Contract Software Engineer

Opencast | B Corp™; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 83,025; Full time

Job summary

A progressive software consultancy based in the UK is seeking Contractors in Software Development to assist major clients. The ideal candidates will have expertise in Java and/or Scala, understanding Object Oriented Programming, and a solid background in delivering digital services to government standards. This role is collaborative, requiring regular on-site attendance and a focus on agile methodologies. Daily rates are up to £450, complying with IR35 regulations.

Qualifications

• Must either hold active Security Check (SC) Clearance or be eligible.
• UK citizenship and residence for the past five years is required.
• Experience delivering digital services for the UK government is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver in the upkeep of their team’s backlog.
• Collaborate with the team's testing effort.
• Lead on the implementation of user stories.
• Embrace mobbing and pairing.
• Work in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment.

Skills

Expertise in Java

Expertise in Scala

Understanding of Object Oriented Programming

In depth knowledge of testing

Experience with agile methodology

Tools

GDS toolkit

Job description

Ready to work somewhere that cares more about how you build software than how fast you can ship it?

At Opencast, we don’t measure developers by the number of tickets you complete. We care about engineering craft, clean design and thoughtful problem-solving.

Opencast consultants deliver in complex environments, pairing often and working with others who take pride in doing things properly: TDD, emerging design, refactoring and leaving code better than they found it. We build software we are proud of, and our clients trust us not just to code but to think, challenge and guide. If you value simple and robust solutions and want a role where your judgment matters as much as your keyboard, you will fit right in.

The role

We’re looking for Contractors in Software Development (consultant level) to help our major clients transform.

Software developers at Opencast care about building products right and combine their own experience and approach with our company values. They are tech agnostic, have expertise in agile methodologies, extreme programming practices and use industry-leading programming languages to deliver agile transformation.

Our approach to software development is collaborative, focused on keeping things simple, and we use test driven development and pair programming as best practice.

Working with clients and key stakeholders is a crucial part of a consultancy role. Our developers are inclusive team players that listen, collaborate, can positively challenge and manage expectations when needed but most of all are always willing to teach and help others. Leaving a client with improved ways of working, working technology and a good experience from discovery through to live is the priority.

Contractors at Opencast follow the same principles as permanent consultants. The roles are varied, technical, and never confined to any one provider or solution.

Requirements

Due to the nature of this role, applicants must either currently hold active Security Check (SC) Clearance or be eligible to obtain it.

Eligibility typically requires UK citizenship and continuous residence in the UK for the past five years, with no single absence exceeding 28 consecutive days.

As attendance at client sites is a routine part of the role’s working pattern and involves occasional travel, travel expenses are not covered.

Experience in delivering digital services for the UK government is highly valuable for many of our projects. Therefore, familiarity with the GDS toolkit will be beneficial.

Technical Skills

• Expertise in Java and/or Scala is required
• Understanding of Object Oriented Programming
• In depth knowledge of concepts and uses of testing
• Knowledge or experience of delivering complex services to Government Digital Service (GDS) standards
• Being comfortable with new technology, t-shaped and comfortable with ongoing learning and development is key to success
• Experience with agile methodology

A contractor in software development at Opencast is responsible for:

• Delivering in the upkeep of their team’s backlog
• Collaborating with the teams testing effort
• Leading on the implementation of user stories
• Embracing mobbing and pairing
• Working with others in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment

Up to £450 per day (working inside IR35)

Where you’ll work

This role requires regular on-site attendance across our HQ, hub offices, client sites and home. Applicants must be able to commute to offices and client sites as part of their normal working arrangements, as travel is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.

We include you

We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We’re happy to make adjustments to support your needs.