting customer goals by gathering business or scientific requirements and provide technical specifications.

There will be an expectation of active involvement in the wider government initiatives.

Line management responsibilities of staff.

Active engagement with APHAs Data Information Unit who manage the overarching Agency's framework.

Responsibility includes:

Successful design, development and delivery of IT systems.

Support of existing systems.

Production of user manual, risk assessment and issues resolution.

Technical assistance during data capture and reporting.

Strong interpersonal skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, both internal and external customers and wider stakeholders.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Mentoring junior developers.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Essential requirements

Experience and skillsYou will need to demonstrate the following:Software development and data processing skills.Maintenance and support of existing data systems.Ownership and/or architectural role on software development projects.Hands-on experience of enhancing IT capabilities on Agile delivery projects.Good knowledge of both relational and dimensional data modelling approaches.Collaboration with a variety of technical and non-technical stakeholders.Good communication and interpersonal skills.You will have a track record of deploying web-form based solutions written in C# or VB.net and SQL database skills.Technical skillsC#, JavaScript, Visual Basic, SQL, SSIS, SSRS.QualificationsA degree in IT Software Development or equivalent experience as detailed.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.