Software Developer (Java & Typescript)

Sanderson Government & Defence; Greater London; Remote; GBP 4,500 - 5,600; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking a Software Engineer to join a critical digital transformation programme for UK Defence and National Security. You will design, develop and maintain secure software in a highly regulated environment, delivering resilient services that support decision-making and national security.

Active SC Clearance is mandatory; you will work in an Agile team, building RESTful APIs with Java/TypeScript and contributing to DevSecOps practices while ensuring security and

Qualifications

• Active SC Clearance (mandatory).
• Defence/Government/National Security or similarly secure environments experience.
• Strong Java development experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain back-end services using Java and TypeScript.
• Build and support RESTful APIs and microservices with Express.js.
• Deliver secure, scalable software in Defence and Government environments.
• Work through full SDLC from requirements to deployment and live support.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Produce clean, tested code and follow engineering standards.
• Support CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices.
• Troubleshoot complex issues across development, testing and production.

Skills

SC Clearance

Java

TypeScript

Express.js

REST APIs

CI/CD

DevSecOps

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

Jira

Confluence

Agile

Tools

Git

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Software Developer
Remote - monthly travel
£400-£500 outside IR35
Requires Active SC Clearance

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join a critical digital transformation programme supporting the UK Defence and National Security sector. This role will contribute to the delivery of secure, important digital services that support operational effectiveness, decision‑making and national security objectives.

Working within a multidisciplinary Agile team, you will design, develop and maintain scalable, secure software solutions within a highly regulated environment. You will collaborate with architects, technical leads, product teams and security stakeholders to deliver resilient services capable of operating within complex government and defence ecosystems.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on engineer looking to work on impactful programmes where security, reliability and performance are paramount.

Please note: Active SC Clearance is mandatory for this position. Candidates must hold current and transferable SC Clearance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain back‑end services using Java and TypeScript.
• Build and support RESTful APIs and micro services using Express.js and related technologies.
• Deliver secure, scalable and high‑performing software solutions within Defence and Government environments.
• Work across the full software development life‑cycle, from requirements through to deployment and live service support.
• Collaborate with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to translate operational requirements into technical solutions.
• Produce clean, maintainable and thoroughly tested code aligned with engineering best practices.
• Contribute to solution architecture, technical design decisions and engineering standards.
• Support CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues across development, testing and production environments.
• Participate in peer reviews, knowledge sharing and mentoring activities.
• Ensure solutions meet security, compliance and accessibility requirements.
• Operate within Agile delivery teams, contributing to planning, refinement, stand‑ups and retrospectives.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Active SC Clearance (mandatory).
• Proven experience delivering software solutions within Defence, Government, National Security or other highly secure environments.
• Strong commercial experience developing applications using Java.
• Strong experience developing services and APIs using TypeScript and Express.js.
• Experience building and supporting REST API and micro service‑based architectures.
• Strong understanding of secure software engineering principles and best practices.
• Experience with version control, automated testing and code quality processes.
• Experience working within Agile delivery teams.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps methodologies.
• Experience working with cloud technologies such as AWS, Azure or GCP.
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical capabilities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to thrive within complex, security‑focused delivery environments.

Desirable Skills

• Experience delivering technology solutions within the UK Defence sector, Central Government or National Security organisations.
• Knowledge of defence security standards, secure‑by‑design principles and secure development practices.
• Experience with containerisation technologies including Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience working with event‑driven architectures and messaging technologies.
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approaches.
• Experience developing high‑availability, mission‑critical or operationally critical systems.
• Understanding of secure cloud environments and cloud‑native architectures.

Technology Environment

• Java
• TypeScript
• Express.js
• Git
• CI/CD Tooling
• AWS / Azure / GCP
• Docker
• Kubernetes
• Jira
• Confluence
• Agile Delivery Teams

Team Structure

You will work alongside a highly skilled multidisciplinary team comprising:

• Technical Leads
• Solution Architects
• Product & Delivery Managers
• Software Engineers
• QA Engineers
• Security Specialists
• Business Analysts
• Key Programme Stakeholders

Ideal Candidate

You will be a security‑conscious Software Engineer with experience delivering solutions within Defence, Government or similarly regulated environments. You'll enjoy solving complex technical challenges, working collaboratively within Agile teams and developing robust, scalable solutions that support critical operational outcomes.

This role requires active SC Clearance and previous experience operating within secure, government or defence‑focused programmes will be highly advantageous.

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.