36147 - DTS - Senior Developer/Test Engineer

£43,958 - £63,500 (Salary will depend on location)
2
12 Months
West Midlands, National
Birmingham , National
First Floor, Edward House, Quay Place, Edward Street, B1 2RA, NATIONAL
Grade 7
Grade 7
Permanent
Full Time
Digital

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Location: Birmingham Digital Hub (Other National locations may be considered, if you can attend the Birmingham office when needed)

Term: Permanent

Interview Location: Video Conference via Skype

Merit List:

HMCTS run a Merit List, where candidates who are unsuccessful at interview, by only a few points, can be offered other roles, at the same band, for up to 12 months!

So, it is always a good idea to apply for a role, and try as best as you can at interview, as you never know what future opportunities it may open! You will be able to view your status via the application screen. If you have been added to the Merit List, your status will show either Merit or Reserve list.

Technologies:

You will have demonstrable experience of web applications development in an agile environment, ideally using Java, Python and/or Node.js, but any similar technology (C# and .NET, PHP, Ruby, Go, Rust, C++, VB.NET etc.) and a desire to learn is acceptable. In addition you will have demonstrable experience of using a web framework such as Spring, Jersey, Django or similar. You will also have a good working knowledge of modern front end web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) as well as front end frameworks (ideally Angular, or similar). You will ideally have a good working knowledge of a range of cloud PaaS components in Azure or similar.

Introduction:

Do you want to be part of one of the largest tech programmes in Central Government? Do you want to be empowered to be creative, curious and have your ideas listened to? We’d love to hear from you!

These are exciting times at Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). As an agency of the MoJ, we support the judiciary across England and Wales, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve our ambitions. It will be challenging, important and rewarding.

Within HMCTS, Digital & Technology Services (DTS) is creating a place in which it is great to do work and part of our offer is brilliant training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. As well as that you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

The key purpose of the role:

As a Senior Developer / Senior Test Engineer you will be responsible for directing the writing, debugging and refactoring and testing of code. You will work closely with other software developers to reach a common understanding of the code base for technologies such as the ones mentioned in the advert.

You will be expected to collaborate with analysts and maintain these relationships to make sure the required business scenarios are covered in the developed application, acceptance and test scripts.

You will also work on both functional and non-functional areas of an application, developing and testing these with business scenarios that you may be responsible for developing.

You will also be expected to coach and mentor developers, testers, and other coders (devops, data scientists etc.) role modelling best practice and providing ‘hands on’ support on complex or larger projects which demand greater technical knowledge or discretion in decision making or the application of the appropriate technology.

You will exercise discretion and judgement to investigate and analyse diverse problems in existing processes and will have relative freedom to make decisions, often in scenarios where standards, precedent or protocols do not apply, on the most appropriate course of action, seeking guidance from senior management when necessary

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design, build and run software using best practices and adhering to standards, policies and procedures
  • Working from specifications and user stories, contributing to business scenarios for new features
  • Remain up to date with the industry’s patterns and trends relevant to the technology stack and business domain you are responsible for, communicating, proposing and as required implementing necessary changes
  • Lead and assist in investigating problems (troubleshooting)
  • Identify opportunities to improve existing code, software and processes
  • Lead and as required and help design, and execute functional and non-functional test cases using standard testing techniques, both manual and automated
  • Lead and as required assist with writing test scripts based on different business scenarios for a feature or a use case
  • Choose the appropriate from a range of approved technologies for software development, deployment and testing, propose amendments to the approved list as required.
  • Feed into, and as required lead on capacity planning to ensure that software developed / procured meet the business needs and performance targets
  • Ensure that the implementation is robust and fits for purpose, for example through code reviews and testing.
  • Recording, escalating tech debt identified (or any other issue) through the appropriate channels
  • Estimate efforts for your own tasks, assist and guide others in doing so for theirs
  • Practice the determined methodology and apply it to the work, for example prototyping, TDD CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code as part of Agile
  • Acquire working knowledge of new technologies, methods and tools, and apply them as required
  • Occasionally participate in and as required lead on deployment and further lines of support, during and outside core office hours (in line with the organization’s policy for OOH)
  • Mentor, upskill and share knowledge with your team, as well as others in the community, on the best tools and methods to be used
  • Participate in recruitment, supplier management and procurement activities as required
  • The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. 

 

Skills & Experience:

  • Experience of software development, with sound working knowledge of at least one programming language for development of enterprise and public facing applications, as well as related technologies such as IDEs, build tools, source control, HTTP, documentation, databases, logging, search, identity management, security etc.
  • Have identified process optimization opportunities with guidance and contributed to the implementation of proposed solutions
  • Have collaborated with others when necessary to review specifications
  • Previously assisted in the design, coding, testing and documenting of programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity
  • Worked in an Agile environment, including Agile software delivery methods such as CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code and a variety of methods of prototyping
  • Can help review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology and manage technical debt appropriately and proportionately

 

Essential Criteria:

  • An ability to collaborate successfully with others both internally and externally, professional building relationships with a range of stakeholders
  • Can feedback on performance with advice on a range of issues
  • The capacity for decision-making within pre-agreed parameters
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment whilst maintaining output standards, quickly and willingly learn new languages and frameworks and choose the right tool for the job
  • Enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and mentoring individuals from a wide / multi-disciplinary range of stakeholders

 

Application process:

The following areas of Success Profiles will be used to assess and score your application during the sift, and interview. You could be invited to have an informal chat, and may also be required to complete a technical test.

  • Experience – As demonstrated in your CV, statement of suitability, and application form
  • Technical – As demonstrated in your CV, statement of suitability, and application form.
  • Behaviours – We will be using the 2 behaviours below.

Key Civil Service behaviours:

You will be required to provide evidence of the following key behaviours at Level 4.

Making Effective Decisions          

  • Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions.
  • Ensure decision making happens at the right level, not allowing unnecessary bureaucracy to hinder delivery.
  • Encourage both innovative suggestions and challenge from others, to inform decision making.
  • Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions.
  • Find the best option by identifying positives, negatives, risks and implications.
  • Present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence.
  • Make decisions confidently even when details are unclear or if they prove to be unpopular.

Communicating and Influencing 

  • Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust.
  • Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.
  • Take into account people’s individual needs.
  • Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required.
  • Consider the impact of the language used.
  • Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions, whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others.
  • Introduce different methods for communication, including making the most of digital resources whilst getting value for money.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of own and team communications and take action to improve where necessary.

 

Flexible working options:

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours:

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances:

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

1-     To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

2-     To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);

3-     To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.  

You could be invited to have an informal chat, and may also be required to complete a technical test before the interview. The first stage is expected early September 2020

19/08/2020, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 36147.

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

  • You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
  • You were studying abroad
  • You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Experience
CV
Statement of Suitability - 500 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Technical Skills
Developer/Tester experience
Additional Assessment(s)
There may be an online technical test before the interview
There may be a technical test as part of the interview process

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.