Lead Java Engineer

UK Home Office; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 16,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

In-year reward scheme

25 days annual leave

Public holidays + 1 privilege day

Flexi-time & flexible working

Job summary

UK Home Office in Croydon, Glasgow, Sheffield and Salford invites applications for a Lead Java Engineer to drive delivery of Critical National Infrastructure applications within the Migration and Borders Portfolio. You will manage Developers and DevOps staff, align efforts with senior stakeholders, and provide technical guidance while staying aware of evolving technology trends to support strategy formation.

This role is hybrid across multiple locations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading delivery-focused teams with competing priorities and timelines.
• Ability to provide operational support to a portfolio under ministerial and legislative deadlines.
• Expertise in cloud management, FinOps, and end-to-end CI/CD processes; able to interpret complex designs.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple delivery teams and ensure adherence to standards.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to support portfolio delivery.
• Provide technical guidance across cloud management and CI/CD practices.
• Create and deliver roadmaps with quality management and capacity planning.
• Mentor team members to develop skills in line with strategy and goals.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Tools

PostgreSQL

Microsoft SQL Server

MongoDB

AWS

Kubernetes

Jenkins

Docker

Terraform

GitHub Actions

GitHub Copilot

OpenAI

Claude Code

Job description

Location: Croydon | Glasgow | Sheffield | Salford | (hybrid)

Skills allowance of up to £17,668, pending assessment

Advert Close Date: 31st August 2026

Job summary

This role is for leading Critical National Infrastructure applications within Migration and Borders Portfolio.

The Lead Engineer will drive the technical delivery of their team, managing their workload and ensuring the right skills are available. You will be responsible for the work undertaken by your Developers and DevOps staff and will be expected to work with Seniors and Principals to ensure that services produced are best practice. You should have a solid technical background and will be able to apply these skills if required to provide guidance to your team. You will also maintain a broad perspective, monitoring technology developments such such that you can support strategy formation.

Along with the other Senior, Lead and Principal Engineers in your area you will be responsible for ensuring that all technical approaches being used are appropriate and endorsed, and will take part in planning with senior stakeholders to make sure that product delivery and maintenance is on a firm basis. Your remit may be across the engineering function but working closely with Architects and other professions.

Tools and Technologies we use:

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with strong experience in:

• Data: PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Mongo DB
• DevOps: AWS, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Docker, Terraform, Github Actions
• AI: Github Copilot, OpenAI, Claude Code

As a Lead Java Engineer, you’ll have a demonstrable experience in:

• Managing multiple delivery focused teams with competing priorities and timelines, ensuring adherence to standards within the team. (PEMT)
• Working with senior stakeholders to provide operational support to the portfolio in pursuit of challenging ministerial and legislative deadlines. (DLMG)
• Providing technical expertise and best practice across cloud management, FinOps, and end‑to‑end CI/CD processes, with the capability to interpret complex system designs and communicate them effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences. (PROG)
• Creating, executing, and delivering detailed roadmaps that include appropriate quality management and business capacity to ensure successful outcomes. (QUMG)
• Mentoring colleagues in developing skills and capabilities in line with strategy, team, and personal goals. (PDSV)

Why work for us...

Find out more information at: Benefits - Home Office Careers, but some of the primary ones are:

• A Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of £17,992 annually
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
• 8 days of public holidays, plus 1 additional privilege day.
• Flexi-time allowance and flexible working options

Plus so much MORE: https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/benefits