Lead Software Engineer (ServiceNow)

DWP Digital; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Excellent pension contributions (28.97

Digital Allowance up to £12,255

Job summary

DWP Digital in the United Kingdom is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to mentor high-performing teams, deliver high‑quality ServiceNow services and shape large‑scale solutions that support around 120,000 colleagues.

You will provide technical leadership across multiple ServiceNow modules (ITSM, ITOM, HRSD, Security Operations, Service Portals) while embedding security by design and best practices, in a hybrid working environment with flexible hours.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering and leading ServiceNow solutions across multiple modules and applications (ITSM, ITOM, SPM, Security Operations, HRSD, Service Portals, Workspaces, CMDB and integrations).
• Expert knowledge of cyber security and IT operations controls, designing secure, resilient, scalable solutions with security by design and automation.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across ServiceNow modules and guide teams to embed development standards, security and best practices.
• Mentor engineers and champion engineering excellence to deliver high-quality services at scale.
• Lead investigations into complex business and technical challenges and drive evidence-based improvements.
• Influence engineering strategy and build capability across the wider team.

Skills

ServiceNow leadership

Engineering leadership

ITSM

ITOM

HRSD

Security by design

CMDB

Service Portal

Tools

ServiceNow Platform

Job description

Job Title: Lead Software Engineer (ServiceNow)

Pay up to£75,026 - £92,522 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, andgreat worklife balance.

DWP. Digital with Purpose.

Are you a proven engineering leader?

We need a Lead Software Engineer to mentor high-performing teams, deliver high-quality digital services, and shape large-scale ServiceNow solutions.

Join DWP Digital and lead a team supporting one of the largest ServiceNow implementations in Europe. You'll play a pivotal role in driving engineering excellence, mentoring engineers and delivering innovative solutions that support around 120,000 colleagues across the organisation.

As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll provide technical leadership across multiple ServiceNow modules, ensuring development standards, quality, security and best practices are embedded in everything we deliver. You'll act as a trusted technical advisor, helping teams solve complex challenges while influencing the future direction of the platform.

This is an opportunity to work on large-scale, business-critical services where your decisions will have a real impact. You'll collaborate with architects, product teams and senior stakeholders to deliver modern, user-centred technology solutions that support DWP's mission.

We're looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, driving continuous improvement, and inspiring others to achieve their best.

If you're passionate about technology, leadership and creating services that make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note: Holding a ServiceNow Certified System Administrator qualification is an essential requirement for this role. Evidence of certification will be required at interview.

What skills, knowledge and experience willyouneed?

• Proven experience delivering and leading ServiceNow solutions across multiple modules and applications, including ITSM, ITOM, SPM, Security Operations, HRSD, Service Portals, Workspaces, CMDB and integrations.
• Expert knowledge of cyber security and IT operations controls, with the ability to design secure, resilient and scalable solutions that embed security by design, automation and AI-driven operations.
• Significant experience implementing and optimising ServiceNow Security Operations and/or IT Operations Management capabilities within complex enterprise environments.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to lead investigations into complex business and technical challenges, analyse conflicting information and drive evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, administering and supporting security products and services across cloud and on-premise environments, ensuring compliance with security standards and architectural principles.
• Ability to provide technical leadership, mentor engineers and champion engineering best practice, driving continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery at scale.

You and your role

As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll be a recognised technical expert and trusted leader, shaping how we design, build and support high-quality software solutions.

You'll set engineering standards, drive best practice across teams, and champion quality, consistency and continuous improvement. By promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and the reuse of proven solutions, you'll help teams solve complex challenges and deliver scalable, maintainable services that meet user needs.

As part of the leadership team, you'll influence engineering strategy, guide teams through change, and build capability across the wider engineering community. You'll balance competing priorities, make informed decisions in complex environments, and remove barriers to delivery.

While you'll remain hands-on when needed, your primary focus will be leading, mentoring and empowering multiple engineering teams, creating an environment where engineers can thrive, innovate and deliver outstanding digital services at scale.

Location:

You’lljoin us in one ofour brilliant digital hubsinBlackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester,Newcastleor Sheffieldwhichever is most convenient for you.

Hybrid Working:

We work a hybrid model-you'llspend some time working at home andsome timecollaborating face to face ina hub.

Pay:

From £75,026 to £92,522. The maximum salary for the grade is £80,267, however a Digital Allowance of up to £12,255 per annum is available for exceptional candidates subject to our assessment of capability at interview.

Pension:

You’llgeta brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth28.97%,worth up to £21,735 per year.

We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Time off volunteering and charitable giving
• Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
• Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.

And we have an award-winning environment and culture:

• DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards
• Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024
• Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025
• Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards

Process:

We know your time is valuable, so our application and selection process is just two stages: