Principal Developer | North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

North West Ambulance Service; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A public healthcare service in the UK seeks a Principal Developer to lead the development of innovative digital solutions. This role focuses on driving technical standards, mentoring the developer community, and contributing to the organization’s digital transformation initiatives. Candidates should have experience in modern technologies and a background in leading teams to ensure robust and secure digital services. The position offers an opportunity to positively impact healthcare through technology as part of a dedicated team.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading digital solution design and development.
• Proven mentorship abilities within a developer team.
• Strong understanding of security and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and support of digital solutions.
• Define and promote coding standards across teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements.

Skills

Modern technologies

Coding standards

Digital solutions design

Stakeholder collaboration

Mentorship

Security and compliance

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Digital automation tools

AI technologies

Job description

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is seeking a Principal Developer to lead the development of innovative digital solutions that directly support our mission: delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place—every time. As the technical lead for application development, you’ll set standards, mentor the developer community, and drive continuous improvement, ensuring our digital services are robust, secure, and future‑ready.

This role is central to NWAS’s digital transformation, supporting our Digital Strategic Plan. You’ll help deliver outstanding, inclusive care, enable staff through digital innovation, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and partnership working.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport. Our highly skilled staff provide life‑saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed. We also provide non‑emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non‑emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need. Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident. We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non‑emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Main Duties

• Lead the design, development, and support of digital solutions using modern technologies and frameworks.
• Define and promote coding standards and best practices across the developer community.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.
• Mentor and support the professional development of the developer team.
• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with NHS and NWAS standards.
• Oversee the implementation of new technologies, tools, and methodologies, supporting the Trust’s digital roadmap.
• Manage resources, budgets, and third‑party relationships to maximise value and ensure service continuity.
• Support business continuity, risk management, and compliance with data protection and information governance.

Shaping the Digital Future

• Building digital foundations and infrastructure for a future‑ready, data‑driven organisation.
• Supporting intelligent triage, personalised care, and clinician empowerment through digital tools.
• Enabling staff with digital automation, AI, and continuous learning.
• Driving integration with health and social care partners for seamless, responsive care.
• Embedding innovation and data‑driven improvement to ensure sustainability and resilience.

Key dates

• Assessment Centre: 16.12.2025
• Interviews: 19.12.2025

The Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a large number of applications are received.

Please ensure you have read the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying for this role.

This advert closes on Sunday 7 Dec 2025