Lead Scala Developer

RedRock Consulting Ltd; York and North Yorkshire; Remote; GBP 101,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

RedRock Consulting Ltd is seeking an experienced Lead Scala Developer to join a high-performing team delivering critical digital services for a major UK Government programme. You will lead design, mentor engineers, and shape architectural decisions in an agile, security-conscious environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on Scala development, microservices, and cloud-native practices with occasional travel to Leeds or Newcastle. BPSS eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on Scala development experience.
• Experience in leading engineering teams and mentoring developers.
• Strong understanding of functional programming principles.
• Proven ability to design and deliver microservices-based solutions.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and modern tooling.
• Familiarity with Linux or macOS environments.
• Background delivering projects in government/public sector contexts.
• Knowledge of cloud-native engineering practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• BPSS clearance or eligibility to obtain clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of full-stack Scala solutions.
• Drive architectural discussions and technical decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to development teams.
• Develop and maintain scalable microservices using Play Framework.
• Conduct code reviews and promote engineering best practices.
• Collaborate with DevOps, QA, and delivery stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical concepts for business stakeholders.
• Support delivery of robust and secure digital services.
• Drive continuous improvement across engineering practices.

Skills

Scala

Lead developer

Functional programming

Microservices

Play Framework

Git

CI/CD

IntelliJ/VS Code/SBT

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Linux/macOS

Public sector/government

Cloud-native

Tools

Play Framework

Git

IntelliJ

VS Code

SBT

Job description

Contract | Initial 3-Month Engagement | Inside IR35 | UK Government Programme

RedRock Consulting is working in partnership with a leading technology consultancy delivering services into a major UK Government organisation. We are seeking an experienced Lead Scala Developer to join a high-performing engineering team responsible for designing, building, and enhancing critical digital services.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on technical leader who can combine strong Scala development expertise with the ability to mentor teams, influence architecture, and drive delivery within a large-scale Agile environment.

The Role

As Lead Scala Developer, you will play a key role in the design, development and delivery of modern, scalable applications. Working closely with architects, engineers, DevOps and QA teams, you will help shape technical solutions while providing leadership and guidance to developers across the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of full-stack solutions using Scala
• Drive architectural discussions and contribute to technical decision-making
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and support to development teams
• Develop and maintain scalable microservices-based applications
• Conduct code reviews and champion engineering best practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including DevOps, QA and delivery stakeholders
• Translate technical concepts into clear business-facing communication
• Support the delivery of robust, secure and highly available digital services
• Contribute to continuous improvement across engineering and delivery practices
• Strong commercial experience developing applications with Scala
• Previous experience in a Lead Developer or Technical Leadership role
• Strong understanding of functional programming principles
• Hands-on experience building microservices using the Play Framework
• Experience with source control tools such as Git
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern development tooling
• Experience with tools such as IntelliJ, VS Code and SBT
• Strong knowledge of Agile delivery methodologies
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to influence technical direction across complex programmes
• Experience working within Linux or MacOS environments
• Experience delivering projects within central government or wider public sector environments
• Experience working within highly regulated or security-conscious environments
• Knowledge of modern cloud-native engineering practices
• Location: Primarily remote with occasional travel to either Leeds or Newcastle (typically around once per month, including overnight stay if required)
• Clearance: BPSS required or eligibility to obtain clearance