Lead?Engineering Manager?- Python?


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£68,732 to £88,423 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	10 Sept 2026
Closing date:	24 Sept 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) helps businesses invest, innovate, export and grow across the UK. The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate helps to deliver this by designing, building and running the services, platforms and technology that businesses and colleagues rely on every day.

Our teams work on a wide range of services and technologies, including:

digital services that help businesses access government support, guidance and opportunities

data and AI products that support decision making and enable innovation

internal tools and services that help colleagues work more effectively

secure technology and platforms that support critical government services

cyber security services that protect systems, data and users

By joining DDaT, you'll work on services used by businesses, colleagues and citizens across the UK. You'll be part of multidisciplinary teams focused on improving services, solving complex problems and delivering better outcomes for users.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. In recognition of this, we were named Best Public Sector Employer at the Women in Tech Employer Awards 2025!

This role aligns to the Lead Developer (Management) profile in the GDaD Capability Framework combining software development credibility with responsibility for people leadership, capability development, resourcing, standards adoption and community leadership. 

Are you passionate about growing individuals, community and leadership?  If so, BIST is looking for an individual who can support and manage a group of developers in one of our portfolios.  You will work with our Tech Leads, Head of Profession and Delivery Managers to help drive standards, policies and strengthen the profession.  

You will initially lead the software development profession, a team of 25 developers, within the Trade and Regulatory Services portfolio helping multidisciplinary teams build and operate reliable digital services that support the UK’s trading system. 

Working with portfolio senior management, and alongside Tech Leads you will develop a clear view of software development capability, workforce risks and future needs. You will use this insight to shape recruitment, succession planning and investment in people, while making sure development priorities and concerns are represented in portfolio decisions. 

Your credibility will be grounded in software development experience. You will understand modern web development, testing, continuous delivery and operating services in the cloud, enabling you to offer informed constructive advice and make sound judgements about developer capability and team effectiveness.

Main responsibilities

Drive change in Software Engineering to facilitate and improve delivery, technical capability, staff satisfaction and customer engagement.

Manage the recruitment of software engineers (Both permanent and contractors)

Work with the Head of Profession to carry out long term workforce development and planning.

Creating, setting and supporting engineers on developing objectives covering the software development profession.

Deputise for the Head of Profession on an as and when basis.

Act as a joint practice head of software engineering community, facilitating team meetings and other activities.

Maintain a good understanding of current and future technology and practice (focusing on development and testing) to guide your teams and keep engineering practices current.

Leading on improvement activities to our Engineering Practices.

Develop relationships within BIST and Partner organisations to increase collaboration.

Work with your peers to improve our tools, technologies, guidance and standards. Work with the developer community and Tech Leads to define and document technical standards.

Support sharing of methods and technologies across teams, government, and the industry by helping to organise events

Line-manage, mentor and coach developers to deliver great results, learn and grow, and progress their careers

Build relationships across the portfolio with Delivery Managers, Product Managers, Technical Architects and Lead Developers to develop a portfolio-level view of engineering capability, team health, risks and gaps. Use this to produce concise recommendations that help senior leadership make informed decisions on people, priorities and investment.

Apply for this job

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.