Software Developer - Python

Government Recruitment Service; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Edinburgh is seeking a software developer to design and maintain software that meets user needs. You will write clean and secure code while collaborating with various roles within a service team. This role includes mentoring junior colleagues and operating the services you build. Join a respected team recognized for its commitment to technology and excellence in public service.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing software solutions to meet user needs.
• Familiarity with best practices in coding and security.
• Ability to mentor and support junior developers.

Responsibilities

• Develop software to meet user needs.
• Follow best practice guidelines and help improve them.
• Write clean, secure, and well-tested code.
• Coach and mentor junior colleagues.
• Operate the services you build and identify production issues.

Skills

Software development

Test-driven development

Security awareness

Mentoring

Job description

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a clear mission - to grow the economy. Our role is to help businesses invest, grow and export to create jobs and opportunities right across the country. We do this in three ways.

Firstly, we help to build a strong, competitive business environment, where consumers are protected and companies rewarded for treating their employees properly.

Secondly, we open international markets and ensure resilient supply chains. This can be through Free Trade Agreements, trade facilitation and multilateral agreements.

Finally, we work in partnership with businesses every day, providing advance, finance and deal-making support to those looking to start up, invest, export and grow.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate develops and operates tools and services to support us in this mission. The team have been nominated four times in a row for ‘Best Public Sector Employer’ at the Women in Tech awards and won the award in 2025!

As a software developer in the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate in Department for Business and Trade (DBT), you will design, build and maintain software that meets user needs. You will write clean, secure code following a test-driven approach, and create code that is open by default and easy for others to reuse.

You will work in one of our service teams alongside colleagues in different DDaT roles, such as business analysts, content designers, or user researchers. Your service team will be part of a portfolio of services that are managed together. These portfolios have a thematic focus, such as business growth, data and AI services, employee experience, or trade and regulatory services.

You will be part of a wider developer community, and you’ll have the opportunity to attend talks and discussions, encouraging knowledge sharing across teams and portfolios.

Main responsibilities

• Develop software to meet user needs
• Follow best practice guidelines and help to improve those guidelines
• Write clean, secure and well-tested code, with an awareness of top security risks (e.g. OWASP Top 10)
• Coach and mentor more junior colleagues
• Operate the services you build and identify issues in production