Vacancy Details
Vacancy Title:  Senior Software Developer (£44,241+ DDAT Allowance)
Go live date: Monday 24^th August
Application closing date:  Wednesday 9^th September

Job Information
Agency: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Business area: Digital and Data
Number of jobs available: 3

Reserve List
Are you happy to hold a 12 month reserve list?: Yes
Do you have approval to extend the reserve list beyond 12 months?: Yes

Locations

City/Town: Bristol, Swansea, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham (Chadderton), Birmingham (Garrets Green) or Uxbridge.

Bristol, Swansea, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham (Chadderton), Birmingham (Garretts Green), or Uxbridge.

This role is being advertised in Uxbridge; however the contractual base will be Yeading. While estates work is being carried out in Yeading all posts are being temporarily based at Uxbridge.

Successful applicants will start with us at our Uxbridge location.   However, everyone will be required to work from Yeading when it reopens in 2028.

You will receive the London Weighting allowance of £4,000 while based at Uxbridge and this will continue when we move to Yeading.

Contract details
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job-share, Flexible working
Job grade: Senior Executive Officer
Salary minimum: (£44,241)
More details: Plus an additional Government Digital & Data Allowance of up to £14,756

Candidates based in Yeading will also receive the London Weighting allowance of £4,000

The Advert

Job summary

Join DVSA’s mission to make roads safer and more efficient by shaping the future of digital public services. As a Senior Developer, you’ll play a pivotal role in designing, building, and evolving high-impact digital platforms and services that serve millions across the UK. 

This will be a key role in the design, build, support, implementation and improvement of digital services, products, and platforms across DVSA. You will work within a multi-disciplinary team using Agile delivery methodologies, delivering solutions that meet user needs. 

You will be committed to quality and will promote quality software engineering techniques within the team, such as code review, design review, reusability of code, refactoring, automated testing, and use of standards.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

You will be expected to work from requirements or high-level design without the need for direct supervision and will be responsible for the development and delivery of well-designed and executed software and data management solutions, using Agile methodologies. You will coach, support and mentor individual and Junior/Apprentice developers.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Building digital services and software solutions to serve a variety of user’s needs and complying with the Digital by Default service standard.
• Implementing APIs for internal and external use
• Developing solutions that put the user and user experience first.
• Fostering continuous improvement of services through identification and implementation of strategic end to end system improvements.
• Demonstrate leadership by providing influence, direction, and guidance to Developers, Junior/Apprentice Developers to support the delivery of objectives. 

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• A proven track record in successful agile development of digital services.
• Proficiency in front-end and/or back-end development, with expertise in PHP, TypeScript or JavaScript.
• Experience coaching developers within Agile frameworks, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
• Quick adoption of new programming tools, sharing knowledge with peers and juniors.
• Strong grasp of software design principles and systematic problem-solving skills.
• Effective negotiation and communication with senior stakeholders on technical matters.
• Experience in diagnosing production issues, utilising testing for solution validation, and basic understanding of web security.

Government Digital and Data Allowance 

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance. 

The base pay is £44,241. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £14,756. 

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework. 

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week. 

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays. 

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. 

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.  

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details). 

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application. 

Offered Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday. 
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

Selection Process Details

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.   

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of Personal Statement (750 words max) & CV 

Stage 2: Interview & Assessment

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift of CV & personal Statement

You will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please structure your Personal Statement to provide detailed evidence of each of the following: 

• Proven track record in successful agile development of digital services.
• Proficiency in front-end and/or back-end development, with expertise in PHP, TypeScript or JavaScript.
• Effective negotiation and communication with senior stakeholders on technical matters.

The sift will take place week commencing 14^th September

If successful at this stage, you will then be invited for interview & assessment.

Stage 2: Interview & Assessment

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills:

• Information security - Level: practitioner
• Development process optimisation - Level: working

You will also be required to participate in a technical challenge and coding exercise at interview which will assess the following technical skills:

• Programming and build (software engineering) - Level: practitioner
• Modern development standards - Level: practitioner
• Systems design - Level: practitioner
• Systems integration - Level: practitioner

The interviews will take place week commencing 28^th September

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. 

We will also hold a 12 reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here. 

Should we receive a large number of applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest performing candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed ‘on hold’ after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put ‘on hold’ once the sift has been completed.  

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).  

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

AI Tools and Platforms 

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use