Lead Mobile Developer

Sanderson Government & Defence; City Of London; On-site; GBP 111,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence in London is seeking a Lead Mobile Developer to deliver secure, mission-critical mobile services for UK government and defence programmes. The role is hands-on leadership across iOS and Android, with a focus on security, performance and scalable architectures.

The successful candidate will guide teams through design and delivery in Agile environments, conduct code reviews, mentor engineers, and collaborate with stakeholders in government and defence sectors.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading mobile teams delivering enterprise-scale apps.
• Strong experience developing Android and iOS apps.
• Expertise in software architecture and design for mobile solutions.
• Experience with full stack development and cloud-connected apps.
• Solid understanding of Agile and Scrum delivery.
• Experience with code review and quality assurance practices.
• Proven technical leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Experience in regulated environments such as government/defence.
• Understanding of secure SDLC and security-by-design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of secure mobile applications across iOS and Android.
• Define and implement robust software architecture and design strategies.
• Contribute to full stack development and integration with enterprise back-ends.
• Drive delivery within Agile and Scrum environments.
• Conduct code reviews and enforce quality, security, and engineering standards.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentoring to teams.
• Engage with stakeholders across government and defence programmes.
• Support continuous improvement and adoption of modern engineering practices.

Skills

Mobile leadership

Android

iOS

Software Architecture

Full Stack Development

Agile & Scrum

Code Review

Mentoring

Regulated environments

Tools

Cloud platforms

DevOps

Job description

Lead Mobile Developer
2 days a week on-site in London
£600-£630 inside IR35
Requires Active BPSS Clearance

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Lead Mobile Developer to play a key role in delivering secure, mission-critical digital services within the UK Government and Defence sector. Working across complex programmes, you will lead the design, development and deployment of mobile solutions for both iOS and Android platforms, ensuring they meet the highest standards of security, scalability and performance.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong technical background, the ability to influence architectural decisions, and experience guiding development teams through the full software delivery life-cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of secure mobile applications across iOS and Android platforms.
• Define and implement robust software architecture and design strategies aligned with government standards and best practices.
• Contribute to full stack development activities, integrating mobile solutions with enterprise platforms and back-end services.
• Drive successful delivery within Agile and Scrum environments.
• Conduct code reviews and enforce quality, security, and engineering standards.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentoring to development teams.
• Engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders across government and defence programmes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and the adoption of modern engineering practices.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience leading mobile development teams delivering enterprise-scale solutions.
• Strong commercial experience developing applications for both Android and iOS.
• Expertise in Software Architecture & Design for modern mobile applications.
• Experience with Full Stack Development and cloud-connected applications.
• Strong understanding of Agile & Scrum Delivery methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience in Code Review & Quality Assurance practices.
• Proven ability in Technical Leadership & Mentoring.
• Experience working within government, defence, public sector, or highly regulated environments.
• Understanding of secure software development and security-by-design principles.

Desirable Experience

• Active SC Clearance.
• Experience delivering solutions into MOD, central government, or defence organisations.
• Knowledge of cloud-native technologies and DevOps practices.
• Experience working within secure or classified environments.

What We're Looking For

• A technically strong leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on development.
• Someone passionate about delivering secure digital services that make a real impact.
• An excellent communicator who can work effectively with stakeholders across complex government programmes.
• A mentor who enjoys developing high-performing engineering teams.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.